Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Paper towel or Hand Blower?

This is topic Paper towel or Hand Blower? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 07-20-2009, 07:12 PM:

The first time I saw and used a hand blower instead of paper towels in a men's room was at a Burger King restaurant in Honolulu many years ago and I did not like it all. One of the reasons I did not like the blowers was the amount of time it took to dry my hands because it was very slow. I have noticed more place are using them now including the Costco store in my area. The newer ones seem to be more efficient because the blower operates faster and my hands are almost dry in a few seconds. However, I still do not like them and cannot understand the reasoning when they say blowers are more sanitary than paper towels. If you agree, how so? The only reason why I feel many establishments are using hand blowers is the fact that it might cheaper than paper towels.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-20-2009, 07:37 PM:

I prefer paper towels myself but we have both in our restrooms because we are hardcore fancy like that.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-20-2009, 10:44 PM:

The best hand blowers I've ever seen were in the Minneapolis airport. They are called "Air Blade." Instead of a spout pointing down, these blowers have a rounded "trench" across the top. You just lower your hands into this trench, and the machine starts automatically. When you draw your hands out slowly, a "blade" of air from both sides literally squeegees the water off your hands. It takes about 10 seconds and works better than any other drier I've seen. Why these haven't appeared everywhere is a good question.

Airblade hand dryers

quote: Claude S. Ayakawa
The only reason why I feel many establishments are using hand blowers is the fact that it might cheaper than paper towels.

There are other, more important reasons: You never have to re-load (or pay for) the damn towels, pick them up off the floor, or haul cans full of them to the dumpster.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-20-2009, 10:58 PM:

Step 1: Press button.
Step 2: Dry hands under warm air.
Step 3: Wipe hands on pants.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-20-2009, 11:09 PM:

I like to use the hand blowers to dry my hands. Then if I'm feeling particularly paranoid about the filthy nature of others in that establishment I'll use a paper towel to cover my hand as I push the urine, shit and snot caked door to escape the bathroom.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-20-2009, 11:18 PM:

Yeah...the airport restrooms I'm describing are really about as germless as possible -- the toilet flushers, water faucets, and hand-dryers are all touchless, and the room has no doors, just a short "maze" to get in and out.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-21-2009, 01:01 AM:

No doors on the stalls, either?

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 07-21-2009, 01:03 AM:

Anyone still see those community towel mechanisms in which you pull the towel through the machine and then dry your hands?

I always felt those to be dirty as hell.

Those Excelerator dryers are wicked cool though: it's like a jet engine for your hands.

AJG

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-21-2009, 01:15 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
No doors on the stalls, either?

I guess I never used a stall, but maybe they have some kind of push to lock/push to unlock thing where you could use your knee or something if you wanted to. I'm curious now -- Next time we go thru Mpls (in September) I'll take a look.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-21-2009, 01:26 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
No doors on the stalls, either?

If you're using the stalls wouldn't you be washing your hands anyway?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-21-2009, 02:39 AM:

You mean you don't when you use urinals?

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 07-21-2009, 03:57 AM:

The main reason I prefer paper towels is so I can use one to open the restroom door when I leave. That's one reason I try to avoid using restrooms in McDonalds, Burger King, and others that don't even offer paper towels.

Given the choice, I would probably use the dryer to dry my hands and than take 1 towel to open the door. When I use towels to dry my hands, it usually requires 3-4 depending on the type.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 07-21-2009, 04:47 AM:

K, you're in a great movie and have to hit the 'can'. Do you want to waste precious minutes on those dumb hand dryers, or do you want to beat it outta there to get back to your movie?

Also, who do you know that "loves" to be in the bathroom when they can leave quicker if they can use paper towels?

I know of a small circuit that used to have paper towels, but got fed up with them for two reasons: 1-had to find ways in cutting corners on custodial costs and, 2-tired of calling the plumber over since the kids were flushing the paper towels down the toilets and plugging up sewer lines since paper towels do not decompose like "t.p." does.

I use the 'can' and head out the door, hit the snakbar to grab some napkins to finish the drying. I don't like "living" in the bathroom if I can help it.

-Monte

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 07-21-2009, 10:19 AM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
Why these haven't appeared everywhere is a good question.

Check out the price. I think they are around $1000 per unit.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-21-2009, 10:40 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
You mean you don't when you use urinals?

I didn't say that. I'm saying that someone who doesn't like germs is probably going to be ok with the door to the stall having germs since they're going to wash their hands anyway.

Of course, this doesn't count for extreme germaphobes. But the joke's on them... people who are super-scared of germs and wear gloves/masks all the time get sick more often than normal people.

quote: Justin Hamaker
The main reason I prefer paper towels is so I can use one to open the restroom door when I leave. That's one reason I try to avoid using restrooms in McDonalds, Burger King, and others that don't even offer paper towels.

Based on the number of places that could easily not have them (and you seeming pretty worried about it), wouldn't you take it upon yourself to have a baggie with some towels in it at all times.

And I avoid McDonalds and Burger King for other reasons than their bathrooms. Their food sucks.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 07-21-2009, 12:09 PM:

We have 4 of the Dyson Air Blades in our building. People love them and they do work great. We also offer your everyday paper towel to dry your hands with as well.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 07-21-2009, 01:52 PM:

So, it seems that everybody here claims to wash their hands after using the john, that means half of you are liars. Surveys indicate that only about 50% of men wash hands and about 58% of women.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-21-2009, 02:07 PM:

You're assuming we're both
1) representative of the public
2) an adequate sample size

The latter is definitely not true and the former is probably not true (most people don't work in businesses that ingrain into you that washing hands is a big deal).

