# Deafening Dryers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895 "2014-09-19T01:33:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/1 "2014-09-19T01:33:31Z")
I don’t know if I can summon up enough vitriol to justify having chosen The BBW Pit for this thread, but FUCK! (maybe that’ll do it?) I despise the noise the hand dryers in public restrooms make. The newer ones, especially, produce enough decibels to cause me real pain when I’m unlucky enough to be stuck in the same room when somebody decides to use one. I don’t know if they actually can damage hearing, but I do know that I wash my hands and escape from the washroom at top speed, wiping my hands on my jeans as I flee (yuch!). The idea seems to be that they save trees by saving paper but Jeez! doesn’t noise pollution and preserving hearing and stress count for anything? I’d even be willing to shell out a nickel per paper towel used to help plant more trees, as long as those newer jet-engine hand dryers were withdrawn. Aren’t there any viable alternatives? Or are malls shamed by environment nags into buying these eardrum bullies? The older models, though obnoxious, were considerably quieter. I guess the new ones are more powerful. Hurray! Now everyone can yell even louder wherever they go because they can’t hear very well. God forbid they should have to stand there a few seconds longer with an older model until their hands are perfectly dry! At least their hands will be dry speedy quick and the environment scolds can pat themselves on the back. Thank you, or should I say THANK YOU FOR READING! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/2 "2014-09-19T01:34:21Z")
Speak up. ---
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/3 "2014-09-19T01:38:31Z")
😛 GOOD ONE, ANDROS! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/4 "2014-09-19T01:42:17Z")
Well, it was an easy shot on an open goal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/5 "2014-09-19T01:45:02Z")
Have you had your hearing checked lately, or have you noticed any changes in how you react to sound? Extreme sensitivity to noise is actually an early sign of certain types of hearing loss, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/6 "2014-09-19T01:47:23Z")
> [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](#): > > I don’t know if I can summon up enough vitriol to justify having chosen The BBW Pit for this thread Sorry, that’s [next door](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Beautiful_Woman). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/7 "2014-09-19T03:31:41Z")
Easy enough problem to solve, if you want to protect your ears. Just wad up some paper towels and stuff th– hmm. Okay, nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/8 "2014-09-19T11:23:41Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Have you had your hearing checked lately, or have you noticed any changes in how you react to sound? Extreme sensitivity to noise is actually an early sign of certain types of hearing loss, IIRC. Maybe you haven’t encountered one, but the kind of dryers he’s (?) talking about really are very loud. I like them, though, in particular the way they flay all the skin off your hands so they end up pink and smooth. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/9 "2014-09-19T11:50:24Z")
The BBW Pit? Sounds like a gentleman’s club for admirers of Rubinesque women. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/10 "2014-09-19T12:00:03Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Have you had your hearing checked lately, or have you noticed any changes in how you react to sound? Extreme sensitivity to noise is actually an early sign of certain types of hearing loss, IIRC. I think the OP is referring to hand dryers that are very noticeably and distinctly louder than other hand dryers in common use. Some of them really are painfully loud. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/11 "2014-09-19T13:30:54Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Have you had your hearing checked lately, or have you noticed any changes in how you react to sound? Extreme sensitivity to noise is actually an early sign of certain types of hearing loss, IIRC. Thanks for contributing to my hypochondria. But the dryers the OP is complaining about are really seriously loud – to the point where I’m frankly baffled that they are allowed. It’s like sticking your hands in a Boeing 747 exhaust to dry them. And they’re usually installed in a small restrooms with lots of ceramic to make sure that the acoustics are even more perfect for hearing loss. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/12 "2014-09-19T15:02:27Z")
Maybe it’s a stretch, but “We have a great hand dryer that works perfectly except it ruins your ears” seems to me an excellent example of Finagle’s First Law. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/13 "2014-09-19T15:06:39Z")
I can’t convince my three year old to go into public restrooms at all because of the hand dryer noise. It makes the nine-hour car trips to my parents’ house… interesting. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/14 "2014-09-19T19:23:23Z")
> [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](#): > > The idea seems to be that they save trees by saving paper but Jeez! doesn’t noise pollution and preserving hearing and stress count for anything? I’d even be willing to shell out a nickel per paper towel used to help plant more trees, as long as those newer jet-engine hand dryers were withdrawn. > > Aren’t there any viable alternatives? Or are malls shamed by environment nags into buying these eardrum bullies? > > The older models, though obnoxious, were considerably quieter. I guess the new ones are more powerful. Hurray! Now everyone can yell even louder wherever they go because they can’t hear very well. > > God forbid they should have to stand there a few seconds longer with an older model until their hands are perfectly dry! > > At least their hands will be dry speedy quick and the environment scolds can pat themselves on the back. I’m pretty sure the air dryers are: 1. Cheaper than restocking paper towels from a labor as well as material standpoint. 2. Can’t be used to plug sinks/toilets ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/15 "2014-09-19T21:10:57Z")
Oh, those kind of dryers. I was about to complain that my clothes dryer is ridiculously quiet, and doesn’t even buzz when it’s done, so I’m always forgetting about my laundry until hours later when my clothes are all cold and wrinkly, goddammit. :mad: And I do despise restrooms that don’t stock paper towels. Ever try to wipe away food from your pants or shirt collar with a mechanical dryer? Or blow your nose with one? CAN’T BE DONE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/16 "2014-09-20T01:21:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The BBW Pit? Sounds like a gentleman’s club for admirers of Rubinesque women. :o oops! Though, as a woman myself, I think Rubens painted some pretty fine-looking women! I didn’t expect many people would have something to say about the new megasonic hand dryers and am pleasantly surprised to find out that I’m not alone in my revulsion for the things. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/17 "2014-09-20T02:59:10Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > And I do despise restrooms that don’t stock paper towels. Ever try to wipe away food from your pants or shirt collar with a mechanical dryer? Or blow your nose with one? CAN’T BE DONE!!! No kidding. In that situation I go to one of the stalls and grab a couple of assgaskets. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/18 "2014-09-20T03:07:15Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Have you had your hearing checked lately, or have you noticed any changes in how you react to sound? Extreme sensitivity to noise is actually an early sign of certain types of hearing loss, IIRC. On the other hand, insensitivity to extremely loud noises can also indicate dimished hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deafening-dryers/698895/19 "2014-09-20T03:34:05Z")
We’ve got those at work. They’ve installed one in each restroom, so during rush hour, people are queued up waiting to dry their hands. On the plus side, it’s easy to tell the people who aren’t washing their hands after relieving themselves, since the dryer can be heard on most of the floor. Although I guess some people might drying their hands on the clothes.