Research Shows That Soap and Water Can Help Wash Away Your Doubts

We all know that soap and water are good for your skin, but did you also know that they can be good for your psyche, too?

According to a 2011 literature review published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science, cleansing may help to alleviate mental discomfort such as second thoughts that arise after making a decision.

In one study, participants who made a choice between one of two similar dilemmas felt better after finally making their decision (a common tendency called choice justification). However, if people were given a hand wipe to use afterwards they didn’t feel the need to justify their choice. Additionally, using soap after a streak of bad luck in gambling may work similar wonders. Participants started to bet higher stakes after washing, suggesting that in their minds they had “washed away” their bad luck, according to another study.

The takeaway here? A little soap may go a long way to put your mind at ease.

When in doubt, soap it up ;)