Did you know that there’s something that ladies carry daily that may be more contaminated with bacteria than a toilet seat?

Researchers swabbed ladies’ handbags and found that their handles were the dirtiest part.

As for the items in the bags, bottles of hand cream were the worst offenders — although generally cleaner than purse handles.

Our bags pick up bacteria from every surface they touch — restaurant floors, countertops, even bathroom floors — which leads to a lot of opportunities for exposure.

Below are some of the ways we can limit the bacteria:

Wash your hands

Wash your hands after opening doors, blowing your nose and touching animals to limit bacteria from entering your bag.

Wipe your bag

Leather bags especially are a breeding ground for bacteria. Wipe down your purses with disinfectant wipes that are bleach and alcohol-free. Don’t forget to also wipe the things inside of it. If you have a cloth bag, put it in the washing machine on a cool, gentle cycle with baby detergent.

Watch what you carry

Try not to put moist things such as the kids’ sneakers, dirty tissues or food in your bag. Place each item in a separate bag if you do need to put them inside.

Watch where you put it

Most times putting your bag on the floor is unavoidable. However, there are hooks that can be purchased, that stick to the edge of a table and keep your bag elevated. Some restaurants provide them under the table, others offer bag stools. Most public restroom stalls have door hooks.

Keep your bags clean and B-Active For Life

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Check her out on Facebook: facebook.com/B.ActiveForLife