Dirty Bags!!!

@MySpot (2600)
United States
November 29, 2006 6:33pm CST
MUST READ ~ This is why women need their hang bag hooks! Have you ever noticed gals who sit their purses on public restroom floors - that go directly to their dining tables? Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes "what you don't know 'will' hurt you"! Read on...Mom got so upset when a guest came in the door and plopped their purses down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up the buffet. She always said that purses are really dirty, because of Where they have been. Smart Momma!!! It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our purses, do you have any idea what's on the outside?Shauna Lake put purses to the test - for bacteria - with surprising results. You may think twice about where you put your purse. Women carry purses everywhere; from the office to public restrooms to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their purses, but did you ever stop to think about where your purse goes during the day?"I drive a school bus, so my purse has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, probably in restrooms." "I put my purse in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls while changing a diaper," says another woman and of course in my home which should be clean."We decided to find out if purses harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, then we set out to test the average woman's purse. Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared. Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their purses were at least a little bit dirty. It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist, Amy Karren, of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick. In one sampling, four of five purses tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the purses," says Amy. Leather or vinyl purses tended to be cleaner than cloth purses, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with one exception. The purse of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. "Some type of feces, or even possibly vomit or something like that!" So the moral of this story - your purse won't kill you, but it does has the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms,and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen counter top. Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. "If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your counter tops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your purse on the counter tops" - your purse has gone where every individual before you has spat, coughed, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you? The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help. Wash cloth purses and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses. NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BEFORE!!! I always hang my bag when I'm in the bathrooms but I never really thought about all of the germs that may be transmitted : (
9 people like this
37 responses
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
1 Dec 06
If the bathroom doesn't have a hook to hang my purse on, I always hang it on the corner of the stall door...especially since almost all public bathroom stalls have an ungodly large gap between the door and "wall." That way, your purse stays off the ground and it blocks the enormous peep hole.
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
1 Dec 06
Nice way to utilize your purse! I will have to remember that trick, thanks : )
@Tatsuya (1149)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Oh wow. That is disgusting. I think I'll throw mine away and get a new one. I don't think that washing mine will get everything out. It's amazing, you know I wonder what else is filthy like a purse? It's kind of disturbing to say the least. Thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. It's amazing what you'll find out.
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
1 Dec 06
It's said that keys and money are two of the dirtiest items we touch everyday! It drives me nuts to see a parent hand their keys over to their child to play with!!! If they are in my company, I will remove them from the child and replace them with something more appropriate and CLEAN!
@leese29 (340)
• United States
30 Nov 06
That is nasty, I always use the hooks and if they don't have them I just hold on too it. Mine is for different reasons though (although now knowing that that is a very good reason) but I heard you have bad luck with money if you put your purse/handbag on the floor so I have always avoided it. Silly superstition.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I knew of that old wives tale too! Plus, I always wash my purses as I switch from one to another.
@ginals (28)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Nasty. I never put mine on the floor. I always hook it on my knee, the strap is short so it doesn't even come close to the floor, or I put it in my lap. If I'm in a public restroom, which is a whole other discussion.. (ew) I put it on my shoulder and it stays there, or I leave it with my husband.
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
1 Dec 06
The one I've been using has a really short handle so I'm always holding it in my hand or lap.
@ambkeb (782)
• United States
30 Nov 06
WOW...that is soo crazy. I dont carry a purse...I carry a diaper bag and use it as a purse...lol. I have never thought about any of that. That is just crazy..I will most likely be very cautious from now, probably without even thinking about what I am doing anymore..that will stick with me always now.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Yes, we get very germaphobic when it comes to babies! Better safe than sorry, right?
• United States
30 Nov 06
Yikes, I have many times put my purse on the floor, then on my lap, then somewhere else. I never actually thought about all the disgusting germs, and the bacteria that I am dragging from the floor to my purse, to my lap that other people may get. Gross.
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
1 Dec 06
Sorry to gross you out : (
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
2 Dec 06
I never put my handbag/purse down indiscriminately luckily. Normally it is on my lap or if we are going out somewhere "fancy", then I have a hook which goes under the table and I hang my bag on it plus I always put it on the hook in the ladies room. If I am out with my husband, I will leave it with him though rather than take it to the ladies room. LOL However, after reading this, I will take even more care where I do put it and on the table or bench will not be one of those places. Thanks very much MySpot for sharing this with us. :)
1 person likes this
@kshsweet (229)
• United States
30 Nov 06
That is something that I've never thought bout but I will now. At home I have a coat stand that all of my bags hang on and when transitioning from one bag to the next, I always put them on my bed. I'll definitely think twice about that (even though I don't lay them down anywhere in public). Thanks for the info!
