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Q: I recently invested in a nice leather purse, but I’m worried about taking care of it. How can I protect my purse to ensure that it lasts a while?

A: Leather is a great material because it is soft and durable, as long as you properly care for it. Many purses these days are made from some sort of plastic that can crack and rip, and unlike leather purses, you won’t see many of these synthetics still looking good in 20 years.

The person who sold you the purse may be able to give you instructions on how to take care of the leather. For example, if you bought a buttery-soft leather purse, be careful wearing it with dark indigo-dyed jeans, which can discolor the leather.

Different types of leather, such as patent or suede, need different care. Be careful using oily or soapy products that aren’t intended for leather; they can stain or disfigure the material.

In general, you can find leather-care products at many drug stores and retailers that carry quality leather products. These often come in spray cans, which allow an even application of product that protects the leather from scratches and water damage. I’ve used these before to protect soft leather shoes and increased their longevity. Remember that leather develops wrinkles over time, but that just adds to the attractive, worn quality of the material.

You also might consider taking your leather products to the professionals for care. Dry cleaners often have a leather-cleaning service you can use, but it can be pricey. At Bend’s Mirror Pond Cleaners, having your piece sent out to their leather cleaning associates costs an average of $50, but they can do some simpler leather cleaning for $15 at the shop.

At downtown Bend’s boutique purse store Clutch, owner Larie Borden says she uses a leather conditioner/cleaner made by the handbag company Coach. She orders the $10 bottles online (www.coach.com) and uses a soft cloth to apply the product.

“It’s great for taking scratches out and brightening the color,” she said. “It just brings bags back to life.”

She also has used the cleaner to remove a red-wine stain on a customer’s light gray, soft leather purse.

“I was able to get 90 percent of (the stain) out,” she said. “(The mark) was really not noticeable.”

Another tip to making leather last, according to Borden: Keep your leather out of the sun; exposure will fade the color.

— Anna Sowa, The Bulletin

3 C’s to remember

• Cleaning: Some dry cleaners offer leather-cleaning services, or you can have your leather product sent out to specialty cleaners.

• Conditioning: Retailers that sell leather products often sell leather-care products. Be sure to use the right product for the different varieties of leather.

• Care: Routine maintenance of your leather product will ensure it’s longevity. Keeping your bag out of the sun will prevent fading.