Article takeaways
- Proper storage for handbags maintains the shape and condition of your bags. Your storage solution should protect your purse collection from dust, moisture and crushing, while keeping them easily accessible when you’re ready to wear them.
- Ways to store purses include vertical racks, acrylic dividers, clear containers, cubbies and under-bed bins. Dust bags and acid-free tissue paper stuffing are your friends when it comes to maintaining your handbag collection for a lifetime.
- Employ climate-controlled storage for handbags, and avoid exposing your collection to direct sunlight, heat, humidity and moisture. Doing so prevents fading, dry rot, and mold growth in leather.
- Rotate your collection seasonally, and perform condition and maintenance checks to ensure your storage solution is doing its job. This is also a good time to catch any maintenance issues that need attention, such as loose stitching or tarnished hardware.
- Stand, don’t hang your bags. The best way to store purses is upright on a shelf, which prevents stretching of the handles and leather straps.
Purse lovers with cherished handbag collections have at some point considered how to store purses. Choosing the right storage for handbags is key to keeping them in fine condition for many years to come.
If you are storing your bags flat or hanging them by their straps, packing them too tightly, or keeping them near bright light or in areas with fluctuating, intemperate conditions, your beloved collection is at risk of degrading well before its time. This doesn’t have to be the case, however. If you’d like to learn some professional techniques for how to store your purses to protect your investment for the long term, you’re in the right place.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to protect your investment, from purse storage ideas for small spaces to preservation methods that work for collections of every size.
Why Proper Storage for Handbags Matters: Your Investment is Worth Protecting
Protecting Your Investment
Designer bags are considered by many to be symbols of status and style, and can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. When you invest in a handbag, you’re paying not just for materials and craftsmanship, but for longevity.
Carefully chosen storage for handbags maintains their value and extends the usable life of your purses, and can keep them in lovely condition as they evolve from modern pieces to precious vintage treasures to be handed down to future generations.
Common Damage from Improper Storage
Leather cracking and drying out ranks among the most common and heartbreaking forms of damage. This happens when storage for handbags exposes them to extreme temperatures, low humidity or when the leather is not properly or routinely conditioned while in storage. Once leather develops deep cracks, no amount of conditioning can fully restore its original suppleness and appearance.
Color transfer and staining are other persistent issue that occurs when purses are stored in contact with one another for long periods of time, as well as when they are wrapped in materials that are not colorfast. Dark or brightly colored bags can transfer dyes onto lighter ones, and materials like newspaper can leave permanent ink stains that penetrate deep into leather and fabric.
Shape distortion and sagging represent perhaps the most preventable, yet widespread form of damage-inducing storage for handbags. When you use improper ways to store purses, such as hanging heavy bags by their straps, or stacking them without adequate stuffing, gravity and pressure go to work to relentlessly warp, crease, and distort their carefully crafted lines and structure.
Plan and Prep for Purse Protection: Steps for How to Store Your Purses Safely
Cleaning Before Storage
A thorough cleaning is essential to prevent long-term damage from storage for handbags. Begin by completely emptying all purse compartments, turning the bag upside down and shaking gently to clear all pockets, zippered compartments and pouches inside and outside your bag. Use a small, low-powered vacuum designed for delicate items to clear out any crumbs and debris that may have accumulated along interior seams.
If your bag is leather, use a specially formulated leather cleaner that gently cleans and conditions the hide. Dab fabric bags with spot cleaner or mild diluted gentle soap. Allow fabrics 24-48 hours to dry completely.
Stuffing to Maintain Shape
Shape retention is important to retain silhouettes that create structured bags’ aesthetic appeal and functionality. Keeping your bags stuffed with proper material when not in use will avoid irreversibly collapsed, creased or distorted bags that can devalue your bag and cause it to look worn out before its time.
Acid-free tissue paper avoids damaging chemical reactions and is preferred. Bubble wrap for extra padding and air pillows from packaging can also help support and retain the shape of your bags from within. Fill the body, pockets and sleeves of your bag based on its original design and construction to help maintain its shape during storage.
Absolutely avoid newspaper stuffing, because the ink can transfer to fabrics and leather. Skip regular tissue paper, which can cause yellowing of purse materials, and forego old clothes or rags, which can trap moisture.
Protecting Hardware and Details
Don’t overlook the details. Polish all metal hardware before storage, and wrap chains and dangly bits in acid-free tissue to prevent tangling. Detachable straps can be wrapped in tissue and stored inside the bag. Close zippers and snaps to keep the bag’s shape intact.
Purse Storage Ideas for Small Spaces: Space-Saving Organization Hacks
Shelf Storage
Structured bags and purses in everyday rotation do well with readily accessible shelf storage for handbags. Store bags on shelves in dust bags or pillowcases and stand them upright to maintain shape and allow circulation between each bag. LED lighting strips can be installed on your closet shelves to easily view your bags. LED lights produce minimal heat and won’t damage leather goods.
