PHOENIX -- One Valley grocer is testing a new system that sanitizes shopping carts from the handle to the wheels.

Bashas' is the first grocer in the Southwest to use purecart at its Bashas', Food City and AJ's stores.

An employee pushes the carts through a mist of peroxide solution that's safe for people and food, store officials said.

"I've been looking at things like this for a number of years," said Tom Dominick, Bashas' Vice President of Food Safety.

The manufacturer said the system does a better job of cleaning the cart and actually costs less than sanitary wipes.

Shoppers are taking delight knowing the shopping carts are as germ-free as possible.

"You wouldn't have to worry about them,"said Latessa Powell.

A University of Arizona professor completed a study detailing shopping cart contamination.

He found there is more bacteria per square inch on a shopping cart than a door handle, toilet seat or sink drain in a public restroom.

Bashas' said it is in the middle of a 90-day test period to determine the success of the system.

Here are the stores testing the cart washing system:

Food City at 7th Avenue and Southern Avenue
Bashas' at Gilbert Road and Chandler Heights
Bashas' at Warner Road and McClintock Drive
AJ's at Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Road