Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#8,641
Arizabif said:
I thought I'd give an in-process update on my vintage Mini Safari Tote. I am finally getting my act together, and making progress with my to-do pile.

Here is what she looked like when I got her. She's in really good shape, considering she's from 1968! I feel like this bag wasn't used very much. There isn't a lot of scratching on her feet.

On closure inspection, I have found a pen mark on one of the outside pockets, about 1.5" long. I am going to try to blend it in when I condition the bag, rather than try anything crazy to cover it or remove it. After 45 years, I am relieved she only has 1 pen mark!

I decided to soak her, because she was a little squashed. I was a little nervous about it, because the bottom of the bag is rigid and is made out of some sort of fiber board. After it got wet, it did feel softer, but I'm hoping that as long as I don't mess with it and just let it dry, it will be ok. It's not like this bag is going to be carrying any major weight; it just needs to retain it's shape.

The brass was dull, and solid green on the back when I took it off. It's going to take several attempts to get it all polished, because it was so gross.

The cool thing about old Coach leather? It holds water! I filled the bag and pockets and it didn't leak *at all*.

She's drying right now. I'm hoping she will be dry enough tomorrow to start conditioning!
Click to expand...
Such a great little bag! I can't wait to see what see looks like when she's done!
 
#8,644
obiwankenobi87 said:
While we're on the topic, is getting ink stains out of white leather pretty much never going to happen? I can usually get ink stains out of the linings but everything I have tried on the outside hasn't worked. I recently got my mom a beautiful white older coach purse. Well, she decided she didn't want it any more and gave it back to me (I was kinda sad) What made me more sad was the pen ink all over it. And I do mean all over, inside and out. I'll try to post pics later but does anyone have tricks for getting ink out of white leather?
Click to expand...

Everything that I have found that removes old ink also removes the dye of the leather and then you have to spot re-dye, use Leather Refinisher, etc.... I have an older white glove-tanned leather that I am going to try the white Leather Refinisher on.
 
#8,646
Does anyone have recommendations for leather dye? I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this bleached-out area on my red Metropolis. I gave it two baths with pretty intense scrubbing with no change in the stain/bleached area :/

dl.dropbox.com/u/30138349/IMG_1579.JPG

I picked up some red shoe polish to try. It looks better for sure, but the shoe polish seems prone to rubbing off. I'm afraid it'll rub off on my clothes while I wear is, so now I'm looking into leather dye. It also is way too shiny for the rest of the bag...it's pretty obvious that this spot is "different". If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it! TIA :) :)

dl.dropbox.com/u/30138349/IMG_1612.JPG
 
#8,648
blorpity said:
Does anyone have recommendations for leather dye? I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this bleached-out area on my red Metropolis. I gave it two baths with pretty intense scrubbing with no change in the stain/bleached area :/

dl.dropbox.com/u/30138349/IMG_1579.JPG

I picked up some red shoe polish to try. It looks better for sure, but the shoe polish seems prone to rubbing off. I'm afraid it'll rub off on my clothes while I wear is, so now I'm looking into leather dye. It also is way too shiny for the rest of the bag...it's pretty obvious that this spot is "different". If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it! TIA :) :)

dl.dropbox.com/u/30138349/IMG_1612.JPG
Click to expand...
Shoe polish isn't good. A couple brands make leather dye. I've tried Fiebings. I had a lot of trouble getting it to go on even. Some people on the forum have had great success with Wood-n-stuff Leather Refinisher. http://wood-n-stuff.com/leatheraid.html
You might end up having to do the whole bag to get it to match.
You could also try acrylic craft paint. I have mixed it with conditioner to cover small spots and corners.
 
#8,649
whateve said:
Shoe polish isn't good. A couple brands make leather dye. I've tried Fiebings. I had a lot of trouble getting it to go on even. Some people on the forum have had great success with Wood-n-stuff Leather Refinisher. http://wood-n-stuff.com/leatheraid.html
You might end up having to do the whole bag to get it to match.
You could also try acrylic craft paint. I have mixed it with conditioner to cover small spots and corners.
Click to expand...

Thanks whateve! I really appreciate it :) I'll probably try the acrylic paint first... it worked out nicely for covering old ink blots and spots on another bag. I'll keep you posted!
 
#8,650
Please don't hate on me for asking a Dooney question. I bought this bag

http://******/11YVIZp

I'm wondering how to clean it. I have cleaned Coach canvas before with just plain soap and water but this bag has extensive staining on the inside. If I remember correctly that material is like a canvas but maybe with a coating? It's been awhile since I have had a bag with that particular lining. Would a trip through the washer work? Everything else on the bag looks okay. It's just so dirty!
I know it's a Dooney bag but you ladies do great stuff so I'm hoping its okay to post here. The fabric looks similar to Coach canvas.
 
#8,651
missy_g said:
Please don't hate on me for asking a Dooney question. I bought this bag

http://******/11YVIZp

I'm wondering how to clean it. I have cleaned Coach canvas before with just plain soap and water but this bag has extensive staining on the inside. If I remember correctly that material is like a canvas but maybe with a coating? It's been awhile since I have had a bag with that particular lining. Would a trip through the washer work? Everything else on the bag looks okay. It's just so dirty!
I know it's a Dooney bag but you ladies do great stuff so I'm hoping its okay to post here. The fabric looks similar to Coach canvas.
Click to expand...

Did you try asking for advice in the D&B forum? http://forum.purseblog.com/dooney-and-bourke/

I don't have any experience with a D&B bag of that type so this is just what I would do if it was my bag.

