Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[GoStanford]

It will probably rehab very well with a nice bath. I gave a bath to a unlined leather bag that smelled like perfume or incense and it took care of the odor. I also bathed a bag that looked like a bottle of whiteout had spilled inside of it, and it all just dissolved away in the bath.

If you search this forum will find lots of before and after pics of Stewardess bag rehabs, hear are mine:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/finally-stewardess-bag-rehab-before-and-after-pics-701843.html

Thank you! It is great how responsive everyone is on this thread. I could not pass up this bag and am hopeful a bath and CPR and possibly Blackrock will help.

 

[Italiangirlgr]

This is my second time posting this question and I'm hoping that someone will respond. I have a Legacy Gigi in Camel that needs cleaning. It's dirty on the corners and bottom. In reviewing past posts, I see that it is ok to use Apple conditioner. I'm a bit nervous and want to confirm that this is the best option for cleaning.

 

[Porter4]

This is my second time posting this question and I'm hoping that someone will respond. I have a Legacy Gigi in Camel that needs cleaning. It's dirty on the corners and bottom. In reviewing past posts, I see that it is ok to use Apple conditioner. I'm a bit nervous and want to confirm that this is the best option for cleaning.

I have only worked on older Coach, nothing as new as this. However, I think you could use Lexol cleaner and follow with Apple. The bag is all leather?

 

[Italiangirlgr]

I have only worked on older Coach, nothing as new as this. However, I think you could use Lexol cleaner and follow with Apple. The bag is all leather?

Yes, it is all vachetta leather.

 

[katev]

This is my second time posting this question and I'm hoping that someone will respond. I have a Legacy Gigi in Camel that needs cleaning. It's dirty on the corners and bottom. In reviewing past posts, I see that it is ok to use Apple conditioner. I'm a bit nervous and want to confirm that this is the best option for cleaning.

I think you didn't get a response because I doubt that many of us have experience rehabbing a light colored vachetta legacy bag with striped lining and so no one knows what to tell you. We mostly work on glove-tanned, unlined, vintage bags.

I think apple will be fine to remove surface dirt and condition the bag but I don't think it will do much for any badly discolored areas. Could you post pictures of the bag so we can see what you have to deal with?

I am currently doing my very first 65th anniversary legacy rehab. It is a black wristlet and I used non-alcohol baby wipes on the lining and then I used lexol cleaner on the leather followed by lexol conditioner and it has worked well. I didn't shine the hardware because it is supposed to look "antique".

The wristlet is looking good so I think that the legacy bags may not be quite as delicate as we have been told, but I have very limited experience and I have never worked on a light-colored one.

I have read that you should be careful not to soak the leather or the lining too heavily when you are cleaning because some of the dye from the leather can soak through and discolor the lining, but that may not be an issue with a camel bag.

Did you see this thread about rehabbing a light-colored Gigi? Perhaps you can send a PM to the OP and ask for specific advice about your bag.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/gigi-needs-rehab-can-you-help-672290.html#post18470305

Sorry but I don't have any other suggestions to offer. Good luck.

 

[Italiangirlgr]

I think you didn't get a response because I doubt that many of us have experience rehabbing a light colored vachetta legacy bag with striped lining and so no one knows what to tell you. We mostly work on glove-tanned, unlined, vintage bags.

I think apple will be fine to remove surface dirt and condition the bag but I don't think it will do much for any badly discolored areas. Could you post pictures of the bag so we can see what you have to deal with?

I am currently doing my very first 65th anniversary legacy rehab. It is a black wristlet and I used non-alcohol baby wipes on the lining and then I used lexol cleaner on the leather followed by lexol conditioner and it has worked well. I didn't shine the hardware because it is supposed to look "antique".

The wristlet is looking good so I think that the legacy bags may not be quite as delicate as we have been told, but I have very limited experience and I have never worked on a light-colored one.

I have read that you should be careful not to soak the leather or the lining too heavily when you are cleaning because some of the dye from the leather can soak through and discolor the lining, but that may not be an issue with a camel bag.

Did you see this thread about rehabbing a light-colored Gigi? Perhaps you can send a PM to the OP and ask for specific advice about your bag.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/gigi-needs-rehab-can-you-help-672290.html#post18470305

Sorry but I don't have any other suggestions to offer. Good luck.

