Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[whateve]

Hi, I know a few individuals that frequently post in this thread are absolutely talented at fixing up old, dirty bags into beautiful, clean purses. I picked up an old Station bag in pretty beat up condition that needs a dunking, but I have a problem that perhaps one of you lovely ladies would be able to help me out with. I've searched this problem up countless times, but the solutions are not quite working for me. I think I remember reading in this thread somewhere that someone successfully conquered this problem (though I might be wrong), but I would be completely grateful if someone could help me out here. The bag smells of cigarettes. The smell becomes apparent when I hold the bag about 1ft away from my face. When I smell into it, the scent is quite unbearable. I'm wondering if giving it a bath might eliminate the smell? If so, is there a product I could throw into the washing process? Is there a minimum amount I should soak it in for? Do you think if I used a nice smelling detergent that the scent would go away? Also, I'd prefer if the smell was eliminated, and not just masked. Anyway, I would really appreciate any help, if any at all, and thanks in advance!

After I saw that Katev wasn't very successful in getting rid of the smoke smell by washing, I decided to try to reduce the smell as much as possible before I washed my bag. I couldn't even stand to be in the same room with it. I did various things - hanging outside for days, sealing it in a plastic bag with bath salts and baking soda, hanging it over solid air freshener, wiping it down with diluted alcohol, and then finally bathing it. It still has a mild smoke smell. I still won't put my things inside but I can stand to be near it, and I can't smell it unless I put my nose right up to it. Now I am going to hang it outside for a week or so, and then if that doesn't work, I will probably try the alcohol wipe and the bath salts again. This whole process has taken months. I have been successful at eliminating the smoke smell from newer, lined bags with the bath salts in a plastic bag for about a month. I am surprised that it has been harder getting rid of the smell on a NYC unlined bag.

 

[loag]

Thank you so much for your response Katev, I really appreciate it! That's what I initially had thought, that after a bath, the smell would be gone. I was thinking of putting it through the washer as well (after seeing so many of your successful posts), but I'm really hesitant and afraid that it will come out really beat up. Do you think using hot water would cause any damage, shrinking, or anything of that sort? And please do update when you get the spray, I'll be purchasing one if it works and all other options fail.

Ledobe - Oh, thanks for the tip! Even though it might not have been the baking soda, I'll still give it a try.

I think what I will do is give it a bath first and see what happens. If the condition doesn't improve, I will most likely give it a spin in the washer. Hopefully I will see results as the smell isn't extremely strong. I'll be sure to leave updates when I get around to doing it. Thanks again!

 

[loag]

After I saw that Katev wasn't very successful in getting rid of the smoke smell by washing, I decided to try to reduce the smell as much as possible before I washed my bag. I couldn't even stand to be in the same room with it. I did various things - hanging outside for days, sealing it in a plastic bag with bath salts and baking soda, hanging it over solid air freshener, wiping it down with diluted alcohol, and then finally bathing it. It still has a mild smoke smell. I still won't put my things inside but I can stand to be near it, and I can't smell it unless I put my nose right up to it. Now I am going to hang it outside for a week or so, and then if that doesn't work, I will probably try the alcohol wipe and the bath salts again. This whole process has taken months. I have been successful at eliminating the smoke smell from newer, lined bags with the bath salts in a plastic bag for about a month. I am surprised that it has been harder getting rid of the smell on a NYC unlined bag.

Thanks for your input, I will take all your ideas into consideration! Oh wow, I didn't think the process would take that long. I really hope you are successful in removing the smell from your bag!

 

[Rarity]

I left this for awhile for someone else to answer, because I've never dunked this sort of bag before. Take my advice with a grain of salt because I'm one of the more aggresive rehabbers and I've never done this exact type of bag before but...I've done bags with something in there that stiffens them and they've come out fine after a dunk. I'm just really careful to not bend that area while it's soaking wet and to reshape it carefully while it dries.

I hope someone who has done a similar bag can jump in too. That is a great bag!

Thanks! I probably will end up giving her a bath.

 

[Rarity]

Nice bag! I think that it is just thick leather. If it were my bag, I would dunk it - but I've never owned or rehabbed that specific bag. Good luck!

Thanks, katev.

 

[Rarity]

Following up on what kateve and ledobe have said, I've had good luck adding baking soda to the water and the bag while it's soaking to remove smells. Don't be afraid to use a lot. Make sure to put some on the bag and scrub it in good.

 

[NCBDTeam]

I don't have a solution...in fact, I think I might have the same problem with my musette that I posted earlier in the thread but it's a lot worse. It had what looked like grease spots all over the bag...I aggressively cleaned it, and the leather came out soft and beautiful, but if anything the grease spots got DARKER!

I don't want to dye the bag, and I'm actually using it for work now. I've been meaning to post pix I just haven't gotten around to it.

I dont think these are grease stains but they sure act like it! I have read other threads where ladies had stain problems and they said after time they faded...I hate to give up on the bag because it is a GREAT bag, not too big, not too small beautiful..perfect for date night or casual grrrrr stupid stains!

