Cart Wipes vs Shopping Cart Handle Covers

You probably are aware by now that the shopping cart handles we encounter at the grocery store are infested with bacteria and germs. It's also no surprise that many of those germs lurking on our cart handles can make you extremely ill. In fact, according to Snopes.com, shopping cart handles make the top 10 list of items more germ-infested than a household toilet.

1. Phone Receiver
2. Desktop
3. Computer/Keyboard - Mouse
4. Doorknob
5. Escalator Handrail
6. Elevator Button
7. ATM Buttons
8. Shopping Cart Handles
9. Kitchen Sink
10. Subway Turnstile

So what are the most popular ways to combat this issue? Cart Wipes and Shopping Cart Handle Covers. But which method is a more practical solution? Let's take a look at both.

Shopping Cart Handle Covers

The idea is to cover the handle completely so you and your baby do not come in contact with any possible germs.

Most popular models comes with baby toy attachments to keep your little one entertained as you make your way down the aisles. But here is why this is not the best solution. Many fabrics like cotton and acrylic act like a sponge. They actually trap more germs and contaminants than our own hands. Therefore, if they become wet, they turn into a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty little bugs. The germs that were already on the handle are transferred to the cloth - and unless you wash the handle cover in hot water after each use, they basically offer little protection.

Cart Wipes or Cart Handle Wipes

You have probably seen the stand at the front entrance. As more reports surface demonstrating how dirty our shopping cart handles really are, the more popular cart wipes become.

This is by far the most effective method. Before the shopper places their child in the baby seat or places food items against the components of the cart, it is very easy to treat those areas with shopping cart handle wipes provided by the store. Many customers are often concerned with the chemicals used in cart handle wipes.

Thankfully, most of the brands used in stores today are moistened with an alcohol free, hypoallergenic solution. Once the cart handle and baby seat has been wiped down, you can simply discard the used wipe and walk away knowing you are not touching millions of contaminants like fecal matter and E. Coli.