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What is the Right Temperature of Water for Hand Washing?

One of the most common misconceptions today is that heat is necessary to get things clean, especially when it comes to the right water temperature for hand washing. But, a study has revealed that cool water temperatures are actually more effective in eliminating similar amount of dangerous bacteria like hot water during the process of hand washing.

Research revealed that the safe temperature of water for hand washing is all about your comfort than anything else, including the amount of time you spend washing, your behaviors, and how you thoroughly dry your hands. 

Where Did the Idea of Water Temperature for Hand Washing Come From?

The process of hand washing as a part of a personal hygiene is something that has been around for many centuries. However, this is also associated with helping in preventing the spread of different infectious diseases for the past 200 years. It was only during the last several decades that the written guidelines were officially made.

Time is More Important Than Water Temperatures

Studies revealed that there is no such thing as a specific water temperature that is recommended for hand washing with a significant impact on bacteria reduction. The use of antimicrobial soaps wasn’t proven to offer substantially more effective results compared to the use of regular soaps when it comes to the water temperature or the process of hand washing in general. But, the amount of lather showed substantial improvement in a specific scenario. It seems than 10 seconds is the sweet spot because it was effective in germ removal in the least amount of time.

Hand Washing Products with No Significant Effects

There is no such thing as a perfect hand hygiene product and each one has its own set of pros and cons. A plain soap’s cleaning activity is primarily mechanical or detergent in the removal of dirt as well as other organic substances from the hands. But, it didn’t show to get rid of pathogens from the hands of the study subjects. 

But, the study revealed that drying your hands is important for a more effective hand washing process. Using paper towels for drying hands is more effective at germ removal than just letting water air dry or evaporate on the hands over time. There are also debates regarding the efficacy of using restroom hand dryers when it comes to hand sanitation.

Hand Hygiene Can Affect Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces

Taps and sinks are some of the common sources of microorganisms and pathogenic bacteria that can get transferred to the hands when washing them. It is the reason why using motion sensor automated sinks and no-touch taps is more preferred. 

Another essential element is focusing on the improvement of the cleanliness of facilities with cleaning products and techniques. It often involves working with a reliable commercial cleaning service company like Courtesy Building Services Inc. that cleans for the purpose of health first instead of appearances and aesthetics alone, which is all that matters, especially in these times.