The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Was sent htis this morning - worth thinking about: *HANDBAGS* Have you ever noticed gals who sit their handbags on public toilet floors - then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table? 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... Mum got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been. Smart Mum!!! It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Shauna Lake put handbags to the test - for bacteria - with surprising results. You may think twice about where you put your handbag. Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day? "I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, and in toilets." "I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of the toilet while changing a nappy," says another woman "and of course in my home which should be clean." We decided to find out if handbags harbour a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, and then we set out to test the average woman's handbag. Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags 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 handbags were at least a little bit dirty. It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags 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 handbags could make people very sick. In one sampling, four of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the handbags," says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception. The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. "Some type of feces, or possibly vomit" says Amy. *So the moral of this story -* *your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop. *Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes. "If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the countertops" - your handbag has gone where individuals before you have sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you? The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Wow! you learn something new everyday, I don't put my bag on loo floors or restaurant tables, but I do plonk it on the kitchen table won,t from now on! thanks Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Phew I am so glad I don't own a handbag, I kept leaving it all over the place and having to cancel cards ect. so don't use one at all now..................But how right this article is my mum always puts her handbag on the table when we eat out, yukk.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 (edited) Shocking, but my clutch bag NEVER leaves my side ! Christian x x x Edited November 16, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thankfully mine never goes on any floor (except my lounge). Am I the only one that thinks its rude to put your handbag on the table when you are eating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Yuk, very true. I hang my bag up but still yuk!!! BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 i have about 5 man bags and they are normally left on a chair or over the back of one - never leave it anywhere unless it's with someone I know if I pop to the loo! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Gosh! I always hang my bag up in public loos. (Which I only use in the direst emergency anyway) I think people put bags on tables when dining out so as to be able to keep an eye on them. I have 2 friends whose bags were nicked as they put them on the floor next to their chair in eateries and they were stolen from under their noses. My cousin had her bag stolen in church!! Two grey haired grannies are wanted for questioning for nicking a students bag at a station, according to todays paper!! Have a look. Perhaps you recognise them!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=416686&in_page_id=1770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 My cousin had her bag stolen in church!! Two grey haired grannies are wanted for questioning for nicking a students bag at a station, according to todays paper!! Have a look. Perhaps you recognise them!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=416686&in_page_id=1770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Think I should be careful, I often put my bag on the floor on public transport Andrew 5 manbags I have about 3 bags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 I never put mine down on the floor. Phil has a man bag - stops him putting his junk in mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I NEVER leave my bag on the floor in public toilets - that's how they got stolen - you put it down, and someone slips their hand either under the door or from the next stall, whips it and their off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I don't put mine on the floor either,never will now - Ewwwwwwwwwww What does annoy me is in supermarkets when you see children being allowed to play in the trolly while its being pushed around.Goodness knows what is on their shoes & what they leave in the trolley for the next persons food to go on to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 i have about 5 man bags A xx and I thought I was bad with 4!!!! OH always moans at me for taking it everywhere I go, but whats in it??? HIS car keys, HIS mobile, HIS filofax etc I love my man bag!!! Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 and don't get me started on shoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I know what you mean!!! However, since joining the chicken world, I have been wearing wellies a lot, due to the quagmire of a veg garden - mental note to self, must bark chip veg garden- but I only have boring green wellies from B and Q. Looking for some funky ones, maybe stripes??? Can only find them in ladies sizes, need size 9!!! Any ideas anyone? Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 Nor me! I turned out loads that I didn't wear any more and got rid of them on Freecycle (found someone who wears size 2.5!). But then bought a couple more pairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Awwwww Bless size 2.5!!!! I had my feet measured the other day i asked in the shop as i always buy a size 9, but wanted to know. OH was !! hehe I am a size 8 but, and i quote from the lady in Clarks, ' because you have such broad hobbit feet, you need a 9' I fell about laughing!!!! Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 I htink that Rosie will have larger feet than me, she already takes a size 1 at age 8, and they are broad! Phil has slim feet like me and takes a size 10, but then he's 6' tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 My 11 year old daughter is in an adult size 6 It comes to something when they pinch your shoes from you,I can tell you! I think both my girls will take after The Hubby ,who wears a 12 & has broad feet with it. Crocs fit him well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 My 14 year old has size 13 if he carries on growing he'll be wearing hollowed out canoes karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 But then he is tall Karen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Guess so he just has big turn ups on his legs!!!!!!!! karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 . Looking for some funky ones, maybe stripes??? Can only find them in ladies sizes, need size 9!!! Any ideas anyone? Christian x x x Here you go Christian. (Up to size 9) xxxx from here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thanks Annie!! I like these - funky blue ones Couldn't post an image!!! You having trouble logging in????? christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