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-21-2009, 02:28 PM:

quote: Chris Slycord
Of course, this doesn't count for extreme germaphobes. But the joke's on them... people who are super-scared of germs and wear gloves/masks all the time get sick more often than normal people.

I couldn't agree more. Since they limit their exposure to germs, their immune system is far weaker. Poor fools.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-21-2009, 03:02 PM:

And even if you take yourself away from the immune system explanation, they statistically get sick more often.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 07-21-2009, 03:19 PM:

If it was my choice, I'd go with dryers in a heartbeat. Not having to deal with cans full of towel waste, not to mention the cost of the towels, would be convenient and much less expensive for me.

Only one thing prevents me from going this route; the fact that I already have long bathroom lines at intermission, and frequenly before I even start the first show. Electric dryers force people to stay in the restrooms much longer than it takes to tear off a towel & drop it off as you head for the door.

quote: Aaron Garman
Anyone still see those community towel mechanisms in which you pull the towel through the machine and then dry your hands?

Our State ferry system has used them for decades. They're not really that gross. You pull fresh material down from a roll, and the used towel loops back into the machine. A linen company picks up the used rolls, cleans and sanitizes them, and rotates them back to their customers. It's good for the ferry system, because they don't have to deal with getting bags of paper waste off the boats.

Otherwise, I don't see cloth towel rolls much anymore.

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 07-21-2009, 03:41 PM:

quote: Bill Enos
So, it seems that everybody here claims to wash their hands after using the john

Man at urinal: Where I come from we wash our hands.

2nd Man: Around here we don't piss on them.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 07-21-2009, 06:58 PM:

Chris, it's not that I'm worried about places not having paper towels. It's just that I when I've used public restrooms in busy establishments, I've noticed how many people don't bother to wash their hand - no matter what kind of "business" they have done. I would estimate that more than 50% of people don't even bother to run water over their hands.

I'm not a germaphobe, but I'm rather grossed out by the idea of touching a door handle after the guy who didn't bother to wash his hands after wiping his ass.

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 07-21-2009, 07:18 PM:

I've actually heard that the blow dryers are more unsanitary than paper towels since they blow dirty air and germs onto your hands. Think about it, how many times have you went to push that cruddy, dirty, silver button and used your elbow instead? Or have you seen how the air intake is gooped up with foreign matter and dust? That is the crap that it is blowing all over your hands! [puke]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-21-2009, 07:25 PM:

I would use my elbow to push the blower button mainly because my hands are dripping wet. But you don't want to know where my elbow has been!

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 07-22-2009, 06:16 AM:

quote: Randy Stankey
Step 1: Press button.
Step 2: Dry hands under warm air.
Step 3: Wipe hands on pants.

Or, more often that not:

Step 1: Press butt
Step 2: Rub hands under arm
Step 3: Stop auto at ally

or the bacon thing:

Posted by Ethan Harper (Member # 472) on 07-22-2009, 03:15 PM:

Oh man, I Love Bacon! Thanks, I'm hungry now!

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 07-22-2009, 06:26 PM:

The problem with the Dyson Airblade is that they blow air with so much force that the water on your hands goes flying in drops to the left and right of the blade. At Megaplex 17, this means the guy using the sink immediately to your left gets sprayed with the water from your hands.

Sort of amusing in that regard, actually...

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 07-22-2009, 06:46 PM:

Hand blowers should be banned and confiscated. The people responsible for making and deploying blowers should be rounded up and imprisoned for life. Maybe the seized blowers can be repurposed in the prison cells of the blower criminals. Let the offenders live with their product 24/7. Probably only with non-functioning heat though.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-22-2009, 08:35 PM:

quote: Sam Graham
The problem with the Dyson Airblade is that they blow air with so much force that the water on your hands goes flying in drops to the left and right of the blade.

They could solve that problem by enclosing the ends of the blowers. But that would make them harder to clean.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-22-2009, 09:04 PM:

Hey everybody! The Dyson Airblade is DIGITAL!

See! It says so right on the website!

http://www.dysonairblade.com/technology/howitworks.asp

quote:

How it works

1. Dirty washroom air is sucked in by the Dyson digital motor.

That means it HAS TO BE good! Right? [Big Grin]

But seriously! You guys all sound like a bunch of girls, all squealing about being afraid to touch dirty doorknobs with your bare hands!

JFC! It's not going to kill you!
If you really think the bathroom is so dirty go somewhere else to take a leak!

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-22-2009, 09:34 PM:

Yeah, like the parking lot. Well, maybe not the theater's parking lot.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 07-22-2009, 10:58 PM:

I use a paper towel to clean up after I get a hand blower.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 07-22-2009, 10:59 PM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
They could solve that problem by enclosing the ends of the blowers. But that would make them harder to clean.

No...then it would have nowhere to go but up at your face.

These things push some SERIOUS air.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-22-2009, 11:05 PM:

quote: Adam Martin
I use a paper towel to clean up after I get a hand blower.

Me too! The blower doesn't dry my hands enough so.... errr, wait....