I desperately hope this is the case, but a quick google couldn't find a link. Do you happen to have a citation that you'd recommend? I say this as someone who is a bit paranoid about hand cleanliness _and_ is very tired of cracked skin.
Beyond the citation though, it makes logical sense. The mechanism for sanitation is that the soap itself destroys the bacteria. This mechanism works regardless of temperature. Cold water + Soap should be just fine as long as your hands are otherwise visibly clean.
In the food industry, we were required to use high temperature water. This was presumably to remove actual surface contaminants (dirt, grease, other food contaminants) rather than for actual sanitation. That's why you might still see guidelines for using hotter water temperatures.
Does soap actively destroy bacteria, or does it mostly wash the oils off your hands, that bacteria are stuck to/are covered by, and send them down the drain?
I've always been taught it's the latter. Soaping your hands, and not rinsing will not sanitize them, you'll just end up with dirty, soapy hands.
> Use your preferred water temperature – cold or warm – to wash your hands. Warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands. The water helps create soap lather that removes germs from your skin when you wash your hands. Water itself does not usually kill germs; to kill germs, water would need to be hot enough to scald your hands.
Soap helps break down/encapsulate/dissolve oils/fat that aren't readily soluble in just water.
Which, that breakdown and encapsulation happens faster at higher temperatures - it’s a pretty predictable chemical process. At scalding hot or higher temps, the surfactants can sometimes break down or form weird side products though.
I too am a curious dry-skin person. I thought i had read something to the affect of the interaction between soaps and bacteria worked better in warm water than cold.
I'll be really interested if i can avoid warm water.
It’s bit ridiculous to ask for a citation for something as simple as washing hands. You could try for yourself during a week and see if it change something.
igneo676|4 years ago
Beyond the citation though, it makes logical sense. The mechanism for sanitation is that the soap itself destroys the bacteria. This mechanism works regardless of temperature. Cold water + Soap should be just fine as long as your hands are otherwise visibly clean.
In the food industry, we were required to use high temperature water. This was presumably to remove actual surface contaminants (dirt, grease, other food contaminants) rather than for actual sanitation. That's why you might still see guidelines for using hotter water temperatures.
vkou|4 years ago
I've always been taught it's the latter. Soaping your hands, and not rinsing will not sanitize them, you'll just end up with dirty, soapy hands.
e12e|4 years ago
Cdc agrees:
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/faqs.html
> Is it better to use warm water or cold water?
> Use your preferred water temperature – cold or warm – to wash your hands. Warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands. The water helps create soap lather that removes germs from your skin when you wash your hands. Water itself does not usually kill germs; to kill germs, water would need to be hot enough to scald your hands.
Soap helps break down/encapsulate/dissolve oils/fat that aren't readily soluble in just water.
lazide|4 years ago
blub|4 years ago
ajmurmann|4 years ago
via http://foodsafetytalk.com/food-safety-talk/2012/6/25/food-sa...
adkadskhj|4 years ago
I'll be really interested if i can avoid warm water.
tasogare|4 years ago
mattkrause|4 years ago