Result: TRUE
Our reviewed evidence supports this claim.
Your claim
Washing hands with soap helps reduce the spread of coughs and colds.
What we found
Cold and cough germs can live on hands and surfaces. Washing hands often with soap and water helps remove them and lowers the chance of passing them on.
Why we gave this result
MedlinePlus, the NHS and CDC all advise handwashing to lower the risk of getting or spreading colds and respiratory infections.
Reliable sources (3)
- Common Cold (opens in a new tab) MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) https://medlineplus.gov/commoncold.html
- Common cold (opens in a new tab) NHS (UK) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/
- About Handwashing (opens in a new tab) US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
Always ask a doctor. This tool is for learning. It is not medical advice.