As a self-proclaimed leather handbag expert, my friends and family are frequently asking me about caring for their handbags. I just received the following question from a friend: I just bought a $500 Italian leather purse. This is the first luxury purse I have owned and I have never had to worry about caring for leather before. I want to make sure I get the most out of this purchase and make sure that it lasts for years to come. Any suggestions or advice would be helpful. Thanks.

Here is what I sent back to my friend: First, congratulations on making a great purchase. Fine Italian leather is the best material for a purse or bag that you want to last for a long time. Good leather is supple, convenient, beautiful, and will withstand the test of time if it is cared for properly. The first thing you need to know is that there is no need to spend a ton of money on leather care products. You already spent so much on the purse itself; it is unnecessary to spend more on high priced care products. All you really need is a clean rag and some natural wax such as bees wax. The most important thing is to make sure that the bag doesn’t get soaked. Most good bags are made to withstand weather conditions so a couple raindrops isn’t going to kill your bag, but try not to get stuck in a downpour with it. Even if it only gets a little damp, make sure to pat it dry with a clean dry towel or cloth as soon as possible. Then let it air dry until all the moisture is gone. Do not expose it to heat, such as a clothes dryer, hair dryer or heater. Your bag will be fine to air dry and the heat can ruin the leather. Another important precaution is to avoid staining your bag. There is no good way to wash stains off of leather, so anything that cannot be removed with a damp cloth will likely remain a stain. This is an expensive item, so treat it like one. Don’t throw your purse on a dirty floor and don’t keep it near food. If you do spill something on your purse, just wipe it clean with a damp (not wet) cloth and let it air dry. Never use soap on expensive leather, and do not put it in the washing machine. As for your regular upkeep routine, you can apply some leather wax or bees wax sparingly every month or so. There is no reason to overdo it. The wax will keep the leather supple and shiny and will ensure that it doesn’t get dry and cracked. Since the purse was expensive it is most likely a good leather that will retain its youthful look for several years, but applying the wax definitely can’t hurt. If you follow these instructions, your purse should look nice for a long time to come. Don’t worry too much about it, you don’t need a bag to run your life, but make sure to be conscientious about where you leave your purse and how wet it gets.

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