Handbags contain more bacteria than a toilet.
Oh, the irony – the very handbags women use to carry around hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes are filled with more bacteria than the average toilet.
The report which broke that unfortunate news also informed the public that one in 5 purse handles is filthy enough to pose a threat to human health.
The biggest culprit inside bags is hand moisturizer, said to be equal in bacteria content to the average toilet seat. Mascara and lipstick ranked a bit better.
As far as materials, leather is the biggest carrier, as its texture provides the best bacteria habitat.
Fear not, the remedy is simple. Cleaning your hands and bags with antibacterial products can stave off potential health crises.
Which makes sense, because, as one of the researchers mentioned, purses see a lot of contact with hands and counters and aren’t cleaned off that often.
While you’ve got the sanitizer out, you may want to hit your kitchen sink and your bathtub. Studies have shown them to also be among the most germ-ridden things you encounter all day.
