Monday 23 April 2012

UV Towel Warmers don't make sense

Why do people insist on getting UV towel warmers with hot towel cabis?  I often ask myself when I get this request.  The main thought is that you are getting two machines in one.  You are obviously getting a towel warmer, but then people think they're also getting a UV sterilizer that will somehow sterilize the towels.

Let's be clear on one thing and that is that UV light will maintain a sterile environment and kill certain germs and pathogens.  The big catch is that this is only true where the light actually touches the item you want sterilized.  So you've got 24 rolled up towels inside a hot towel cabinet and a UV light bulb in the back.  What surface area do you think the light actually hits?  Let's just say it's limited at best and misses most of the hot towels altogether.

If you want a UV sterilizer, that's fine just keep things separate.  UV sterilizers are inexpensive and so are hot towel cabis.  You're much better off keeping these functions separate.  The final downside...have you ever tried to find a replacement UV bulb for that towel warmer?  They'll probably run $30 or more if you can even get one from the manufacturer!  Keep things simple and keep things separate.