# Heat's Effect on Germs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568 "2003-06-26T17:54:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/1 "2003-06-26T17:54:09Z")
i’m sure someone will probably complain that i usede the term “germs” and was kinda vague, but here’s my question: temperature-wise, where’s the line between heat that breeds germs and heat that kills them? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/2 "2003-06-26T17:58:29Z")
It depends on the particular bug you are referring to, but for most, about 180 [sup]o[/sup]F is lethal. On the other hand there are some bacteria living in deep ocean thermal vents in temperatures exceeding 300 [sup]o[/sup]F. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/3 "2003-06-26T18:12:38Z")
okay. the reason i posted this is my toothbrush got dropped on the counter, and as i was running hot water (as hot as it goes, but probaqbly not 180) over it, i thought “gee, i hope i’m not making it worse.” i would’ve put rubbing alcohol on it, but i didn’t think that would taste very good. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/4 "2003-06-26T18:16:07Z")
You could always boil it, if you’re that concerned about germs. That’s ~212 [sup]o[/sup]F right there, assuming the toothbrush will handle the temp without melting. ---
**Author:** ![fluoextinchcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@fluoextinchcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluoextinchcl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/5 "2003-06-26T18:17:24Z")
Soak it in a mouthwash with alcohol in it. Minty. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/6 "2003-06-26T19:37:32Z")
The threshold for keeping food safely is 140 degrees F. I doubt that your water heater is set that high… most are around 120-130 F. How about using the mouthwash on yourself tonight, and getting another toothbrush tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/7 "2003-06-26T20:08:20Z")
You dropped your toothbrush on the counter? Hell, I _keep_ my toothbrush on the counter. Unless you live in a bubble (or an absolute pigsty), you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/8 "2003-06-26T20:11:08Z")
Hmmm, I responded to a duplicate post in a parallel thread. You dropped it on the _counter_ and you’re worried about germs? What germs are on your counter that aren’t likely to be on your toothbrush already? I assume you mean bathroom counter–a kitchen counter can have all kinds of food-borne nasties. Just wash it with soap and hot water, that’ll kill most anything that you would need to worry about. And warm temperatures in your toothbrush will probably do little to foster bacteria growth since there’s not a lot of nutrients in there (unlike, say, a chicken breast). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/9 "2003-06-26T20:22:05Z")
I dip my toothbrush in Listerine like once every 2 weeks to kill anything in there. And I seem to get a better brush out of it that way, so that’s just a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Apoptosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Apoptosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apoptosis)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heats-effect-on-germs/184568/10 "2003-06-26T23:11:45Z")
**Nametag** nailed it. The paranoia about microbes that exists these days is stunning. In fact, some people believe that this paranoia has led to an increased incidence of: A. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria- [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list\_uids=12406732&dopt=Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12406732&dopt=Abstract) B. Atopic disease- [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list\_uids=12642824&dopt=Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12642824&dopt=Abstract) Unless you are culturing _H. pylori_ on your bathroom counter, your toothbrush is fine. -Apoptosis