Can You Wash Hands With Cold Water?
Sniffle season has begun, and with the added spread of swine flu, it’s even more important to be vigilant about frequent handwashing. Fortunately, the challenge of getting kids to suds up just got a little easier.
While the FDA states that washing hands with hot, soapy water is the only way to ensure bacteria are killed, recent evidence suggests otherwise. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that when it comes to handwashing, the water temperature makes no difference—as long as participants washed long enough (about 25 seconds), they were able to rid their hands of germs.
The takeaway? Your kid can wash her hands at whatever water temperature is comfortable for her.
-Marygrace, KIWI staffer
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2 comments
That is a great fact to share! Thanks so much — and I’ll be passing it along to my network
Not using hot water to wash your hands also saves some energy from the water heater, especially if you have a super energy efficient water-heater such as a ‘point-of-use’ heater.
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