Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Tetondeb]

Hi all! Well, I've been dunking a lot of bags this past month or so (got 5 drying as we speak) but havent posted many "after" pictures so I thought I would tonight. I picked up this cute daypack at Savers Thrift store for 11 dollars - just washed with Dawn, warm water, conditioned with Leather Cpr after 24 hours and then a coat of Leather Restorer and Conditioner...I was lazy and polished brass with Brasso while on the bag so I didn't do as great a job as when I take the hardware off, but it's fine. The Bonnie's Legacy tote (or is it the Bonnie Cashin tote -have read that it's called both?) needed nothing except a little Apple Condtioner - it arrived from ebay simply gorgeous. I adorned this little lady with a key chain I made.


IMG_6293 ed by Maureen122563, on Flickr

Wow! Beautiful!

 

[socmoe]

First off, love both bags, especially the Bonnie tote. Beautiful!

I've read about polishing the hardware, but never actually removing it. Is it hard? How does one go about it?

Thank you! TetonDeb gave me the idea (I'm sure others do it)....I find it in a pain in the butt but I'm pretty clutsy and manage to stab myself somehow...I use a fingernail or nail file to lift up and then pliers....come right off....much easier to polish than on the bag.....BUT some nice lady (sorry cannot remember who now) mentioned that she polishes while in the sudsy sink! I read that the other night so I tried tonight with three bags....that way, I can keep the hardware on and wipe off right away if I get the leather with Brasso which of course I did. They are drying but the hardware looks good!

 

[Tetondeb]

I accidentally posted this comment first over in the Second Hand Bargain thread. I couldn't figure out how to delete it so I hope it's ok to post the same thing in both places...

I have a good news bad news situation and was wondering if anyone can help. So the good news is that I found this amazing red city bag for $7.50!!!! I'm so excited because I don't have any red bags and this one is such a great size for me. The bad news is that someone seems to have attacked it with ink. What's with old Coach bags and ink by the way???? Given the cheap price I bought it anyway and plan to do my best rehabbing it. Obviously, the ink won't come out all the way so I am planning to touch it up with red paint.

I was wondering if anyone has touched up this type of bag before. I have experience painting the corners of a black bag and a brown bag. In both cases, the end results were amazing. Red seems a little more difficult so I thought I'd come to the experts!

What kind of paint did you use? Is acrylic glossy the correct paint? If by some miracle anyone happens to know a specific brand or color that would be a good starting point, I would be grateful.

Thanks!

What a gorgeous bag and in great shape minus the ink. Good luck. .. keep us posted!

 

[socmoe]

Wow! Beautiful!

Thanks Debi - I've learned a lot from you!

 

[amo_borse]

I'm pretty much a newbie still but I just leave the straps out to dry or I detach them and lay them flat if they are detachable. Have fun! It is very satisfying!

Thank you! For now I've just left them out laying on a towel. I can tell this will be addicting! I'm really glad I washed my bag, because an odor that wasn't present when it was dry presented itself. Luckily the bag doesn't smell anymore, but my hands do. Yuck

 

[Tetondeb]

Thank you! TetonDeb gave me the idea (I'm sure others do it)....I find it in a pain in the butt but I'm pretty clutsy and manage to stab myself somehow...I use a fingernail or nail file to lift up and then pliers....come right off....much easier to polish than on the bag.....BUT some nice lady (sorry cannot remember who now) mentioned that she polishes while in the sudsy sink! I read that the other night so I tried tonight with three bags....that way, I can keep the hardware on and wipe off right away if I get the leather with Brasso which of course I did. They are drying but the hardware looks good!

I did learn the hard way that a Willis can actually lose its leather end caps and the bar can turn if you don't leave the pins in. ..grrrrr... otherwise. ..I just line to take everything out and get the gunk out. Plus it's easier to condition the leather.

 

[Tetondeb]

Thanks Debi - I've learned a lot from you!

How does the leather cpr work? Is it an oil?

