The surprising truth about washing your hands with cold water

Washing your hands with cool or cold water may be more effective than you think. A 2017 study in the Journal of Food Protection found that the temperature of the water was not the biggest factor in killing germs on the hands of volunteers, but instead there was a stronger effect created by lather time — that means soap, soap, soap. To be noted, this study used antimicrobial soap and tested their experiment for the effectiveness of killing the E. Coli bacteria on a small sample of 20 people. This study should not be used to make decisions during the COVID-19 outbreak, as it recommended only 10 seconds of hand washing. The study does, however, seem to back up another 2013 study listed on the CDC website and currently on PubMed, noting that temperature is not the main factor in cleaning effectiveness.

So, surprise! Studies show that if you are out of hot water, cold water can still help to effectively clean hands. 

Water temperature matters less than time or technique

So, surprise! Studies show that if you are out of hot water, cold water can still help to effectively clean hands. 

Water temperature matters less than time or technique

If for some reason you don’t have soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is your next best choice. And remember, any efforts at improving hand hygiene and social distancing can help. It’s our individual efforts that will make the difference.

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