Shedding Light on Hand Dryers: The Purpose of Blue Light and Its Fascinating History
Hand dryers are an essential and familiar sight in washrooms, providing an effective and hygienic alternative to paper towels. But despite the amount of times you use a hand dryer each week, you may not have given much though to one particular feature - the blue light. More than just a decorative feature, there is a purpose behind the blue light.
Delve into the mystery behind the blue light on hand dryers, its history, significance, and whether it’s still relevant for today’s high-tech hygiene standards.
What is the blue light on hand dryers?
Believe it or not, the blue light on hand dryers is more than just an aesthetic feature. The blue light helps users identify where to place their hands for optimal drying. This is particularly useful for hand dryers with high-speed air streams, ensuring hands are positioned correctly for maximum efficiency.
But beyond its main function, there is a little psychology behind the inclusion of blue lights on hand dryers. Blue light is often associated with cleanliness and hygiene, so adding this subtle feature can make the drying process feel more reassuring to users.
The history behind the blue light
Blue lights are a fairly recent addition to hand dryers, becoming common when high-speed hand dryers started launching in the early 2000s. Hand dryer designs started focusing on more than just drying speed, adding features like motion sensors and LED lighting to help improve the user experience.
Using blue light is common for hygiene applications and in healthcare settings thanks to the germicidal properties of UV light. While the blue light on most hand dryers doesn’t sterilise surfaces or hands, the colour itself can help create a sense of advanced hygiene technology. Over time, the blue light has become a modern feature of modern hand dryers, becoming a familiar sight - even if you weren’t aware of its function or purpose.
Are blue lights still important for modern hand dryers?
The introduction of touchless technology, HEPA filters, and higher drying speeds have helped create modern hand dryers that are effective and hygienic, and continue to use blue lights to help users navigate the appliances and ensure they remain user-friendly. While younger users might not need a visual cue to position their hands correctly, it can still be a vital feature for those who are older or visually impaired.
Creating a hygienic washroom environment
Blue lights are a useful and necessary feature for hand dryers, helping to create hygienic washroom environments. Used with other features and facilities, you can help keep your visitors happy and comfortable. Some other ways you can maintain a clean and accessible washroom include:
Touchless fixtures
Using motion-activated soap dispensers, taps, and hand dryers helps reduce contact points, lowering the risk of germ transmission.
Regular maintenance
Ensuring hand dryers are cleaned and serviced regularly prevents the accumulation of dirt and germs, helping them maintain their efficiency and hygiene.
User-based washroom design
Beyond hand dryers, a clean washroom should include proper ventilation, accessible facilities, and clear signage.
Focusing on using advanced technology and good maintenance practices helps businesses and organisations create washrooms that prioritise both hygiene and user experience.
Discover the latest in hand dryer innovation from phs Warner Howard
While the blue light may seem like a small feature for hand dryers, it is a significant one. Not only does it show how far technology has come, but it’s also a useful feature that can help users get the most out of using a dryer. As hygiene standards continue to rise, the blue light shows that even the smallest details can make a difference in creating a safe and welcoming washroom environment.
If you’re looking for hand dryers for your washroom, phs Warner Howard can help. Explore our full selection of hand dryers and kit out your washroom with the latest in hand drying technology.