A quick rehab update. A few months ago, I got my hands on a Plaza bag that REEKED of cigarettes. Like, I couldn't have it in the same room with me, because it smelled so strongly of cigarettes, and I don't mind subtle cigarette smell, (it reminds me of my grandma). But this was out of control, and I knew that I would never carry her, nor could I in good conscience sell her to anyone but a chain smoker! I was really wanting to save her, because she was in such good shape and came with her hang tag, original little drawstring bag of paperwork AND registration card!
I tried stuffing her with newspaper. No help.
I tried sitting her in sunshine. No help.
I gave her *5* baths. She'd smell a little better briefly, then "The Creeping Stink" would return. It was like it just oozed out of her.
On the final bath, I dumped in a bunch of Mr. Clean, because I was at the "nothing to lose" point. It helped only a smidge, and dried her out terribly. :/
Finally after weeks of glaring at her, my husband says "Did you try dryer sheets? Put some of those in the pockets, and the smell will go away". I thought he was kind of nuts, and that at best I'd get a bag that smelled like cigarettes and Downy.
To my surprise, the dryer sheets helped A LOT more than anything else I've tried. Between weeks stuffed with dryer sheets and many applications of Leather Therapy, she became usable. She still has a faint smell, but she's at a point where I'd carry her.
The pics are pre-polishing of the brass, but I mostly wanted to show the color difference between the dry leather and the conditioned leather. She was SO dry that by the time I wiped the Leather Therapy across the bag, the beginning would already be dry to the touch! This is what the inside pockets looked like, halfway through conditioning her.
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