Researchers: Women’s Handbags Contain More Bacteria Than The Average Toilet »

Tests showed that one in five handbag
handles is home to sufficient bacteria to
pose a risk to human health.
The research also revealed that the
dirtiest item in the average handbag is
hand cream – bottles of hand cream were
found to carry more bacteria than the
average toilet seat.
The study found that one in five handbag
handles is home to enough bacteria to
pose a risk to human health. Lipstick and
mascara packets were found to be little
better.
The tests, carried out by Initial Washroom
Hygiene, also revealed that leather
handbags are the most bacteria-riddled as
the spongy texture provides the perfect
conditions for bacteria to grow and
spread.
The researchers suggest that women
should regularly clean their hands and
bags with antibacterial wipes or gel to
prevent cross-contamination.
Peter Barratt, Technical Manager at Initial
Hygiene, said: ‘Handbags come into
regular contact with our hands and a
variety of surfaces, so the risk of
transferring different germs onto them is
very high, especially as bags are rarely
cleaned.
‘Once these germs are on the bags, they
can easily be transferred via hands onto
other surfaces.
‘Regular hand sanitisation is essential to
prevent the presence of bacteria in the
first place and thorough cleaning of bags is
recommended to prevent the build-up of
contamination.’
The researchers suggest that women
should regularly clean their hands and
bags with antibacterial wipes or gel to
prevent cross-contamination.
The research comes after another study
revealed that workplace kitchens are
dangerously dirty, to the point that they
could cause illness.
The study, also carried out by Initial
Washroom Hygeine, revealed that half of
surfaces in workplace kitchens are
contaminated by dangerously high levels
of coliforms – the bacteria present in
faeces which can lead to outbreaks of
gastrointestinal disease.
It also showed that more than a quarter
of draining boards were found to have
four times the safe level of coliforms.
The research also revealed that the
handles of shared fridge-freezers were
bacteria-rife, with a third carrying high
levels of coliforms, whilst 30 per cent of
shared microwaves were also shown to be
contaminated around the handles and
buttons.