 

[amo_borse]

Thank you! TetonDeb gave me the idea (I'm sure others do it)....I find it in a pain in the butt but I'm pretty clutsy and manage to stab myself somehow...I use a fingernail or nail file to lift up and then pliers....come right off....much easier to polish than on the bag.....BUT some nice lady (sorry cannot remember who now) mentioned that she polishes while in the sudsy sink! I read that the other night so I tried tonight with three bags....that way, I can keep the hardware on and wipe off right away if I get the leather with Brasso which of course I did. They are drying but the hardware looks good!

Oh I'll have to try that next time. I don't have any brass polish yet. Honestly, I was so excited to start once I got my conditioner and blackrock that I hadn't thought about the brass lol

 

[Akim015]

I once tried to wash a white nylon Hampton's hobo with suede leather trim and it was not as sucessful as I had wished. The bag came clean but it had discolored yellow areas. I thought it might have some from the adhesive used on the leather. I don't know if that would happen to you to, but I was a bit disappointed, see the link below and sorry I don't have better news!
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/need-advice-for-cleaning-a-white-nylon-bag-677806.html

That's the hobo bag I got, except its black with blue interior! So gentle cycle might be worth a shot?

 

[amo_borse]

I did learn the hard way that a Willis can actually lose its leather end caps and the bar can turn if you don't leave the pins in. ..grrrrr... otherwise. ..I just line to take everything out and get the gunk out. Plus it's easier to condition the leather.

Oh no! Sorry you had to learn that the hard way. Luckily this bag only has the turnlock, so I think I'm going to try and polish it while it's on the bag. But the next time I have something with substantial HW I'll try this!

 

[katev]

Hi all! Well, I've been dunking a lot of bags this past month or so (got 5 drying as we speak) but havent posted many "after" pictures so I thought I would tonight. I picked up this cute daypack at Savers Thrift store for 11 dollars - just washed with Dawn, warm water, conditioned with Leather Cpr after 24 hours and then a coat of Leather Restorer and Conditioner...I was lazy and polished brass with Brasso while on the bag so I didn't do as great a job as when I take the hardware off, but it's fine. The Bonnie's Legacy tote (or is it the Bonnie Cashin tote -have read that it's called both?) needed nothing except a little Apple Condtioner - it arrived from ebay simply gorgeous. I adorned this little lady with a key chain I made.


IMG_6293 ed by Maureen122563, on Flickr

Wow, gorgeous! Great job!

 

[katev]

That's the hobo bag I got, except its black with blue interior! So gentle cycle might be worth a shot?

I think washing a black nylon bag would be a lot safer than my white one, good luck!

You should tie it up in a pillowcase or lingerie bag when you cycle it through the washer.

 

[socmoe]

How does the leather cpr work? Is it an oil?

nope, cream - like Apple...cheap at Tuesday Morning if one is nearby...something like 6 dollars for 16 oz.....I think how Katev (or someone else? can't remember) "rate" strength was 1) Apple 2) Leather CPR 3) BlackRocks 4) Leather Restorer&Condtioner /Emu Oil...someone correct me if my memory is wrong....I now have ALL 5 of these...and use them all! Actually, just bought the Emu oil for the pink suede bag - haven't done it yet..

 

[socmoe]

Wow, gorgeous! Great job!

I take that as a high compliment, Katev - thanks!

 

[katev]

How does the leather cpr work? Is it an oil?

nope, cream - like Apple...cheap at Tuesday Morning if one is nearby...something like 6 dollars for 16 oz.....I think how Katev (or someone else? can't remember) "rate" strength was 1) Apple 2) Leather CPR 3) BlackRocks 4) Leather Restorer&Condtioner /Emu Oil...someone correct me if my memory is wrong....I now have ALL 5 of these...and use them all! Actually, just bought the Emu oil for the pink suede bag - haven't done it yet..

Here's some information about different conditioners:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452-364.html#post22666648