Gargling won’t prevent COVID-19.

Some have suggested that gargling with water can reduce your risk of getting a cold or maybe even improve your symptoms if you are sick. But the research is not clear that gargling really helps. It certainly won’t hurt, but gargling with water probably won’t reduce your risk of catching COVID-19. 

After you’ve been exposed, the virus moves inside your cells where water can’t get to it. It also lives in other parts of your upper respiratory tract, including your nose and sinuses, which your gargling can’t reach.

If you do want to gargle, use plain water or salt water that’s warm, not hot. Be careful of claims that gargling with anything else could help! Other substances may damage the sensitive lining in your throat, and they could really hurt you.

Last updated April 11, 2020 at 5:00pm ET

Science review by JAB, GSN