 

[katev]

I dont think these are grease stains but they sure act like it! I have read other threads where ladies had stain problems and they said after time they faded...I hate to give up on the bag because it is a GREAT bag, not too big, not too small beautiful..perfect for date night or casual grrrrr stupid stains!

All I can think of is to ask a professional for an opinion and see what he says, good luck.

 

[katev]

I dont think these are grease stains but they sure act like it! I have read other threads where ladies had stain problems and they said after time they faded...I hate to give up on the bag because it is a GREAT bag, not too big, not too small beautiful..perfect for date night or casual grrrrr stupid stains!

I can only think of one other suggestion for hiding significant marks on a bag, if you don't want to dye it and you can't remove the marks - but it is pretty drastic and it requires artistic ability!

I have never been a big fan of craft painting on leather bags, but dstalksalot had a lovely red rambler that was loaded with ink marks. She finally decided to paint a floral pattern on the bag and I think she did a beautiful job and saved the bag. Here's the thread:

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/artsy-reveal-red-coach-rambler-703118.html

 

[ledobe]

I had read that you could sand leather and being a reckless person, I decided to try it. The bag I did it on is a New York slim tote that is made of that stiffer leather. I was planning on dying the bag so I didn't worry too much about changing the color. When I sanded it, the leather became very light colored and sort of felt like suede so I was worried that I had ruined it. But when I applied the blackrocks, it darkened and smoothed it out so it looked and felt just like the original leather. I didn't need to dye it after all. I would imagine you would have to dye it if it had been any other color than dark brown. I used the finest grit I had on hand, which was 180. I sanded quite a bit, until it was completely smooth.

So back to this sanding business...I am thinking of trying to rough up a spot on a bag that is not absorbing anything. It looks like it had some solvent or something spilled or applied there. it is smoother than the rest of the bag, and it doesn't seem to absorb dye. Since it's a last ditch effort sort of thing, and I have a kind of back up plan to cover the whole spot anyway...I'm thinking of trying this sanding business. Thoughts?

 

[chowlover2]

Thanks for posting the link to that thread, what an awesome job she did!

 

[whateve]

So back to this sanding business...I am thinking of trying to rough up a spot on a bag that is not absorbing anything. It looks like it had some solvent or something spilled or applied there. it is smoother than the rest of the bag, and it doesn't seem to absorb dye. Since it's a last ditch effort sort of thing, and I have a kind of back up plan to cover the whole spot anyway...I'm thinking of trying this sanding business. Thoughts?

Go for it! Is this what the Rit dye is for? I used Fiebings on my sanded leather and it sort of oils it down and returns the normal leather texture. I don't think Rit will help with the texture, but Blackrocks will, so after you get it the color you want, you can use Blackrocks to get it to feel like regular leather again. The only thing I would worry about is that the solvent soaked all the way through and then roughing it up isn't going to help. I had a couple of spots that looked like burns or something. Even when I sanded it down a bunch, you can still see them a little even though it is completely smooth.

 

[ledobe]

Go for it! Is this what the Rit dye is for? I used Fiebings on my sanded leather and it sort of oils it down and returns the normal leather texture. I don't think Rit will help with the texture, but Blackrocks will, so after you get it the color you want, you can use Blackrocks to get it to feel like regular leather again. The only thing I would worry about is that the solvent soaked all the way through and then roughing it up isn't going to help. I had a couple of spots that looked like burns or something. Even when I sanded it down a bunch, you can still see them a little even though it is completely smooth.

YUP, the dye is a perfect match. I couldn't find a leather dye that I thought would work, and I don't trust my mixing skills. IF i can get this dye to take it will work perfectly.

I'm curious what was done to this bag, if something was spilled on it accidentally, or if someone was trying to clean a spot, but whatever was done, the texture of that spot is actually better than the rest of the bag.


Funny how Katev just referenced that painted bag...I do not have the artistic skills to paint a bag but I have a couple of other back up ideas if I can't get this to work.

 

[whateve]

YUP, the dye is a perfect match. I couldn't find a leather dye that I thought would work, and I don't trust my mixing skills. IF i can get this dye to take it will work perfectly.

I'm curious what was done to this bag, if something was spilled on it accidentally, or if someone was trying to clean a spot, but whatever was done, the texture of that spot is actually better than the rest of the bag.


Funny how Katev just referenced that painted bag...I do not have the artistic skills to paint a bag but I have a couple of other back up ideas if I can't get this to work.

I'm so curious about your backup ideas. I have a bag that has several gouge marks in a row - I can't even imagine what was done to get these. I thought about trying to fill them in; now I'm thinking about sanding them down.

 

[chowlover2]

I'm so curious about your backup ideas. I have a bag that has several gouge marks in a row - I can't even imagine what was done to get these. I thought about trying to fill them in; now I'm thinking about sanding them down.

There is leather filler, depending on how deep the gouges are. Available at leatherworld.com