Okay you might think I'm crazy but this works. My grandfather used to do this all the time and I finally got brave and tried it a few years ago. Whenever I feel a sore throat coming on even a little, I gargle with mouthwash. It hurts like hell, but when I do it right before I go to bed, the sore throat is almost always gone by morning. I think it kills all the germs in there. I don't blame you if you don't want to try it though. It makes some people squirm when I tell them about it! Good luck!