Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Jessi319]

Funny that this comes up because I recently dunked an older, 90's navy bag and it had a whitish sheen to it...almost not noticeable and very even. The bag itself was very clean but I wondered if the whitish stuff was some sort of conditioner that has been applied.

Whatever it was came off easily with a bath. I doubt the silicones REALLY hurt the bag, but they probably don't help much, just make it shiny in the short run.

Since the conditioners and cleaners are likely just some product they contract out, it's too bad they don't go with a company like Apple or Leather CPR that would probably HAPPILY put the "Coach" name on their product in order to get that revenue rolling in.

Can you tell I'm a business major?

as long as they don't raise the prices on the stuff we love, they can do just that -and Id love it LOL.
YOu're right, I bet the "sheen" is very like a built up residue such as a silicone based substance. It probably doesn't hurt it, but the newer bags with cloth linings that can't as easily be dunked would be harder to clean that stuff back out of!

 

[ledobe]

as long as they don't raise the prices on the stuff we love, they can do just that -and Id love it LOL.
YOu're right, I bet the "sheen" is very like a built up residue such as a silicone based substance. It probably doesn't hurt it, but the newer bags with cloth linings that can't as easily be dunked would be harder to clean that stuff back out of!

The increased profit margin from the "marked up" product they slap the "Coach" label on will allow them to mark down the price for us, their devoted, original customers.

 

[katev]

FYI, Lovin My Bags provides services to restore designer handbags. They seem a bit pricey (IMO) but if I had a fabulously expensive bag like Hermes that needed serious rehab, this might be the best option.

Anyway, one of the services they provide is to remove dark discoloration of the handles - and I have never been successful in that area. They also sell a product that is designed to prevent handles from absorbing oils and soil and becoming dark. But I have not tried it yet myself.

http://www.lovinmybags.com/forhandlesonly.html

 

[ledobe]

Suede gal is out of the washer and looks pretty good. I didn't expect the "ink" or color transfer to come out and it didn't, but it isn't very dark. It might be lighter than it was but it's hard to tell since she's wet. I forgot to mention I applied a little alcohol with a cotton ball before throwing her in the washer and it came away "tan" not blue, so I quit trying.

She's still pretty perfumy though. She's hanging outside drying in the dark. It's a looks a little like rain tonight so even though I suspect nothing will come of it, I'm bringing her in before bedtime. Otherwise I suspect she would be dry by morning.

It's actually a very cute bag, now that I'm able to bring myself to touch it without latex gloves on.

 

[chowlover2]

FYI, Lovin My Bags provides services to restore designer handbags. They seem a bit pricey (IMO) but if I had a fabulously expensive bag like Hermes that needed serious rehab, this might be the best option.

Anyway, one of the services they provide is to remove dark discoloration of the handles - and I have never been successful in that area. They also sell a product that is designed to prevent handles from absorbing oils and soil and becoming dark. But I have not tried it yet myself.

http://www.lovinmybags.com/forhandlesonly.html

I have bought this for my Bals, but have yet to use on the handles. I think you showed me some posts about their products, or service ( like the items sent for spa came back In worse shape then they went in ) so it is sitting in the box still.

 

[ledobe]

FYI, Lovin My Bags provides services to restore designer handbags. They seem a bit pricey (IMO) but if I had a fabulously expensive bag like Hermes that needed serious rehab, this might be the best option.

Anyway, one of the services they provide is to remove dark discoloration of the handles - and I have never been successful in that area. They also sell a product that is designed to prevent handles from absorbing oils and soil and becoming dark. But I have not tried it yet myself.

http://www.lovinmybags.com/forhandlesonly.html

I also recently noticed that "Bag, Borrow or Steal" has odor removal, and they specifically list tobacco. It wouldn't be worth it for a lot of the bags we rehab, but for something special, it's at least worth looking into. Or sending in an undercover agent to find out what the process is...

 

[LatestObsession]

Funny that this comes up because I recently dunked an older, 90's navy bag and it had a whitish sheen to it...almost not noticeable and very even. The bag itself was very clean but I wondered if the whitish stuff was some sort of conditioner that has been applied.

Whatever it was came off easily with a bath. I doubt the silicones REALLY hurt the bag, but they probably don't help much, just make it shiny in the short run.

Since the conditioners and cleaners are likely just some product they contract out, it's too bad they don't go with a company like Apple or Leather CPR that would probably HAPPILY put the "Coach" name on their product in order to get that revenue rolling in.

Can you tell I'm a business major?

Yeah, contrary to some negative posts on TPF regarding silicone, it's probably OK to use Coach cleaner &/or moisturizer on their purses that say you can. Otherwise why would they say it? Perhaps all the info against the use of silicones is for leathers tanned, dyed or treated in a certain way. Leathers vary so much in how they were processed which could be why some Coach leathers are not to have their cleaners or conditioners used on them.

