he answer may vary depending on who tells you
ME PERSONALLY and this is just me i give my bags a nice coating, i spray prob. 5 inches from the bag? i dont like soak it but i spray all around every side prob go around the whole bag 2-3 times the first time i spray i spray back and forth all along every inch of the bag and if it does get a wetter spot thats ok it dries up
and i tend to spray even closer like 3-4 inches when i do the bottom since i want it super protected
(and thanks to our lexie 2000's advice i focus a lot on the bottom of the bag and the handles where it gets touched and put down the most and may risk more dirt from hands and tables or floors or whatever)
I then let it dry like an hour or overnight
the least amt of time i let it dry is an hr but there are times ive wanted to use my bag and sprayed it and used it an hr later, but if i dont want to use it right then and there i leave it to dry over night
I always spray outside, it has a very strong smell which will stick with the bag a few days but wears away, but keep even the sprayed bag in a ventelated area right after cause it smells
but again thats me, i think lexie doesnt spray hers as close or as much as i do mine, i think she may do a coat let it dry overnight, then another?
but i havent had any issues with what i do