There is a facebook page that Jessie and some rehabbers use to share pics and tips:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/455839737770557/
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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There is a facebook page that Jessie and some rehabbers use to share pics and tips:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/455839737770557/
I just finished rehabbing one of these too. I am quite happy with how it turned out. I noticed the flap seemed to kinda fill up with water. I might use this today. It seems like a very practical, useful design.It's been years since I dunked and rehabbed a bag, but I found a great project bag, thanks to the authenticators here. This is a Patricia's Legacy bag made in Costa Rica, nice thick leather. It reminds me of the classic-style saddle bags that Coach released a couple of years ago. I had one that I used for almost a year daily, but a couple of times the strap undid itself, and I decided I'd rather look for an older original bag. This one was from Ebay. It arrived folded in half and crushed into a flat-rate Tyvek shipping envelope.
But it didn't matter much, because I cleaned the kitchen sink and dunked it along with some Mrs. Meyer's soap. I didn't have Dawn or scentless soap on hand, but I decided to go ahead. I got lucky in the sense that the bag is really in great shape overall, though flattened from packing and storage, but no perfume or cigarette smells, and only minimal lint. It is draining now and will get stuffed with terry rags to dry and shape overnight. You can see how the water did pick up some dye, but not too badly.
I forgot to mention - the only weird thing is that the top flap in particular had this horrible gel-like feeling as I squished the soapy water through and agitated it. I wonder if it's full of silicone conditioners. The nap of the sueded side kept holding onto the soapy water and feeling like jelly when I tried to squish it. Sounds yucky, I know, but otherwise looks and feels like a great bag now that it's clean!
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I remember that, but I never joined because I don't do facebook.
Ran into a spot of trouble. I forgot that I give away all my leather care products a while ago. I found some Collonil waterproofing gel, a German product described as a waterproofer and conditioner. It is the product recommended by Mulberry bags. I have applied one coat of it as the bag is almost dry, till I can get something I use more regularly. My concern is whether as a waterproofer it will also keep moisture from evaporating out in addition to entering the bag. Oh well - it’s drying in sunlight now.
Hi everyone, newbie here to Coach collecting and rehabbing 
I found this purple bag (not sure of the name) at Value Village, and it was really dirty. I dunked it and scrubbed it with Dawn but now that it's dry I see that it still is dirty, Is there anything else I can do to it? It seems to be a bit discolored in places (hard to see in pics but it's almost like it has a bit of an orange cast in places, under the front flap it's more purple, the top of the flap is discolored) and still has dirt spots on the bottom and here and there (also kind of hard to see from the pics). I was hoping the Dawn would get it cleaner but looks like I still need to do some work to it. Will vinegar and baking soda scrub restore the color? It looks worse in real life than the pics..Thanks!
I found this purple bag (not sure of the name) at Value Village, and it was really dirty. I dunked it and scrubbed it with Dawn but now that it's dry I see that it still is dirty, Is there anything else I can do to it? It seems to be a bit discolored in places (hard to see in pics but it's almost like it has a bit of an orange cast in places, under the front flap it's more purple, the top of the flap is discolored) and still has dirt spots on the bottom and here and there (also kind of hard to see from the pics). I was hoping the Dawn would get it cleaner but looks like I still need to do some work to it. Will vinegar and baking soda scrub restore the color? It looks worse in real life than the pics..Thanks! 
I put Obenauf’s O on a NYC red basic bag and it deepened the color in a splotchy way that did not even out. Even after a year later. I will not be doing that again anytime soon : /
Edited to add, although I use O Oil on darker bags (and even a pair of glove tanned leather boots) regularly.
I use Saphir creme delicate on things I'm really worried about. Even Leather CPR makes some things blotchy.
I bought a Made in USA brief bag, forget the name, that is the companion to you brown bag lol, also as an experiment!
Oh no. I'm glad I didn't put it the CPR on my new Balenciaga! That's all I have in the house!
I am going to order this. I have only used Cadillac Select on my pristine red Pocket Bag. And this beautiful Hampton Business tote I have yet to really use. Early on, I got this NYC bag, with Creed but pre numbering, that was really dry. Smaller turnlock shoulder type bag. A burnt orange that I thought was really cool. After dunking , Leather T and Black rock, it darkened to almost a BT. I was kinda bummed. Though I am pretty sure I would have lost that color/tone with any kind of conditioning. That is the oldest bag I have worked on.
I don't know that CPR would hurt your Bal. I can't remember if I tried it on mine. You could try it on the inside first to see how it looks. I like the way Saphir makes the leather glow but it has an odor.
Hi and welcome. Last year I bought a very very dirty teal green Haversack. I did a little spot cleaning but posted here on what to do about the overall grime. It was suggested to put it in a pillow case, tie it off and put through the washer machine twice using a 1/2 tablespoon of baby shampoo.Hi everyone, newbie here to Coach collecting and rehabbing
I only put it through once, something interrupted me, iirc. It really helped with the overall grime. But I know exactly what you mean about some areas still showing dirt. I had no discoloration. But I still have dirt on the areas of wear. And I also know what you mean, that the dirt shows more irl than in the photos. I did not dunk mine first and I wished I had. I still may dunk it and give it a gentle scrub and run it through the washer again.
You may want to consider running your bag through the washer, but I don’t know if the those spots where the grime got embedded will change. Other opinions are welcome.
Your bag looks very good. You may want to enjoy it as is. When I used my bag , still with some faint areas that I felt did not get completely clean, to lunch with friends and a different time with family, everyone went gaga over the color! When I pointed out the faint dirt stains, everyone said they really wouldn’t have noticed because it was a striking color and they were faint . I see the stained areas in your bag, only because of my experience with my bag!
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And while suede is not quite the Debil nubuc is, I am pretty sure they hang out together at family gatherings
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Thanks for the reply Lake Effect! The condition of the bag minus the dirt is overall great, but as my first rehab project I want to try and see just how much better I can get it LOL It cost me $13CDN so I got it as an experiment to see if I could get it clean, because I have passed over quite a few bags because they were dirty in the past, and I never knew that you could actually get leather/suede soaking wet. How many times can you dunk/soak/wash suede before it starts to affect the suede?