Fashion How Often Do You Clean Out Your Handbag? 33% of Women Admit to Never! By Marianne Mychaskiw Marianne Mychaskiw Instagram Marianne Mychaskiw is a New York-based freelance writer, editor, and lover of Britney Spears who covers everything from beauty and style, to wellness and entertainment. A graduate of St. John's University, Mychaskiw was a previous staffer at InStyle, working her way up from intern to associate beauty editor — so you already know she will never leave the house without slathering on mineral sunscreen. InStyle's editorial guidelines Published on September 17, 2013 Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Courtesy (3) When was the last time you really cleaned out your handbag? And we're not talking about just tossing old receipts... In a study conducted by Mentos gum, 33 percent of the thousands of women surveyed 'fessed up to never cleaning the inside of their purses. While we can definitely relate, additional findings from the poll have us reconsidering our ways. After taking swabs from the bottom of participants' bags, researchers found traces of E. coli, along with bacteria that can cause pneumonia, stomach cramps, and bacterial meningitis. Looks like we'll think twice before biting into that half-opened stick of gum! Now we want to know: How often do you clean out your bag? Tell us by voting in our poll below! MORE:• Alice + Olivia Launches Handbags!• Cute Clutches That Meet NFL's New Bag Rule• Mackage's First-Ever Bag Collection Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit