Your handbag goes almost everywhere with you. It sits on restaurant chairs, office desks, car seats and sometimes even the floor of a public washroom. And while you may remember to clean your phone or wash your hands after returning home, how often do you actually clean the things tucked inside your bag?

From digging around for your keys to reaching for a lip balm before a meeting, we touch several everyday essentials without thinking twice about where they have been. Over time, these items can collect dirt, oils and germs from our hands and surroundings.

Here are five surprisingly germ-prone things inside your handbag that deserve more attention than they usually get.

Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)