Periodically, the public has been subjected to unsubstantiated claims that warm-air hand dryers are unsafe or have adverse health effects.

In 2000, the Foundation for Medical Education and Research of the respected Mayo Clinic undertook a comprehensive study to determine which of four hand-drying methods—cloth towels, paper towels, warm-air hand dryers, and spontaneous evaporation—was most effective at removing bacteria from the hands.  Their conclusion: no statistical difference.  In other words, cloth and paper towels are more expensive, less environmentally friendly, require frequent replacement, create litter and may lead to blocked toilets, yet they provide no hygienic benefit whatsoever.

You can download the complete unedited four-page summary of the Mayo Clinic study in PDF format by clicking here.