I found out a little about the different ways leathers are processed when I had some knee high moccasins custom made. They recommended Obernaufs LP, which has beeswax which waterproofs & prevents mold, great for Hawaii where the person who recommended it lives, but I read on a website of another moccasin maker that elk (which mine are made of) does better with NikWax which allows the leather to breathe.

 

[LatestObsession]

I am not sure why coach doesn't try some other formulation. I think in minimal -very occasional doses -people have used the Coach stuff and probably have been ok because it just causes a build up over time. But the other types of conditioners are just gentler and can be used very regularly without a build up. If the Coach type was the ONLY kind I had available to me, it's probably better than using nothing at all. But there are other cheaper better formulations out there. Now that you've bought some, you can just say you already have some and no feelings will be hurt. Congrats on the Duffle. I'd love to get one of those!! I'll probably end up buying a vintage one when I see one I like.

Jessi I've seen a few different duffles on the bay recently. I decided to get a new one because it is lighter and lined with slip pockets & zip pockets. I love the older leathers & bet those purses will outlast my new one but a purse this big is gonna get heavy with all the stuff I will put in it. I need to reduce weight wherever I can.

 

[whateve]

It sounds like shoe polish to me. I bought a bag that looked great when she came, I dunked her and all this brown came out. The interior felt slimy, so I kept changing water until it was clean. I used a plastic kitchen scrubbie to get the slimy feel out of the interior. It took 24 hrs for the water to run clean. Then I conditioned and waxed and she's fine.

I had one that was slimy on the inside too but it hadn't been dyed and anyway, what would be put on the inside? I kept scrubbing and I don't know if it ever stopped feeling slimy.

 

[whateve]

I'm going to butt in here for a second because I can not help myself...
I found a red wallet from the Madison line early 90's made in Italy today and I was SO nervous about rehabbing it I JUST put it on eBay as is
I had no idea where to begin!! I wish I could stop buying old bags just to see how pretty they can be but I CAN'T hehehe

I'm dying of curiosity. Can we see a picture? I have a red Madison card case that is in perfect condition. It even has the dustbag.

 

[Funeral]

Hello, everyone! It's been a while, but I just purchased a black Coach Manor bag via eBay (thank you to Hyacinth for giving me the blessing with the authentication!), and despite the bag being in good condition, I couldn't help myself, so I gave it a bath today! Probably the best $40 I've ever spent on a new or vintage bag, ever. I soaked and scrubbed the bag in warm water with Dawn for 40 minutes, and I applied one coat of Leather CPR a few hours ago. I'll probably wait until tomorrow or Friday to use Blackrock.

I'll post pictures as soon as possible! I still have yet to post the final result pictures of my first rehab project (unfortunately the mysterious "water" stain on the back didn't come out very well, but I can oversee it because the purse is lovely). I said I wasn't going to buy more vintage Coach purses and rehab them, but it's too much fun not to!

 

[JOODLZ]

Yesterday I requested authentication for two Abbie's:
an orange one: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-830.html#post22346452
and a brown one: http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-830.html#post22346554

I never had doubts about the orange one, but the brown one was just, well, different. Hyacinth expressed her reservations too and we've had a nice back-and-forth:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-832.html

Do any of my dear rehabbers have an Abbie with a similar style number: G3W-9017?
I'm hoping to find one for comparison. I've looked at all the current ones on ebay, but they're much older, like my orange one. Thanks in advance if anyone can help!

They've both had baths and are drying outside on the lanai...more in a day or so!

 

[NCBDTeam]

I'm dying of curiosity. Can we see a picture? I have a red Madison card case that is in perfect condition. It even has the dustbag.

I tried so hard to post pics last night but only had my phone available and it was not cooperating...
here is the post in authenticate this

http://http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-694619-830.html#post22348228

Thats INCREDIBLE!!! I wish this one was in even GOOD condition but it is pretty beat up! there was even some ink transfer in one of the CC slots and you can SEE THE WRITING! lol
It makes me happy the she was definitely LOVED though

 

[Jessi319]

Jessi I've seen a few different duffles on the bay recently. I decided to get a new one because it is lighter and lined with slip pockets & zip pockets. I love the older leathers & bet those purses will outlast my new one but a purse this big is gonna get heavy with all the stuff I will put in it. I need to reduce weight wherever I can.

A good point about the "heavy" factor!. And I DO LOVE pockets. I just wish the lighter newer ones occasionally were made without any cloth lining since I'd love to have the option of easily dunking my bags if something should ever happen. ( I am famous for my clutziness) But if I ever find a Bleecker tattersall lined duffle I could afford, I'd just go for it anyway.

 

[chowlover2]

I had one that was slimy on the inside too but it hadn't been dyed and anyway, what would be put on the inside? I kept scrubbing and I don't know if it ever stopped feeling slimy.

I am wondering if it is silicone that has seeped through the leather. The leather appeared to be in good shape and had a nice sheen when she came to me, I almost didn't bathe her. There was a faint perfumey smell, and I wanted to give her as a gift, so I did. I am thinking silicone gives the leather a good sheen, but does nothing to maintain the life of the leather.