It's really dirty but you got it pretty cheaply so it might be worth taking some risks to get it clean. You could try a sink bath with dawn and warm water and use a toothbrush on the worst stains. Then stuff it with towels for the first 24 hours to shape it while it is drying. Remove the towels and let it continue to dry. If it comes out clean, put conditioner on the leather areas.

But if the sink bath doesn't do a thorough job, tie it up in an old pillowcase and cycle it through the washer on delicate with woolite and warm water. You might try treating the worst stains with Shout or Oxygel before you put it in the washer. When you take it out of the washer stuff it with towels and treat it the same way described above.

Before cycling it through the washer, I would do something to try and prevent the frayed areas of the fabric from getting worse. I would use a small, sharp scissors to trim off the frayed bits and then treat it with Dritz Fray-Check and let that dry. You can get Fray-Check at fabric or hobby stores or online. After it comes out of the washer and dries, you might give the frayed areas another application of Fray-Check. It has been my experience that Fray-Check dries clear, but it would be a good idea to "spot-test" it in an area that doesn't show first.

Again, I haven't worked on this type of bag, most of my experience is with coach bags. "Dreaming of Beautiful Dooneys" on the ebay forum knows a lot about older D&B bags. You might try reaching out to her for advice. Good luck!
http://myworld.ebay.com/dreaming_of_beautiful_dooneys/
 
Last edited:
#8,652
Arizabif said:
I thought I'd give an in-process update on my vintage Mini Safari Tote. I am finally getting my act together, and making progress with my to-do pile.

Here is what she looked like when I got her. She's in really good shape, considering she's from 1968! I feel like this bag wasn't used very much. There isn't a lot of scratching on her feet.

On closure inspection, I have found a pen mark on one of the outside pockets, about 1.5" long. I am going to try to blend it in when I condition the bag, rather than try anything crazy to cover it or remove it. After 45 years, I am relieved she only has 1 pen mark!

I decided to soak her, because she was a little squashed. I was a little nervous about it, because the bottom of the bag is rigid and is made out of some sort of fiber board. After it got wet, it did feel softer, but I'm hoping that as long as I don't mess with it and just let it dry, it will be ok. It's not like this bag is going to be carrying any major weight; it just needs to retain it's shape.

The brass was dull, and solid green on the back when I took it off. It's going to take several attempts to get it all polished, because it was so gross.

The cool thing about old Coach leather? It holds water! I filled the bag and pockets and it didn't leak *at all*.

She's drying right now. I'm hoping she will be dry enough tomorrow to start conditioning!
Click to expand...

Hope it turns out beautiful! It is a lovely bag.
 
#8,653
whateve said:
What part of AZ? My father lives in Sun Lakes and I'm planning a visit to him. I was hoping the thrift stores there would have more than my local ones.
Click to expand...

latetotheparty said:
Wow, Socmoe,from back east, no wonder you find so many COACH bags in your thrift shops, I'm originally from N.Y. but I live in AZ now, no such luck finding purses in any thrift store in my area. I found that bottle of Soilove at my
99 Cents Only store, wanna try on a little trail bag that I won, that has ink marks on (luckily) only the insides. How did the removal your red Patricia's Legacy ink stains turn out?
Click to expand...

Hi guys. I am originally from NY and now live in Mesa. You have great luck finding Coach bags in thrift stores. I have none! LOL
 
#8,654
katev said:
Did you try asking for advice in the D&B forum? http://forum.purseblog.com/dooney-and-bourke/

I don't have any experience with a D&B bag of that type so this is just what I would do if it was my bag.

It's really dirty but you got it pretty cheaply so it might be worth taking some risks to get it clean. You could try a sink bath with dawn and warm water and use a toothbrush on the worst stains. Then stuff it with towels for the first 24 hours to shape it while it is drying. Remove the towels and let it continue to dry. If it comes out clean, put conditioner on the leather areas.

But if the sink bath doesn't do a thorough job, tie it up in an old pillowcase and cycle it through the washer on delicate with woolite and warm water. You might try treating the worst stains with Shout or Oxygel before you put it in the washer. When you take it out of the washer stuff it with towels and treat it the same way described above.

Before cycling it through the washer, I would do something to try and prevent the frayed areas of the fabric from getting worse. I would use a small, sharp scissors to trim off the frayed bits and then treat it with Dritz Fray-Check and let that dry. You can get Fray-Check at fabric or hobby stores or online. After it comes out of the washer and dries, you might give the frayed areas another application of Fray-Check. It has been my experience that Fray-Check dries clear, but it would be a good idea to "spot-test" it in an area that doesn't show first.

Again, I haven't worked on this type of bag, most of my experience is with coach bags. "Dreaming of Beautiful Dooneys" on the ebay forum knows a lot about older D&B bags. You might try reaching out to her for advice. Good luck!
http://myworld.ebay.com/dreaming_of_beautiful_dooneys/
Click to expand...

Thanks! I posted here because you ladies do excellent rehabs. I rehabbed a Coach bag a few months ago. I love it! Yard sale season is coming soon too so hopefully lots of cheap bags to fix!
I'm hoping the material is canvas and not DBs coated canvas PVC stuff. I maybe should have asked before buying but I didn't want someone else to snag it.
 
#8,655
So Mesa is the same as Tucson, no vintage Coach bags to be found, I was planning to visit my son in Phoenix, to check out the thrift shops for some bags lol, sounds like we're gonna have to go back to the East Coast for some good deals. I'm actually going to N.Y. for the first time in 14 yrs, in a couple of months. I'm so excited to see my family and I'm definitely going to make time to see some the thrift shops in the Bronx, where I'll be staying.
 
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