At least several companies offer their own version of a wash and dry station for a public restroom. It is a great idea to dispense soap, wash one’s hands, move them over a bit and then dry them in one motion. Saniflow Corp. posted an article earlier this year entitled, “Wash and Dry Stations: What are they and why are they the best method for hand hygiene?” The article does a great job explaining what these stations are, the benefits they provide, and where it is best to install a washing and drying station. Below is a slimmed down version of that article:
Let’s go by steps: What does a hand washing and drying station consist of?
A hand washing and drying station is an innovative solution that allows hands to be soaped, rinsed and dried in the sink itself, without changing position and without having to move around the restroom, making the cleaning process much easier, safer, and faster for the user—while also being a much cleaner option for the facility and maintenance team.
Hand washing and drying stations include an electric hot air hand dryer, soap dispenser and water faucet, all of which are automatic.
What benefits does a hand washing and drying station provide?
As was previously mentioned, all the elements that make up a hand washing and drying station (hand dryer, soap dispenser and water tap) are automatic. This means that, to start them, the user does not have to physically interact with any of them. They do so through infrared detectors that detect the presence of the hands when they approach the taps and automatically start them up. This is where the first of these benefits is born: the impossibility of contracting an infection due to cross contamination. As there is no physical contact between the user and the taps, there can be no transmission of germs from the tap to the user’s hand, making this a more hygienic option.
The second benefit is the safety and physical integrity of the user. In a traditional public restroom, in most cases, each element involved in the hand washing and drying process is installed in a different place and sometimes very far from the sink itself. It is not surprising that there is a single soap dispenser for several sinks, or that hand dryers or tissue dispensers are also far from the respective sinks. This means that the user performs each phase of hand washing in a different space in the bathroom and, therefore, must move around. This inevitably causes soap and water to fall to the ground, with the consequent risk of causing slips that trigger an accident due to the user falling to the ground. With a hand washing and drying station, this risk is reduced to a minimum since, as all the hand washing and drying operations are carried out in the same sink, the water and soap do not fall on the floor and therefore slips and accidents can be avoided.
Energy, water and soap savings. This would be the third benefit of an automatic hand washing and drying station. The state-of-the-art Machflow Plus hand dryers that a station such as the Saniflow All-in-One incorporates have low energy consumption. They consume between 80 to 90 percent less electrical energy than a traditional hand dryer. On the other hand, the use of paper towels is minimized, which also represents significant savings and makes the restroom much more sustainable.
A hand washing and drying station allows architects, space designers and interior designers to project much more open-plan, minimalist, elegant and orderly commercial restrooms. A hand washing and drying station allows one to get rid of some typical barriers in public restrooms. Since objects such as hand dryers, paper towel dispensers, wastebaskets or soap dispensers disappear from the walls and counters, it allows for the space to be used to the maximum and, therefore, much larger, functional, and barrier-free restrooms are achieved.
The fifth and last benefit that a hand washing and drying station provides us is saving time for the user. An All-in-One solution allows you to spend less time in the restroom, since the user has all the necessary elements for washing and drying their hands integrated into the sink itself.
Where to install a hand washing and drying station?
Public restrooms with a high volume of use, such as restrooms in shopping centers, airports, hotels, or sports facilities, are the ideal candidates. In all these places, where the influx of people is very high, the hand washing and drying stations fit perfectly since, apart from providing an excellent service, they allow the creation of unique experiences by ensuring that each corner of the restroom conveys the same efficient language.
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
