Wait, What? This is the Right Temperature to Wash Your Hands So They're Disinfected, Says the CDC

It might be time to turn down that heat.

Learning how to wash our hands is one of the very first skills we’re taught as kids. This is exactly why it’s so mind-boggling that so many people don’t do it correctly. (Ever use a public restroom and see someone stick their hands under a faucet for all of two seconds?)

While hand washing is always important for staying healthy, it’s especially front of mind right now with the trifecta of COVID, the flu and RSV seemingly everywhere. “When performed correctly, hand washing is a great way to prevent ourselves from getting sick and spreading viruses, bacteria and other germs,” says Joseph Mann, MSN, FNP-C, a family nurse practitioner and the Global Medical Science Liaison at BD.

Maybe in an effort to stay healthy, you’ve made it a habit of washing your hands using super-hot water. Is it true that using steamy water is better than washing up with cold water? Keep reading to find out.

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What Water Temperature Is Best for Hand Washing?

According to the CDC, there's no difference between washing with hot or cold water when it comes to getting rid of germs. Mann says that he completely understands the logic behind the idea that the hotter the water is, the more effective it is for killing germs. After all, we boil water to get rid of germs when cooking and many people wash their dishes with hot water. But the truth is that using hot or cold water when washing your hands is equally as effective.

Russell G. Buhr, MD, PhD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at UCLA Health, says that this is because it’s not the water temperature that’s important; it’s the friction between the soap and water. “The soap dissolves the oils that make up the little envelope that enclose viruses and the walls of cells of other pathogens like bacteria and also helps remove the oils from your skin that help the pathogens stick to your hands. The friction helps break them away from your skin,” Dr. Buhr explains.

Dr. Buhr adds that while warm water can help wash the soap away faster and remove sticky substances easier, this isn’t the most critical part of preventing illness. Again, it comes back to that friction.

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Common Hand-Washing Mistakes to Avoid

While the temperature of the water doesn’t make a difference when you’re washing your hands, both Dr. Buhr and Mann say that what does matter is how much time you spend scrubbing. “A good duration is at least 20 seconds of rubbing your hands together,” Dr. Buhr explains. This helps create enough friction necessary to remove oils from the skin. Mann recommends singing the happy birthday song twice in your head while you wash your hands to make sure you’re scrubbing long enough.

When you’re washing your hands, Mann says that you want to make sure to scrub the palms of your hands, backs of your hands, fingers and under your fingernails. If you want to wash your hands exactly as a healthcare professional would, it’s important to cover all these spots thoroughly.

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In terms of what soap is best, Dr. Buhr explains that any soap is fine; regular soap is just as effective as antibacterial soap. “I prefer a moisturizing soap as someone who washes his hands dozens of times a day in the hospital to keep my skin from getting too dry,” he says.

While washing your hands throughout the day—especially after being out in public, after using the restroom and before eating—is key for staying healthy, Mann emphasizes that other preventative measures are important too, such as getting the flu shot and COVID vaccine and booster. If you do feel sick, he recommends taking a rapid COVID test so you know to isolate if it’s positive and not spread the virus to others.

It can be hard to avoid sickness this time of year, but washing your hands regularly is one action step you can take to keep yourself healthy. And it’s one that’s beneficial no matter how hot or cold the water is! 

Next up, see a list of 15 foods that help support the immune system.

Sources

• Frequent Questions About Hand Hygiene. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

• Joseph Mann, MSN, FNP-C, family nurse practitioner and Global Medical Science Liaison at BD

• Russell G. Buhr, MD, PhD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at UCLA Health