Hanging Storage
Purse storage ideas for small spaces include hanging storage organizers with clear pockets for lightweight clutches and smaller bags, allowing you to see your collection at a glance. Small bags can also be hung on padded wall hooks or inside closet doors. Because hanging bags can stretch the straps, be sure to hang only small, lightweight bags.
Original Dust Bags and Boxes
For designer bags and pieces destined for long-term storage, the original dust bags and boxes provide optimal ways to store purses, because they are designed specifically to specifically protect the bags they house.
Inventory and file authenticity cards, care booklets and paperwork to ensure maximum resale value, and label boxes clearly for easy identification during storage, and don’t skimp on climate controlled storage. Never store your handbags in plastic bags, which trap moisture that leads to mold.
Display Shelving
Show off your statement pieces and curated collections with display shelving that doubles as storage for handbags. Try showcasing your handbags on floating shelves as decor, or employ a glass-front cabinet that protects your favorite pieces from dust while keeping them on full-time display. Acrylic display risers in clear display boxes with UV protection let you showcase several bags at once. Remember to keep your display or storage solution out of direct sunlight.
From Luxury Bags to Canvas Totes: How to Store Your Purses by Type
- Leather bags should be cleaned and treated with leather conditioner before storing. Place leather bags in breathable fabric dust bags, and stash away from heat and humidity in stable temperatures between 60-75°F, and keep humidity levels between 40-50%. Check your stored leather bags periodically and re-condition them as needed.
- Designer/luxury handbags should always be kept in their original dust bags and stored with their original stuffing, if available. Keep receipts and authentication cards to ensure you have provenance available should you need it. Consider climate-controlled storage for valuable collections.
- Canvas and fabric bags can be susceptible to staining, but are easier to clean than other materials. Fabric purses should be completely dry before being stored away, as fabric bags are more susceptible to mold and mildew. Be sure to stack them carefully to avoid crushing.
- Clutches and evening bags are best stored flat or standing. Their small size also makes them excellent candidates for storing in drawers. Use acid-free tissue to protect embellishments and delicate pieces, and group bags by color for simple selection.
When considering how to store purses that are structured vs. soft bags, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. Structured bags are easier to stack and store because they are more likely to retain their shape when stored correctly. Soft bags need more stuffing and should be hung instead of stacked to best preserve them.
Handle with Care: How to Store Purses That Are Vintage or Collectible Pieces
Vintage Bag Considerations
Vintage bags are generally defined as pieces at least 20 years old. Storage for handbags with vintage designations requires extra care and specialized knowledge. Due to their age, these bags should be gently handled.
Professional cleaning before storage is recommended for vintage bags because older finishes can react unpredictably to modern cleaning products. Consult specialists who understand how to store purses with vintage classifications.
Documentation of provenance is recommended as well, and can add significant value to vintage bags. Retain any information about the bag’s history, previous owners, and original purchase details if available.
Finally, consider archival storage for handbags to keep vintage bags well preserved. Archival boxes and garment bags should be acid- and lignan-free to prevent chemical reactions with fabrics and leather. It is also a good idea to line the folds and creases of your vintage fabric bag with acid-free tissue to minimize fiber stress during storage.
Collectible/Investment Pieces
Collectible bags include limited editions, discontinued pieces and bags expected to appreciate over time. Maintain chain of custody documentation and ownership history, request certificates that prove authenticity, and keep all original packaging for collectible handbags, including boxes, dust bags, ribbons, tissue paper and shopping bags.
Climate-controlled storage for handbags is a must for collectible purses to maintain their value and keep them in optimal condition. Consider insurance for high-value items, and seek professional appraisals every few years to track their value and ensure you are keeping them in their best possible condition based on current market demands. Do not alter collectible bags or make excessive restorations, as any changes or damage will affect their value.
Home or Offsite Storage for Handbags? Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Store Your Handbags
Closet storage solutions offer practical and affordable storage for handbags that work well for most collectors. Keep things organized by dedicating a section of your closet specifically to handbags, and treat them with the same importance you treat your clothing. Install additional shelving to maximize vertical space efficiently, and hang an over-door organizer to keep smaller crossbody bags and clutches in good order.
Bedrooms offer several convenient purse storage ideas for small spaces. Under-bed storage containers with secure lids protect bags from dust while making use of valuable unused space. Storage benches can provide both seating and hidden handbag storage. Armoires can safely store an extensive purse collection in a single piece of furniture. A decorative dresser display showcasing your favorite pieces is a beautiful way to show them off while keeping them readily accessible.
Self storage for handbags is a reasonable consideration for extensive collections of 50 bags or more. Professional self-storage works well for seasonal rotation swapouts, downsizing or moving, protecting valuable investment pieces or when home storage space is limited.
Look for clean, pest-free storage facilities that offer climate-controlled units with humidity controls to prevent mold, mildew and degradation of materials, security features like 24/7 gated access for easy access to your bags when you need them, and surveillance cameras to keep your investment safe.
If self-storage is a fit for your collection, find climate-controlled storage near you on SelfStorage.com.
