We diligently wash our hands before meals and after using the bathroom and we keep antibacterial gel with us for those in-between times. But for all our hard work few of us stop to think about the hygiene of another constant companion, our handbag.
CBS conducted a study on the germs lurking on the surface of everyday handbags, and the results were scary. Microbiologists tested samples from hundreds of purse bottoms and found bacteria on every single bag. About a quarter had tens of thousands of nasties, including pseudomona, staphylococccus aureus, E. coli, and salmonella. These are the germs responsible for rashes, eye and skin infections, boils, fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting. But it gets worse. Many samples also tested positive for fecal matter and even vomit. Can we say yuck?
So what can we do about it? First thing’s first: avoid putting your purse down. Grab an extra chair for your bag in a restaurant, use the hooks in the bathroom stalls, and throw it in a locker at the gym. Also opt for leather and vinyl handbags, which can be cleaned with antibacterial wipes. Sturdy canvas bags should also withstand a spin in the washing machine.
Those handbag germs aren’t likely to kill you, but they could easily make you very sick.
