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Is it better to wash your hands in warm or cold water?

Updated: 9/27/2023
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Stefanie Raynor

Lvl 10
3y ago

Best Answer

Although the FDA mandates warm water for those in food service, the CDC says any temperature is fine, so it's a bit of a contested subject.

Heat is known to kill bacteria, but the temperature and duration of exposure required would seriously damage human skin, so that argument for warm water is a bust. Additionally, some advocate for washing in cool water because it uses less energy and is therefore more environmentally friendly.

Anyway, no matter the temperature, washing your hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds is good practice.

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Nelda Waters

Lvl 10
3y ago
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
Warm/hot works better for greases/oils.
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
In medical school they teach that warm water opens the pores, so that you get REALLY clean with soap and friction and rinse, grab a clean towel dry and use it to turn off the water
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
yes i agree
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
cool
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Vertical Limit Roofi...

Lvl 1
3y ago
yes it is better
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
n
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
Warm/hot works better for greases/oils.
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
I am Anonymous
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Vaidehi Agnihotri

Lvl 1
3y ago
It's better to wash your hands in warm water as it kills germs. But cold water 💦 makes it a bit easier for germs
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OLUWADARASIMI OKELAN...

Lvl 1
3y ago
looser
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Mint Cream

Lvl 4
3y ago

Washing them with cold or lukewarm water will work just as well as hot water to remove bacteria, according to a new study published in the Journal of Food Protection.

In handwashing experiments with 21 volunteers, Rutgers University researchers found no significant difference in cleaning power between water that was 60, 79 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They also found that lathering hands for just 10 seconds was sufficient to remove germs.

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Glacier

Lvl 6
3y ago

Cold water is just as effective as warm water for washing your hands.

There's a misconception that warm water kills more germs - it doesn't because the water is not hot enough to kill germs, unless the water you're using is hot enough to burn your hands.

Warm water is more comfortable though, but it takes longer for the tap to generate it. The effects will be the same as long as you wash with soap for at least 20 seconds.

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ORHID

Lvl 2
2y ago

It is better to wash your hands in medium water

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Tazul Islam

Lvl 6
2y ago

Of course, it is better to wash your hands with warm water. It kills germs.

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sofianoviello

Lvl 6
3y ago

Warm is better, you get it clean better. Cold is just so torturous.

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energyland

Lvl 3
2y ago

Only in the coldest water available

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Rozella Berge

Lvl 1
2y ago
ty!!

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KAITLYN JOHN

Lvl 3
3y ago

warm water because it will kill more germs

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
But remember, warm water can damage your skin as well, so if I were you, I would choose cold. But not too cold though.

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Tumi

Lvl 2
3y ago

Heat kills more bacteria

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maitashmic

Lvl 2
3y ago

warm is always better

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