Thank you- I really appreciate the suggestions. It's just surface dirt on the outside, nothing too serious. I also see some great tips on the Gigi rehab thread you gave.

Great news on your wristlet. It sounds like you were successful.

 

[katev]

Thank you- I really appreciate the suggestions. It's just surface dirt on the outside, nothing too serious. I also see some great tips on the Gigi rehab thread you gave.

Great news on your wristlet. It sounds like you were successful.

For more delicate leathers, I usually find that lexol cleaner (in the orange bottle) and lexol conditioner (in the brown bottle) are pretty safe to use and generally work quite well.

I am still working on the wristlet, I may decide to use a heavier conditioner later, like apple or leather cpr.

I forgot to mention that although the non-alcohol baby wipes did a nice job on the lining, there were a couple of spots that didn't come out. I used Coach jacquard fabric cleaner on them and it worked great.

 

[m3rma1d]

I did this for the vintage Coach facebook group but thought I should post it here too!! (I mean hello this thread died 2 days ago, whaddup with that!?)

My "rehabbing arsenal"! Would love to see other people's as well!

1: Lexol cleaner (goes in the bath)
2: Dishsoap (PINK, of course! Goes in the bath)
3: OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick (I rub this by hand into stubborn stains)
4: OxiClean powder (I sprinkle a little of this in the bath)
5: Isopropyl alcohol (for ink stains)
6: Bar rags (Bought 1 dozen at restaurant supply place, use for stuffing/shaping)
7: Paper towels (ALWAYS handy)
8: Lexol Wipes (for wiping down little here-&-there surface dirt)
9: Apple Conditioner ("light duty" conditioning)
10: Leather CPR ("medium duty" conditioning)
11: Leather Therapy ("heavy duty" conditioning)
12: Blackrock (for finishing)
13: Emu Oil (haven't used yet)
14: Leather Refinisher Dye (British Tan, WANT MORE COLORS!!)
15: Brasso (for polishing hardware)
16: Bar Keepers Friend (like this better than Brasso)
17: Dremel with felt tip (for polishing hardware)
18: Q-tips (for polishing hardware and cleanup of excess conditioner)
19: Cotton balls (for polishing hardware)
20: Needle-tip jeweler's tweeers (for hard-to-reach places)
21: Manicure scissors (for snipping loose threads)
22: Bic lighter (PINK, of course! For melting loose thread ends)

OOPS, NOT PICTURED:
White wash cloth (for rubbing/cleaning during bath)
X-Acto knife (for prying out turnlocks to clean them)
Citrus Magic "Fresh Linen" (for de-smellifying things)
Makeup sponges (I use them to apply the Leather Refinisher dye)
Suede cleaning kit (it's in the mail)

WISH LIST:
MORE Leather Refinisher Dye colors!!
Wenol brass polish
Who knows what else, I'm sure I'll find something else I "need"

 

[2Blessed]

Sorry - posted in wrong forum? :-/

 

[ledobe]

I did this for the vintage Coach facebook group but thought I should post it here too!! (I mean hello this thread died 2 days ago, whaddup with that!?)

My "rehabbing arsenal"! Would love to see other people's as well!

1: Lexol cleaner (goes in the bath)
2: Dishsoap (PINK, of course! Goes in the bath)
3: OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick (I rub this by hand into stubborn stains)
4: OxiClean powder (I sprinkle a little of this in the bath)
5: Isopropyl alcohol (for ink stains)
6: Bar rags (Bought 1 dozen at restaurant supply place, use for stuffing/shaping)
7: Paper towels (ALWAYS handy)
8: Lexol Wipes (for wiping down little here-&-there surface dirt)
9: Apple Conditioner ("light duty" conditioning)
10: Leather CPR ("medium duty" conditioning)
11: Leather Therapy ("heavy duty" conditioning)
12: Blackrock (for finishing)
13: Emu Oil (haven't used yet)
14: Leather Refinisher Dye (British Tan, WANT MORE COLORS!!)
15: Brasso (for polishing hardware)
16: Bar Keepers Friend (like this better than Brasso)
17: Dremel with felt tip (for polishing hardware)
18: Q-tips (for polishing hardware and cleanup of excess conditioner)
19: Cotton balls (for polishing hardware)
20: Needle-tip jeweler's tweeers (for hard-to-reach places)
21: Manicure scissors (for snipping loose threads)
22: Bic lighter (PINK, of course! For melting loose thread ends)

