Washing your hands could do more harm than good – if you don’t dry them right...

The next time you’re in a public bathroom – skip the low-velocity hand dryer...

A new study found the high-velocity electric dryers are the most hygienic and effective. These are the air-jet dryers that strip water away while your hands are held still. The conventional warm-air hand dryers that require you to rub your hands together can actually bring bacteria in the skin to the surface. Most people are too impatient to let that machine dry the hands thoroughly – and any leftover moisture and bacteria is just transferred onto the next surface you touch.

Drying the hands thoroughly can be just as important as washing them. If paper towels are available, go with those – and don’t stop drying until your hands are REALLY dry.