Ever since we were children, it has been drilled into our brains that we need to wash our hands with hot water in order to get rid of all those nasty germs. And we have, in turn, passed this on to our own little ones.

 

According to the latest research, however, the temperature of the water you and your family are using to wash your hands doesn’t matter in the slightest!

 

Scientists from Rutgers University New Brunswick carried out a study, through which they determined that hot and cold water will kill the same amount of germs.

 

The study involved 20 people, who were each asked to wash their hands at different temperatures, using different amounts of soap. They had to do this 20 times.

 

 

Previously, each participant to the study had had their hands covered with ‘harmless bugs’.

 

According to the research report, published in the Journal of Food Protection, each person washed their hands at 15C, 26C and 38C. At the end of the study, the team analysed their results.

 

They discovered that the amount of germs killed off was the very same for each water temperature and volume of soap.

 

While the team acknowledged that this was a very small study, and further research will be required; lead author Professor Donald Schaffner said that we probably shouldn't let water temperature stress us out!

 

“People need to feel comfortable when they are washing their hands, but as far as effectiveness, this study shows us that the temperature of the water used did not matter,” he said.

 

 

Experts the world over have previously recommended that we wash our hands for 20 seconds, first wetting the hands, and then lathering them with soap on the front and back.

 

See, mums, it really is something of a science, after all!

 

This is just the latest interesting piece of research to reach our news desk; earlier today, we learned that experts are now recommending mums to chew on gum three times a day, in order to help with the recovery process after a C-section.

 

Well, what do you think about the latest recommendations for hand-washing? Have you always stuck with hot water? Would you be willing to change it up now? Let us know!

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