Dr. Oz's Tips on How to Disinfect Everyday Items

Sept. 11, 2009— -- Most women carry a purse or use makeup, but did you know that they could be breeding grounds for germs?

Dr. Mehmet Oz shared a few tips with "Good Morning America" on how to clean those germs from your purse and makeup.

Oz suggested buying makeup in dispensers or metal tubes so the air cannot get in, rather than buying it in jars or pots. While most makeup is anti-bacterial, Oz says the bacteria-fighting qualities expire after a year.

Keep an eye on the expiration date, he says, and throw out liquid foundation when the ingredients begin to settle or separate, the texture changes, it either thickens or thins or the smell changes.

Here are a few more tips for how to clean your makeup kit:

Oz suggests disinfecting all of your cosmetics every three weeks, including using alcohol or freezing them.

Wipe everything in your purse with antibacterial wipes and throw out the things you don't need.

Avoid putting shoes in your purse because they can track up the germs in the environment and pass them into your purse and personal items.

Leave your purse at your door so you don't contaminate your home with what your bag picked up from the environment outside.