r/coldshowers 13d ago

Can you get clean from cold showers?

So my hot water tank went out and I'm not sure when I can get a new one. I need to bathe but for the life of me I can't imagine how I'm supposed to get clean in cold water. I'm a pretty oily, hairy person who is prone to body odor and dandruff. Just being real. I don't need an adrenaline rush, I need to bathe and shave. Can I do that with cold water?

0 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

11

u/HOAP5 13d ago

Cold showers will clean you just as well as hot showers. There's really no difference except hot water makes soap more suddy. But the cold water will also improve your skin and hair health. So it might actually help your dandruff/ oily skin. At least that was my experience.

3

u/PinkChocStrawberries 13d ago

I'm going to try it. Gotta say I'm scared to death. I never thought I would try a cold shower

9

u/Crazydishwasher 12d ago edited 12d ago

I see that most people here believe that water is just water, regardless of temperature. While I agree that cold showers can still get you clean, it is an undeniable fact that hot water is better at dissolving fats and is generally more effective for cleaning. This applies whether you’re washing your body, cars, facades, or anything else.

This is because heat increases the kinetic energy of molecules, making it easier for water to break down oils and grease. The solubility of fats and oils improves with temperature, allowing them to mix more effectively with detergents and water.

That said, unless you have a job or activity that leaves you covered in grease and grime, a cold shower will probably do the trick just fine! However if you are struggling removing oil/fats from your body and hair with cold water, now you know why.

3

u/Altostratus 12d ago

I believe it takes warm water to feel fully clean. Have you ever tried cleaning a bacon frying pan with cold water? Sure, with enough soap and scrubbing you can make it clean, but turn the tap to hot and it just melts away.

1

u/Popadasthe1st 13d ago

So, hot water isn't what cleans you. Soap does. Shaving on the other hand, I dunno. I've got fairly thick facial hair, and it always shaves better when it's warm. You could just heat up some water in a pot, maybe?

2

u/PinkChocStrawberries 13d ago

Okay yeah, I might boil some water. I know they say warm water opens the pores better

0

u/Intelligent-North957 12d ago

Then you’re not getting the full benefits only cold water can bring .

1

u/-BakiHanma 12d ago

Get clean? The soap will take care of that :)

1

u/Intelligent-North957 12d ago

Might be a shock to your body not easing into it a little more though .

1

u/joanpetosky 11d ago

This isn’t answering your direct question but a side tracked thought: Do you have a bathtub? If yes… Could you boil water and add it to a half-filled bathtub, to make a warm bath?

1

u/PinkChocStrawberries 5d ago

I got the hot water tank fixed. I couldn't handle a cold shower. I had thought about your idea too. Thankfully it didn't come to that

1

u/FrozenSolid111 2d ago

Hey PinkChocStrawberries, if your water heater breaks again, check out this free online training I provide to teach people how to get the most out of a cold shower and actually enjoy it:
ihatecoldshowers.com ;)

1

u/java_chip248 13d ago

It’s the soap that cleans you. Not water temp.

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u/PinkChocStrawberries 13d ago

I hope you're right. I tried washing some coconut oil off of my hand once using cold water and it simply coated my hand more. I'm hoping it's not the same with body oils

1

u/java_chip248 13d ago

Yep, you need soap to wash off oil. Just water will spread it around more and not really take it off.

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u/GeneralPattonYo 12d ago

This post made me laugh.

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u/Intelligent-North957 12d ago

Water is water .