OOPS, NOT PICTURED:
White wash cloth (for rubbing/cleaning during bath)
X-Acto knife (for prying out turnlocks to clean them)
Citrus Magic "Fresh Linen" (for de-smellifying things)
Makeup sponges (I use them to apply the Leather Refinisher dye)
Suede cleaning kit (it's in the mail)

WISH LIST:
MORE Leather Refinisher Dye colors!!
Wenol brass polish
Who knows what else, I'm sure I'll find something else I "need"

You ever wonder if we could buy one of those $1000 NEW bags for what we spend on rehab gear?

I am going to keep interrogating you about that leather refinisher...still happy with it? is it a creamy texture? Does it make the bag stiff at all or is it more or less the same squooshiness after use?

Sorry to be a pain, but the British Tan Musette bag I'm thinking of using it on is one of my favorites and I'd rather carry it "as is" than do something to it I won't be happy with.

Now, if I can just get katev to try out the red so I can get her views on how that tricky color came out...

 

[m3rma1d]

You ever wonder if we could buy one of those $1000 NEW bags for what we spend on rehab gear?

HA! Prolly... But it wouldn't be the same...

I am going to keep interrogating you about that leather refinisher...still happy with it? is it a creamy texture? Does it make the bag stiff at all or is it more or less the same squooshiness after use?

Definitely less smooshy, but it was a fairly structured bag to start with and so that might actually HELP because if it got smooshy it would kinda ruin "the look" if that makes sense...
I am happy with it. And have showed it to SAs that had no clue it was refinished/dyed, if that helps...

Sorry to be a pain, but the British Tan Musette bag I'm thinking of using it on is one of my favorites and I'd rather carry it "as is" than do something to it I won't be happy with.

Dunno what to tell you... I don't wanna be responsible for having you do anything to a favorite! Maybe practice on one you aren't as in love with so you can see how it works/feels?

Now, if I can just get katev to try out the red so I can get her views on how that tricky color came out...

Oooh, I'll help you hound her! C'mon Kate!! Get the red out!!

 

[4213jen]

I cleaned my camel legacy gigi in about March this year, using a liquid leather cleaner that I bought at a horse supply store. You could search on my name and the pictures etc should come up. If they don't let me know and I will repost for you. It turned out well, and has had no ill effects after 6 months.

Posted in March - post number 1112. The link to the before pictures (from Ebay) has now stopped working. The bag had been used as a Uni bag for 3 years, and was quite dirty from being carted around. It has a few ink marks, which did not come off.

This is my second time posting this question and I'm hoping that someone will respond. I have a Legacy Gigi in Camel that needs cleaning. It's dirty on the corners and bottom. In reviewing past posts, I see that it is ok to use Apple conditioner. I'm a bit nervous and want to confirm that this is the best option for cleaning.

 

[4213jen]

I've been working on my carrier bag, and when I went to condition it after washing in my machine the top flap became alot more darkened than other panels on the bag. Maybe the leather they used for these types of bags is a bit more prone to 'grabbing' oily marks? It's soaking in the wash again as I type...

You ever wonder if we could buy one of those $1000 NEW bags for what we spend on rehab gear?

I am going to keep interrogating you about that leather refinisher...still happy with it? is it a creamy texture? Does it make the bag stiff at all or is it more or less the same squooshiness after use?

Sorry to be a pain, but the British Tan Musette bag I'm thinking of using it on is one of my favorites and I'd rather carry it "as is" than do something to it I won't be happy with.

Now, if I can just get katev to try out the red so I can get her views on how that tricky color came out...

 

[heathie02]

Help! Here is the pic a couple if you had asked for. My legacy duffle with lip stain balm on the front. It looks worse in real life. Is there anything I can do?

 

[GoStanford]

Help! Here is the pic a couple if you had asked for. My legacy duffle with lip stain balm on the front. It looks worse in real life. Is there anything I can do?

Sorry about this - I am not an expert but I sympathize. I drew on the wall when I was a kid and boy did I learn never to do that again.