What's The Cleanest Way To Dry Your Hands After Washing Them?

As cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) climb around the world, people are on high alert looking for ways to protect themselves and avoid germs. One tried-and-true method to help limit the spread of germs is, of course, washing your hands. But we need to talk about drying your hands.

According to one 2018 review in the Journal of Infection Prevention, not drying your hands in a medical setting (either at all or not well enough) is an infection risk, as wet hands increase the chances for cross-infection and environmental contamination2.

That's because the transmission of bacteria, which clings to moisture, is more likely to happen between wet skin than dry3. Drying your hands takes care of the moisture, as well as some of that transference if you're using a paper towel, which will go in the trash.

Once your hands have been washed, there is a proper way to dry them.

According to the World Health Organization, hands should be dried thoroughly with either a paper towel or a warm air dryer4. But there are studies that suggest hand dryers actually blow germs around, which is why they may be best avoided, especially in settings like hospitals and clinics.

If they're your only option, it's better than nothing to get your hands dry. However, disposable paper towels would seem to be the best bet. (Cloth towels can hold on to germs.)