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Old 03-30-2005, 09:15 AM   #6
Marant
Elite Waterdeep Guard
 

Join Date: March 10, 2005
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Age: 46
Posts: 31
From tests we did in the lab, it depends on whether you are using hot or cold water, soap or not, and whether you're bothered about friendly bacteria.

1) Cold water and no soap: fairly large amount of bacteria remain on the skin, many unfriendly ones left.

2.) Cold water and soap: Fewer bacteria remain as the soap kills many of them off.

3.) Warm water and soap: Loads of bacteria left on the skin, as warm water opens the skin's pores and lets them out. However, the soap has killed most of the unfriendly bacteria first and the ones coming out of the pores are largely friendly (help keep your skin healthy).

4.) Warm water and no soap: Masses of bacteria on your skin and the warm water makes all the bacteria grow like crazy - including the unfriendly ones. May be worse that not washing hands in some cases. (However, if there's something icky on your skin then always best to wash.)

Oh.. and unless you've got an infection or something, pee is completely sterile - you could be doing yourself wrong by washing your hands. But spreading pee around to go stale and host/feed bacteria later won't make you many friends when they get sick.. so still wash (unless you're true or chaotic evil)!
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