Storing and caring for your favorite handbag is very important if you want it last and look it's best when you need it!  Remember, your bag is a reflection of you.  It is the single most worn item in your wardrobe.  Keep it clean.   The better you treat it,  the better  it will treat you!

Bags must be able to breath, use cloth storage bags, or pillow cases.  Or even better, I have found wicker storage baskets with lids that keep my bags  from being smashed in the closet.   Even in these baskets, if they are not lined with cloth, add cloth yourself.  Or wrap in cloth to protect from any stray wicker and other bags.  I used to store my bags in large plastic crates.  Only to find a white film had formed on some of the leather ones.  I have since learned they need AIR.

Also, wrap any metal rings, FOBS, chains, etc seperately.  These little lovelies, especially brass, will leave lasting impressions on your bags.  I have an American Angel Handbag I bought new, have not yet carried,  with a green angel imprint on the leather from the zipper fob being pressed against the bag.  As a dealer, I see bags from the manufacturer.  They wrap rings and buckles for storage.  It can be as simple as a piece of tissue paper wrapped around the metal.  Or stuck between the metal and the leather.  Also wrap tassels to keep them smooth.  I like to use sheets from small note pads, wrap and tape.  Be creative, the holidays are coming up, hang on to packaging and such for these purposes! Be careful if you put more than one bag in a basket, that the neighboring bags also don't leave undesired marks on eachother.  If you don't have extra pillow cases, check your local thrift store.  Also Walmart has a line of sheets they sell in seperates.  I use the twin size sheets for table cloths!

If space allows, consider stuffing your bag to help maintain the shape.  Tissue paper is great for this purpose.  Or discarded wrapping paper.  (remember those holidays!)

For cleaning my smooth leather bags I have found a product at Walmart in the automotive section for leather seats.  It is made by AmorAll.  It actually smells like leather and rubs on like lotion.  As stated on the bottle--test an area first to make sure it is compatible with your bag.  This product cleans, conditions, and protects it against UV and heat. 

For suedes, I use KIWI Suede and Nubuck cleaner.  Also available at Walmart in the shoe department.  It is an aroesol and smells fairly strong.  You will need ventilation to use it.  Sometimes when trying to freshen a bag, I use car air freshners.  Be CAREFUL with them.  You, know, the little tree shaped ones made of foam?  The ones that say, KEEP AWAY FROM PAINTED SURFACES?   I keep them in their wrapper, but slit the wrapper of a vanilla one and stick inside the bag. Inside the cloth lining. I find the vanilla doesn't clash with the leather smell and smells more natural.  Not too perfumy.

Our bags are also a reflection of our personality.  Recently, I saw a young lady handbag shopping.  She had picked up this beautiful flashy pink oversized bag with lots of sparkle.  This bag looked great on her!  She was young and dressed in pastels with lots of sparkle and very long fingernails.  On me--no way.  I thought the bag was gorgous, but it did not fit my personality!  My  clothes and my handbags  need to be  built for comfort  and durablity.   I love the durablity of leather.  But also the care free of pvc or cloth.  Have you ever stood in line at an amusement park--waiting to ride a water ride with our family--clutching your new leather bag you just got for vacation, wondering what you were thinking?  Another lesson learned--on vacation, or any fun day out with the family, carry a bag that can take some water.  Carefully store that great leather bag for safe keeping until you get home!  I also like lots of compartments-don't want things jumbled around in there.  But I recently fell in love with this big sooofffft leather bag.  I adapted by using a men's travel shaving bag unzipped inside, I "file" my things inside it and they don't jump around on me!  Also makes it easy to change bags if I want to!  Bags with lots of pockets do take more time to switch.

So what does your bag say about you?