Many pathogens are passed from hand to hand and from doorknob to doorknob, for example in the office. Frequent hand washing protects against smear infections, for example with gastrointestinal viruses. The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) points this out. But thorough hand drying is also part of it.

Because: Where it is damp, germs can multiply well. Anyone who washes their hands should therefore dry them thoroughly as soon as possible. And rub off pathogens that can still cling to damp hands after washing.

Clean disposable towels are best for this. But hand dryers also blow moisture from the hands – and pathogens that have already become detached from the skin during washing. Cloth towels used in public toilets, on the other hand, should be left to one side. Germs can stick to them.

By the way: Whether the water comes out of the tap cold or warm when you wash your hands is irrelevant. In order to safely get rid of germs, it is more important that hands are thoroughly soaped and washed for at least 20 seconds.

This news are from the German press agency.