Want your Handbag to look Brand New all the time? The key is caring for them properly. Sounds simple, right? Well, there might be more to it than you think. Your priority is to keep your bag looking good and stain free, yet to enjoy using it. Follow or at least consider these tips when you use your handbag, so that, whether you own a Prada or an Alfani, you can still keep it looking good longer.

- Keep the handbags you use most often on a shelf in your closet standing upright in a line, possibly organized by type, color and size if you wish.

- The one which is not used often, store it in its dust bag cover or use a natural fibre soft pillowslip and place in boxes big enough so that the handles don’t press into the bag, which can cause unsightly creases.

- Chain handles should always be tucked inside the bag when storing. As for small bags, like clutches and wristlets, small baskets are good for keeping them in order.

– Stuff each one with bubble wrap (it’s better than tissue paper) so that they maintain their shape.

- Handle your bag, especially lighter bags with clean hands.

- Never use a treatment on suede bags. Just brush them with a suede brush to remove dust and grime.

- Snakeskin should always be taken to a professional.

- Sometimes you can treat light spots on your own, but always spot test. Serious stains usually require the work of a professional.

- Avoid handling the designer bag after applying beauty products, face foundations or hand creams.

- Apply a leather treatment and leather protector to all new leather bags and condition them periodically to keep them soft.

- If the weather is really bad and raining consider using a less special handbag.

- Be careful when you visit a hairdressers with your bag, as hair products can easily splash onto handbags left on the floor at your feet. Clippings of chemically treated hair can land on the bag and leave marks.

- When carrying a light coloured bag consider using pencils rather than Biros – biro can be difficult to remove. Don’t use your bag as a rest to place paper and write notes. Pointed pens can leave impression tool marks through paper rested on firm leathers.

- If you are doing a big weekly shop, avoid taking your special bag to the supermarket! Trolleys can scratch your bag and mark it permanently, as can spillages from foodstuffs such as yoghurt, cream, dips, squashy fruit, milk and even leaking cleaning products.

- For long term storage, undo strap buckles so that impressions are not created. Then if you wish to wear the strap across the body messenger style and need maximum strap length or need to shorten it to wear underarm style at a later date, this unbuckling of the straps before storage will stop areas becoming impressed and unattractive.