Washing your hands with soap and water is critical in removing oils that potentially hold harmful bacteria that can be living on your hands after touching and coming in contact with an infected area. When you have harmful bacteria on your hands, you can infect yourself by touching your face, and the bacteria will enter the body through the eyes, mouth, or nose. By washing your hands regularly, you can stop the spread of infectious disease and get sick less often. However, there is a correct way of washing your hands that is more effective in killing bacteria. In this article, we will discuss the importance of water temperature when washing your hands.
Using Hot or Cold Water
When washing your hands, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that you wash your hands with water that is around 100 degrees. Using hot water ensures that the oils on your hands that may be harboring harmful diseases are effectively removed. Another reason is the comfort of washing your hands with warm water compared to cold water. It is recommended that you wash your hands for 20-seconds each time to ensure your hands are clean, and you had enough time to clean the hands with soap properly. Modern hand soaps have been designed to work better when someone is washing their hands with hot water. The handsoap will build up a better lather and remove all of the potentially harmful bacteria on your hands.
While hot water is the more effective and comfortable option, using cold water is better than not washing your hands at all. If your home’s plumbing system cannot heat quickly or reach the 100 degrees recommended temperature, speak with a plumber about your water heater.
An Inefficient Water Heater
If you have noticed a long delay in your home’s water heating or your home’s water temperature cannot get hot, it may be time to speak with your plumber about an inefficient or broken water heater. A water heater that is working efficiently will be able to reach the Food and Drug Administration’s 100-degree recommendation within a short period. There can be numerous reasons why your water heater may not be working in your home. Some of the most common signs of a water heater needing to be replaced are excess rusting, leaking, or the inability to heat your home’s water. A fully functional water heater will also allow for more comfortable showers in your home as well.
