Many collectors only show their nutcrackers during the holiday season, and store them away for the biggest part of the year.  Be sure to dust your nutcrackers with a soft brush before storing.  Fur hair can be vacuumed with the wand end of your vacuum hose.  For any bad spotting, a slightly damp cloth can be used, but never immerse in water! 

Wrap your nutcrackers in tissue paper or soft cloth, being sure that any accessory is wrapped so that it does not scratch the surface of the body.  Many accessories are removable, and if so, wrap them separately, and make sure they are placed where they will be noticed when the nutcracker is unpacked.  You would be surprised at how many people write to me saying they lost an accessory to their nutcracker!  Store your nutcrackers in a dry area where the temperature is moderate.  Dampness will cause the paint to peel, and having temperature changes from cold to hot will cause the glue joints to loosen.  We have such a variety of temperature zones in our country, so storage place will vary from one place to another.  One lady told me she stored her nutcrackers under the bed, and another told me she used the upper shelves in her clothes closet!  

If glue joints do come apart, I suggest Elmers Wood Glue.  On those parts where a glue gun was originally used, we use  all purpose Goop.  A glue repair does not take away from the value of the nutcracker if there is no damage to the wood.