# Refrigerating Listerine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532 "2005-09-01T01:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spf14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@spf14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spf14)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/1 "2005-09-01T01:43:39Z")
Is it OK to refrigerate Listerine? The bottle itself says nothing about this other than “Cold weather may cloud this product. Its antiseptic properties are not affected”, and that optimum storage conditions are 59-77F. I tried refrigerating the last mouthful of a bottle a few days ago, and the killer burn commonly associated with Listerine was greatly reduced, which is great because the burn is a bitch every time. I figured that it was because it wasn’t killing germs as well, which is the point of using Listerine in the first place. So, assuming Listerine’s antiseptic properties derive most of its antiseptic properties from the alcohol, does temperature affect it? If not, is there anything else I can do to reduce the burn? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/2 "2005-09-01T01:45:56Z")
It burns because of menthol and alcohol. As long as the bottle cap is on, either one should keep the burn and their antiseptic properties even if it’s refrigerated. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/3 "2005-09-01T02:50:28Z")
A lower temperature may negatively affect the solubility of “mung,” if you’ll forgive the technical jargon there. This is an endothermic process. Heat in the solvent (ethanol) provides energy required to break the bonds in the solids. (Mung, plaque.) You may notice less of a burn because it’s less penetrating. In this regard, refrigerating Listerine may reduce its efficacy. It’ll still kill germs on contact, which I suppose is the main thing, but it may not leave your mouth as clean. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/4 "2005-09-01T15:42:12Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > This is an endothermic process. Heat in the solvent (ethanol) provides energy required to break the bonds in the solids. (Mung, plaque.) You may notice less of a burn because it’s less penetrating. So conversely, would warming Listerine make it more effective? Mmmm, warm Listerine, kind of like sake. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/5 "2005-09-01T16:12:57Z")
Temperature also affects the response of your taste buds, so the refrigerated listerine may be doing exactly what it’s always done, but your perception of the taste is altered by the temperature. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/6 "2005-09-01T16:23:24Z")
I prefer it on the rocks. 😃 I have to agree with **micco** , it may change how well it works a slightly but the affect of the temperature on your taste buds is most likely why it seems to burn less. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/7 "2005-09-01T18:59:45Z")
If you don’t experience the searing pain, Listerine will be completely ineffective in cleansing your _soul_, which is what it’s _really_ for. It’s supposed to hurt. Because you’re a sinner and you can only be made clean through punishment. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-listerine/319532/8 "2005-09-01T19:27:13Z")
“I heard she’s a bleached blonde with all the sex appeal of chjilled Lysol” – Milo Tindle in **Sleuth**. I suppose you could substitute “Listerine” for “Lysol”. Cleaning product starting with an “L” and a disagreeable taste (presumably). Shouldn’t change the imagery.