Inside&Out: When’s the last time you cleaned out your pocketbook?

Sometimes when I use the rest-room and there isn’t a pocketbook hook available, I have to put my bag on the floor. As much as I regret placing it on the floor(as many other women do); I rather subject my pocketbook to the germs on the floor then to hold myself and feel uncomfortable. Either way, it’s a lose-win situation.

Sometimes when I use the rest-room and there isn’t a pocketbook hook available, I have to put my bag on the floor. As much as I regret placing it on the floor(as many other women do); I rather subject my pocketbook to the germs on the floor then to hold myself and feel uncomfortable. Either way it’s a lose-win situation.

Inside of my bag there is my cellphone, wallet, a couple of old receipts, my make-up bag, headphones, a half eaten granola bar, my sunglasses, and a banana that I meant to eat for my breakfast. And If I’m carrying my larger pocketbook; my laptop is in there too.

All of these items combined, create one big mess. Though they are all that I need, they are one big mess.The oil from the banana peel has leaked on the inside, I shake hands, pull out my wallet and headphones, push the turnstiles of New York’s transit entrances; and the germs just collect. The Lord knows I needed a clean out. Imagine how many germs were spread between taking out my phone, and everything else. If you guessed a whole lot, you are very right. Little do we know that the daily few items we carry-along with us each and every day, is what carries bacteria and are contributing factors to sickness.

An article posted from AARP.org’s Health section quotes “A British study, in which researchers took bacteria samples from office workers’ handbags, found that the average purse is three times dirtier than an office toilet seat and that 1 in 5 handbag handles contain enough germs to pose a significant risk of cross-contamination from the handle to your hand. They go on to say that handbags carry so many germs because we touch them all the time, put them on the floor, and they’re also packed with other germ-infested items such as hand creams and cosmetics.”.

In another article written on dailymail.co.uk, the writer informs us about a few types of bacteria found in a study on the inside of four British female blogger’s handbags. “The bloggers make-up and hand bags were subjected to stringent scientific analysis and all of them tested positive to virulent strains of bacteria including Salmonella, which causes chronic food poisoning and Cronobacter, a deadly strain of bacteria which causes neo natal meningitis. The tests results proved that if the handbags were not completely sanitized and cleaned with antibacterial, they would become a breeding place for bacteria.”

Like you clean your room and home, bring out the trash, tend to daily chores; it doesn’t hurt to take an additional five minutes to wipe down a few of your daily carry along items. Your cellphone, headphones, charger, glasses, wallet, and laptop keyboard can all be items you add to this routine.

AARP.org say ” Avoid placing your purse on the floor. Nonleather bags can be wiped down with an antibacterial wipe. For leather bags, wipe with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. I used a diluted rubbing alcohol for mine’s, but hand sanitizer on a soft cloth will work just as well.