Climate Control: Well-Tempered Storage for Handbags Equals Successful Safekeeping
Temperature and humidity are possibly the two greatest factors that determine whether your chosen storage for handbags succeeds or fails.
Heat dries leather and warps purse structures, while cold stiffens materials and can crack leather. High humidity encourages mold and mildew, while low humidity can lead to dried-out leather.
Storage for handbags should ideally be kept at a consistent temperature between 60-75°F, with humidity levels around 40-50%. Store your bags in low-light areas to protect from direct sunlight and UV exposure that can permanently fade colors and cause leather to crack.
Good air circulation also determines how well your storage for handbags performs over time. Proper air flow prevents musty odors and reduces mold risks, so never store your bags in plastic, and leave space between stored bags to allow each piece to breathe.
Prioritize Organization: How to Store Purses for Easy Access and Management
Whether you regularly wear your handbags or collect vintage pieces for personal enjoyment and appreciable value, well-organized storage for handbags is the key to keeping them easily maintained and managed.
Inventory Management
A comprehensive inventory of your purse collection is essential to ensuring you keep track of what you have, and know when it’s time to rotate or revisit your stored pieces for maintenance.
Create a digital catalog with photos of each bag from multiple angles. Use apps like Stylebook or Closet+ that are specifically designed for wardrobe accessory management.
Keep track of purchase dates and prices paid for each bag. Note the condition of each piece, and track all needed repairs. This information is invaluable should you ever need to file an insurance claim, and helps you track the returns on your investment over time.
Rotation Systems
A handbag rotation system lets you keep your bags in use while preventing long-term storage neglect that could lead to permanent damage. Plan routine maintenance checks on your storage for handbags every 2-3 months, to ensure your pieces remain in their best condition.
Routinely checking your stored collection also lets you “shop your closet” to rediscover forgotten favorites. This is a great practice for collectors who keep many bags available for wear, as seasonal favorites may fall out of mind during their off-seasons.
How to Store Your Purses Safely: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Storage errors can cost you your investment, so avoid these common mistakes as you plan for how to store your purses. Below is a skimmable list of the most common mistakes to avoid when deciding how to store your purses.
| Storage Mistake | Why It’s a Problem |
|---|---|
| Storing dirty handbags | Can lead to soil, oils, and residue that degrade purse materials during storage. Thoroughly clean and condition your bags before storage to ensure they remain in tip-top shape while tucked away. |
| Using plastic bags or wrapping | Can trap moisture that leads to mold, and is one of the most common packing errors. |
| Hanging heavy handbags by straps | Hanging for extended periods causes permanent stretching and distortion, causing your bags to lose shape and hang poorly off the body when worn or carried. |
| Stacking too many handbags | Creates pressure points that cause permanent indentations, creases, and shape distortions. |
| Storing in extreme temperatures | Storing handbags in hot attics or damp basements exposes them to lifetime-shortening temperature fluctuations and humidity that damage materials and can even encourage pests. |
| Not stuffing bags to retain shape | Can cause them to collapse and lead to permanent creases and loss of structural design features. |
| Exposing to direct sunlight | Can cause discoloration, fading, and uneven shading. Excessive exposure to light can also degrade materials over time. |
| Ignoring pest prevention | Leaves bags vulnerable to moths, silverfish, and other damaging insects that may bore holes or leave behind waste that stains. |
| Keeping in original plastic wrapping | May seem protective but can trap moisture and prevent air circulation. |
| Forgetting to check on stored bags | Checking for long periods means you may discover damage too late to address it effectively. |
Home Storage vs Professional Self Storage
If you have the space and your purse collection is small, or most of your pieces are not vintage or collectible, home storage for handbags is a simple, no-cost option that keeps your bags readily accessible.
Larger collections that have outgrown home storage, or collections valued at $5,000 or more that demand flawless care and safekeeping, would benefit from climate-controlled self storage, that offers a choice of space for any collection, stabilized temperature controls and security to keep your investment safe.
Self storage also offers excellent temporary storage for handbags that can be invaluable for collectors who are moving or renovating, those with seasonal homes and those who travel frequently.
Keep in mind that off-site storage may make accessing your collection less convenient, and comes with a monthly rental fee based on the size of your unit.
If you’re interested in learning more about self storage for handbags in your areas, compare storage unit prices and find facilities with climate control on SelfStorage.com.
Protect Your Collection: Use the Right Know-How to Store Your Purses and Protect Their Value
A well-kept, well-made handbag has a potentially unlimited lifespan, and knowing how to store your purses is essential to getting your money’s worth from it in value and enjoyment. Mind the details as you pack them away and remember to store them in clean, climate-controlled, well-organized conditions. This will ensure your bags remain in their best possible shape through many, many years.
Storage for handbags is scalable, so start by implementing a few key changes into your current collection and upgrade over time as your collection grows. If, after reading this guide, you conclude your collection warrants self storage, our helpful self storage finder tool will help you locate an affordable, climate-controlled self storage unit that can provide the perfect storage for handbags for your needs.
