Hide summary
Did you think you were safe in public restrooms? Think again! This harmless behavior, which you may be accustomed to doing, can actually make you sick. Find out why experts are sounding the alarm on this gesture!
Don't do this again in public toilets
We've all done it before, whether in a public or private bathroom. We are talking about this gesture that we do after washing our hands. Indeed, using the hand dryer to get rid of humidity is almost common to everyone! A practice that is both effective and fun.
However, we should start seeing this habit from a new angle! Using the hand dryer in public toilets is a real call for bacteria. But by what means? Scientists from the University of Cambridge wanted to answer this question.
According to their study, the problem lies in the operation of the device in question. The hand dryer is capable ofabsorb ambient airand therefore, the bacteria that go with it. These are then released once the machine is activated.
To have
Goodbye to classic toilets: this innovation will revolutionize your toilets in 2025
Following this logic, we therefore expose our hands to germs when we use the hand dryer in public toilets. Moreover, humidity accelerates the development of bacteria ! It would therefore be time to review this habit to avoid any risk.
What you can do to dry your hands
Despite everything, drying your hands after using the toilet seems inevitable. Fortunately, we don't necessarily need to use the hand dryer to do this. Why take this risk when an even more effective and safer alternative exists?
Instead of a hand dryer, professionals recommend using paper towels to dry your hands. This shows that traditional methods sometimes remain the safest options! Moreover, the Cleveland Clinic is of the same opinion.
On their website we can read: “ Drying your hands with paper towels not only dries them faster, but the friction also dislodges bacteria to leave them cleaner “. This is therefore the preferred method to avoid the spread of viruses, but be careful!
The clinic does not recommend the use of cloth napkin dispensers. The end of the cloth at the end of the roll is not changed regularlyespecially in public toilets. Which only supports the spread of bacteria from hand to hand.
To have
Foolproof tips for easily removing brown stains from the bottom of the toilet
This other gesture to avoid in the toilet
Still according to experts, it is strongly recommended not to stay beyond 10 minutes sitting on the toilet bowl. This practice, although commonplace, can actually pose a significant health risk. This could promote the development of hemorrhoids. For what ? For the simple reason that prolonged sitting disrupts blood circulation in this area.
But that's not all! This toilet behavior can weaken your pelvic muscles. And when that happens, you expose yourself to a significant risk to your health. Simply put, it's when part of your large intestine wants to get some fresh air. In short, avoid sitting on the toilet bowl for too long. Be quick and banish any distractions, like using your phone for example!