Just one paper towel

(Photo by Eduardo Bogosian / FreeRangeStock.com)

Where I work, we used to have good, quality paper towels in the restrooms to use after washing our hands, but as a cost-saving measure three or four years ago, someone higher up the chain than me decided that thinner towels were the way to go.

The problem, though, is that they're so much thinner than instead of using one towel, I now need three to get my hands completely dry. I wash my hands, then wave one hand in front of the dispenser, which has a motion sensor, to get it to roll out a towel. I rip that towel off with one hand and right away wave the other hand to get a second towel to roll out while I dry my hands as well as I can with the first towel. Then I throw away the first towel, rip off the second and wave my hand again for towel No. 3.

With that towel, I finish drying my hands then use it as a buffer between my hands and whatever germs might be lingering on the door handles as I exit.

When management first made the switch to the thinner towels, I felt guilty using so many towels, until a co-worker and I just happened to be talking about it one day and I found out that she does the same thing. Somehow, that made it OK in my mind.

But then I read an article titled "The List: One Green Thing To Do Each Day Of Earth Month" on the Recyclebank website that urges readers to just shake their hands dry when they use a public restroom.* Suddenly, I felt guilty all over again for using so many towels.

I don't plan to just shake my hands or let them drip dry; not at work anyway, because the doors open inward, and so many "Don't Spread The Flu Germs" flyers I've been in the past few years have recommended using a paper towel to grab door handles.

But that will be the only towel I'll use going forward.

*As the title suggests, the article contains dozens of other good green-living suggestions. I've bookmarked the site, so I'll likely revisit it in future posts.