Dyson Airblades Spread 1,300 Times More Germs Than Paper Towels, Says Study

Dyson Airblades are the self-proclaimed “most hygienic of hand dryers” – but how true is that claim?

New research has suggested that the dryers – which shoot out 420mph sheets of air – spread 60 times more germs than standard air dyers and 1,300 times more than standard paper towels.

However, Dyson has called the research “scaremongering”, claiming it was “conducted under artificial conditions.”

The research was published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology and involved scientists testing different dyers after wetting their hands with a harmless ‘virus’.

The scientists, at the University of Westminster, found that Airblades spread viruses up to three meters across a bathroom, while standard dryers spread viruses 75cm.

Hand towels spread them just 25cm.

Research lead Professor Mark Wilcox said: “Next time you dry your hands in a public toilet using an electric hand dryer, you may be spreading bacteria without knowing it. You may also be splattered with bugs from other people’s hands.

“These findings are important for understanding the ways in which bacteria spread, with the potential to transmit illness and disease.”

A spokesperson for Dyson said: “The paper towel industry has scaremongered with this [type of] research for the past four years.

“It has been conducted under artificial conditions, using unrealistically high levels of virus contamination on unwashed, gloved hands.”