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
That's cool! I need one of those racks : )
@Meljep (1666)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Blech! That does make you think about the germs that are crawling on things you use and touch. You could become phobic, but a little precaution will do.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I totally agree. My best friend gets mad when I send her yucky facts, because I guess ignorance is bliss, what you don't know won't hurt you...or at least you won't know it : ) She says T.M.I. (too much information) and she'd rather not know we have bugs that live on our eyelashes or whatever. Didn't mean to make you phobic ; ) Thanks for responding, even though I grossed you out!
@ahrdwrkr (689)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Wow! I never carried a handbag until recently and now you're making me want to stop again. I always used to carry a little bag with a strap that went across my neck...just big enough for my license, some money and my debit card. I think that was the right way to go. Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to pass it on.
@camo26 (1418)
30 Nov 06
wow very informative story thanks for this i will pass this onto all the women im my family that use purses. I do however rember watching a documentrie about germs an stuff and they said no matter if you wash your hands when in a restroom because as soon as you touch the door handle to get out you have contracted just as many germs as you had before washing your hands simply because so many people DONT lol amazing aint it i always give my hands a quick wipe with some of the kids baby wipes after ive been to the public loo :)
• Singapore
30 Nov 06
haha very informative. was a nice read. i'll bookmark this to show my girlfriend. i'm to lazy to summarise everything and convey the message verbally to her xP
1 person likes this
@vinaykant (812)
• India
2 Dec 06
i do not understand whats the need of this topic ? why u wrote this long post/ well i think its useless.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
2 Dec 06
the moral of this story - your purse won't kill you, but it does has the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms,and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen counter top. I do not understand why, if you don't understand and think the topic is useless, that you would bother posting a response! I'm guessing you don't carry a purse or handbag then???
@jediwa72 (204)
• United States
30 Nov 06
You know, this is so seriously true...and so disgusting. Have you ever really thought about just how many things go on around you each day that you too are so guilty of....for example the little pen you use when checking out with a debit card. These are at almost every store you go to these days and everyone touches them...think of how many people that is...how many of them just scratched their butt even! EW! I recently read an article that said that the door entering into the womens restroom actually has more germs than many toilet seats....that is crazy! Makes you want to wear a suit everywhere you go....and keep sanitizer on hand....and where a mask:)
1 person likes this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I watched a special on Montel where they used a black light to spot germs and then identified them... it was disgusting and scary knowing all of the everyday germs we come in contact with and spread. Truth is, we actually need to be exposed to germs in order to build up an immunity to them, it's the same as a vaccine!
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
2 Dec 06
Thanks for the info, I will be more careful where I put my purse from now on. I never set it on the floor in the restroom, if there is not a hook I keep it on my shoulder.
@happygal68 (3275)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I have never placed my purse on the floor of any bathroom or even in restaurants. I have always hung it up on the chair or if I have to hold it on my lap I do that too. I just don't trust all the germs that are out there. Thanks for sharing this info with everyone.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Me either! I always use the hooks provided on the back of the door... and I heard an old wives tale about setting your purse on the floor... something to do with losing your money ; )
@Cortney (3980)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Wow.. I had no idea that they were that riddled with bacteria. I don't carry a handbag. I have a bad habit of leaving them. But my mom and sister in law do. I will have to pass this along.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I'm glad you could take something from my discussion and pass it on too! Thanks for helping : )
@aprilsue00 (1991)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Thank you so much for that information. That was something that I never knew. See it is true about learning something everyday.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
Your so welcome! In myLot we can learn while we earn! It's win-win : )
@rracers89 (3246)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I just saw a story about this on 20-20 or something I couldnt beleave all the bacteria and stuff they found on it, not just on bathroom floors but on any resturant floor and stuff.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I will definitely think twice before placing mine on a dinner table again!
• United States
30 Nov 06
i would rather find more information about the bag.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I liked it too but forget where I got it, sorry : (