I recently had a discussion with my oh-so-smart girlfriend (CDC Research Scientist) and we somehow got on the topic of her latest project.  I feel it necessary to pass this along to you.

What Mom hasn't put her purse on the bathroom floor while changing a diaper?  I certainly have and I tend to be a clean freak!  Or, placed her bag on the floorboard of the passenger side in her car while she was driving?  What about going to the market and placing your purse in the seat of the shopping cart - right where a little kid's wet or messy hiney might have been sitting?  GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!! Or gotten into a taxi and rested your briefcase and or purse either on the floor or seat beside you, where who knows what has been there - a gassy guy someone who dropped a hot dog and then picked it up quickly or had an "accident" as they laughed or even vomitted? Those seats almost never get cleaned!!! Except surface cleaning...IK! And who hasn't placed her bag next to her feet on the floor as she dined at a restaurant...right where food or drink may have spilled and not yet been "de-contaminated" by the restaurant? To describe my countenance on this topic as a little "WIGGED" is definitely an understatement. POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE NEAREST FUNERAL HOME. I'M GOIN' FAST!!!

So as my friend and I spoke, she told me about the  bacteria test performed on 5 handbags and of those, one or more tested positive for salmonella, e-coli, pseudomonas (which causes pink eye), and she said there was even fecal contamination on all five. 

Eeeeeeeeeoooow!

SOLUTION???

Always, always, always use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms.  NEVER, NEVER, EVER put your bag on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.  You never know what you're bringng in or taking away. Treat your handbag the way you would a pair of shoes that have possibly walked through snot, dried urine, animal feces (bird doo is most common), etc. Our handbags having travelled in those circles are MUCH more common than you think!  Be very careful...

So your purse PROBABLY won't kill you, but it can make you very, very sick if you aren't careful!

Good luck and thanks Judith!  You've helped us all - ALOT!!!

If this guide has been helpful, please mark YES!