Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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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?
I don't think 3 or 4 washes or even more is going to be a problem, as long as there isn't any fading. Coaches from this era are usually pretty colorfast. The suede should be brushed after it dries, or when it is nearly dry. I like to use a nail brush (used for cleaning fingernails.)
 
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?
I really don’t know about suede. I have only worked on this one bag. What I am impressed with is that it went though the washer with no problems. And by the way, I picked up this nail brush to brush my bag with to hopefully keep dirt from getting embedded.
Regarding vintage glove tanned leather bags, that may depend on the age and condition of the bag and leather. I have a flap bag, I believe made in 1996 that was my experimental bag that I dunked once or twice and then dunked again after finding tPF. It was in good condition to start with and multiple dunking shave not affected it. I have several bags I would like to redunk when I can, for various reasons. My vintage dunking experience is basically with bags 15 -25 years old.
When it comes to bags that are 30-40 years old, which I don’t have experience with, all bets are off and other opinions are welcome.
 
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 recently used Obenauf’s oil to do a sort of two tone bag - darkened the trim, because it was in a rough condition. It’s still darker than the rest of the bag. I also find Obenauf makes red bags splotchy. I used it on my friend’s bag to mask some staining, so I made the color intentionally uneven. I applied it in circular motion from the outer edges of each panel, so the middle is lighter. I got the effect I wanted, but I wouldn’t count on it for an even color.
 
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I recently used Obenauf’s oil to do a sort of two tone bag - darkened the trim, because it was in a rough condition. It’s still darker than the rest of the bag. I also find Obenauf makes red bags splotchy. I used it on my friend’s bag to mask some staining, so I made the color intentionally uneven. I applied it in circular motion from the outer edges of each panel, so the middle is lighter. I got the effect I wanted, but I wouldn’t count on it for an even color.
I feel you.
 
I really don’t know about suede. I have only worked on this one bag. What I am impressed with is that it went though the washer with no problems. And by the way, I picked up this nail brush to brush my bag with to hopefully keep dirt from getting embedded.
Regarding vintage glove tanned leather bags, that may depend on the age and condition of the bag and leather. I have a flap bag, I believe made in 1996 that was my experimental bag that I dunked once or twice and then dunked again after finding tPF. It was in good condition to start with and multiple dunking shave not affected it. I have several bags I would like to redunk when I can, for various reasons. My vintage dunking experience is basically with bags 15 -25 years old.
When it comes to bags that are 30-40 years old, which I don’t have experience with, all bets are off and other opinions are welcome.
I picked up a nail brush from the dollar store today :) Has anyone used Oxyclean when they are dunking or is that bad for the color?
 
I picked up a nail brush from the dollar store today :smile: Has anyone used Oxyclean when they are dunking or is that bad for the color?
I will try almost anything, anything once. But big NO to Oxyclean.
Think of it this way. Leather is processed skin/hide for the most part. The best products would be those of a comparable pH. Just to the acidic side of neutral on the pH scale. I like Lexol cleaner.
 
I will try almost anything, anything once. But big NO to Oxyclean.
Think of it this way. Leather is processed skin for the most part. The best products would be those of a comparable pH. Just to the acidic side of neutral on the pH scale. I like Lexol cleaner.
Ok, good thing I asked! I almost put some in with that purple bag yesterday...good thing I didn't! Thanks! I don't know if I can get Lexol here in Canada but I'll look.
 
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