# How would you dry your hands if you care about Earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838 "2009-10-06T19:04:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/21 "2009-10-06T22:37:42Z")
If I had the money, I’d install a [Dyson Airblade](http://www.dysonairblade.com/homepage.asp) dryer in my home. Until then, I use cloth towels until I need to do a full washer-load of clothes. The other thing I’d add to my home is a [Toto Washlet](http://www.totousa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=88) seat and eliminate toilet paper from my life. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/22 "2009-10-06T22:37:54Z")
\*\*Rhythmdvl \*\* > [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Captain\_Awesome > ‘Irresponsibility; No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood’ . > [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by \*\*CC \*\* > No single raindrop IS responsible for the flood. > [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by \*\*Captain\_Awesome \*\* > Not being wholly responsible =! devoid of any responsibility. **Rhythmdvl** > [@](#): > > Irregardless. This situation is becoming inflammable! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/23 "2009-10-07T00:23:16Z")
> [@BlooD\_FeatheR\_BG](#): > > 2 - Napkins (good, but you must cut a lot of wood, not that friendly…right) Wood for paper pulp is generally farmed. Using paper towels doesn’t “waste wood” any more than eating bread “wastes wheat”. Trees are planted, harvested and replanted. OK, monoculture tree plantations aren’t much of a habitat compared with natural forest, but they absorb plenty of carbon as they grow. The main environmental issue with paper is that a lot of it is bleached using chlorine, which can pollute waterways etc. But many paper towels are made of unbleached pulp, which IMO is “greener” than recycled paper towels that have been bleached. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/24 "2009-10-07T17:40:43Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > But… you’re ignoring the OP’s question. He didn’t ask “How can I save the world?” he asked “What’s the most environmentally friendly way to dry my hands?” Since he’s already going to dry his hands, it seems reasonable to find the best way. I believe that I am attending to the OP by pointing out that such a concern is, by itself, nonsensical. Suppose, for example, that he had said, “For someone who is concerned about the color of the world’s oceans, where should I place a drop of food coloring?” I don’t wish to disparage his interest in the condition of his/our environment, but I do believe that for those who do have such concerns, the more effective routes relate not to individual behaviors, but to addressing the more significant sources of stressors. For example, an individual may have some impact in writing to a congressman regarding the pollution caused by ocean-going vessels. Even one letter has been known to make a politician aware of issues that have large impact, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/25 "2009-10-08T15:58:56Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > (In fact, on the issue of washing frequency, **Pan1** , I think you’re insane unless you work as a laborer. I have a nice, standard office job and wash shirts after two or three wearings. Pants can be worn at least twice that before washing.) I’ll wear t-shirts around the house more than once before I wash them, and sweatshirts out, but the clothing that comes in contact with your sweat glands (undershirts, dress shirts, underwear) should never be worn more than once if you wish to continue being welcome in polite company. (Disregard if you’re impolite, or French, BIRM :). ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/26 "2009-10-08T16:55:50Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > If I had the money, I’d install a [Dyson Airblade](http://www.dysonairblade.com/homepage.asp) dryer in my home. Ugh. I’ve used one of those at a local movie theatre and it was horrible. Your hands get about as dry as waving them in the air to remove the water droplets. ---
**Author:** ![NBYodo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9a28c/32.png) [@NBYodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBYodo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/27 "2009-10-09T08:37:58Z")
NoooooooO! They rock! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/28 "2009-10-09T09:05:26Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Ugh. I’ve used one of those at a local movie theatre and it was horrible. Your hands get about as dry as waving them in the air to remove the water droplets. You have to use them correctly, which involves using the slightly drier hand to dry off the other one, and repeat. And a make sure you shake your hands off in the sink first. They get my hands dry at least twice as fast as ordinary air dryers. And it usually takes me 3+ paper towels… I think the main advantage to air drying is the lack of waste, and perhaps the energy needed to handle that waste. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/29 "2009-10-09T09:28:24Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > (snip)The main environmental issue with paper is that a lot of it is bleached using chlorine, which can pollute waterways etc. But many paper towels are made of unbleached pulp, which IMO is “greener” than recycled paper towels that have been bleached. Not to pick nits, but it’s been decades since a lot of paper was bleached with chlorine, and it’s been at least 10 years since any significant portion of it was. Paper today is bleached primarily with chlorine dioxide. It seems like a small distinction, but it’s the little little things that matter. You wouldn’t say food with salt was flavored with chlorine, would you? The paper industry has spent a lot of money converting from chlorine bleaching to elemental chlorine free bleaching for environmental reasons. You’re right about the brown paper being greener though, mostly for energy reasons. It takes a lot of energy to bleach paper. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/30 "2009-10-09T12:42:36Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > There is a column about that. > > [What’s better for the environment, electric hand dryers or paper towels? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2721/whats-better-for-the-environment-electric-hand-dryers-or-paper-towels) Huh - I came into this thread to comment that I once submitted a question to Cecil on this very topic, when I first came across the Straight Dope. I got a very nice e-mail back from (I think) **Dex** to say that Cecil was too busy to answer my question right now, but I could go ask the SDMB - so I did, hence how I joined (I used to be a member, since February 2005, before free posting returned). I never realised it did eventually get to be a column! ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/31 "2009-10-09T20:54:28Z")
Wipe them on a passing racoon. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838/32 "2009-10-09T21:06:11Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Ugh. I’ve used one of those at a local movie theatre and it was horrible. Your hands get about as dry as waving them in the air to remove the water droplets. A few months ago, I was in an airport where they had these things. It worked fine for drying my hands, but didn’t help when I washed my face. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-dry-your-hands-if-you-care-about-earth/512838.md?page=1)