Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#17,686
I have to re-visit this club because I received an absolutely filthy and dry-as-a-desert "vintage" daypack from eBay recently... I use the quotes because it's just under 20 y.o., but still made in the U.S., which is generally what I prefer with my classic Coach bags :)

Anyway, I was almost tempted to open an eBay return request because the condition was definitely not as described (and the listing pictures masked a lot of damage, including what appeared to be large stains on the bottom), but I decided that it was a good enough price and that I could rehab it a bit instead. Well, I just wish I took "before" photos because although it is still a bit damp now, it looks like it will be mostly successful! I put a bit of Apple on it when I first got it (which it just drank up - I feared it would drink a whole bottle because it was sooo dry), but the dunking really helped! The water was positively FILTHY, and I had to dunk it with Dawn twice... and it possibly could've used another dunking but I was impatient to see it start to dry!

There are still a few gouges in the back piping, but I'm thinking either a leather cement/filler or even just Edge Kote might seal those up a bit to prevent further damage. I can post pics, but any thoughts on which product would work better? I already have the Edge Kote in a matching color, so that's definitely easiest. ;)
 
#17,687
kells1983 said:
I have to re-visit this club because I received an absolutely filthy and dry-as-a-desert "vintage" daypack from eBay recently... I use the quotes because it's just under 20 y.o., but still made in the U.S., which is generally what I prefer with my classic Coach bags :smile:

Anyway, I was almost tempted to open an eBay return request because the condition was definitely not as described (and the listing pictures masked a lot of damage, including what appeared to be large stains on the bottom), but I decided that it was a good enough price and that I could rehab it a bit instead. Well, I just wish I took "before" photos because although it is still a bit damp now, it looks like it will be mostly successful! I put a bit of Apple on it when I first got it (which it just drank up - I feared it would drink a whole bottle because it was sooo dry), but the dunking really helped! The water was positively FILTHY, and I had to dunk it with Dawn twice... and it possibly could've used another dunking but I was impatient to see it start to dry!

There are still a few gouges in the back piping, but I'm thinking either a leather cement/filler or even just Edge Kote might seal those up a bit to prevent further damage. I can post pics, but any thoughts on which product would work better? I already have the Edge Kote in a matching color, so that's definitely easiest. ;)
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Make sure you start conditioning before it is completely dry. I think you need a stronger conditioner than Apple. Do you have something?

I fill gouges with leather cement. I don't think edge kote would fill them in.
 
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#17,688
whateve said:
Make sure you start conditioning before it is completely dry. I think you need a stronger conditioner than Apple. Do you have something?

I fill gouges with leather cement. I don't think edge kote would fill them in.
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I don't have anything other than Apple - the bag is still damp now, but I already did one layer of it a little bit ago, planned to do another one tonight. I could still hit BB&B and grab some leather CPR tonight, do you think that's strong enough?

Thanks for the leather cement advice - I plan to grab some fixing "stuff" this weekend :) I should've waited to dunk the bag, but it was so gross looking that I just got annoyed with it sitting around mocking me!
 
#17,690
kells1983 said:
I don't have anything other than Apple - the bag is still damp now, but I already did one layer of it a little bit ago, planned to do another one tonight. I could still hit BB&B and grab some leather CPR tonight, do you think that's strong enough?

Thanks for the leather cement advice - I plan to grab some fixing "stuff" this weekend :smile: I should've waited to dunk the bag, but it was so gross looking that I just got annoyed with it sitting around mocking me!
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Yeah, I think CPR will do a good job.
 
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#17,691
valv54 said:
Ok, so I got my pre creed pony express finally, she's in really good shape for being so old and very soft. I'm a little scared to dunk but it definitly needs it, any tips or tricks. Or just do the usual.
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I think just a standard dunk will work. Make sure there isn't anything that feels brittle or overdry. Or ink that could spread.
 
#17,696
tealocean said:
For general maintenance on newer bags, after a light coat of Leather CPR, do I need to buff? Or is a light coat fine just as it is?
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Belicious said:
I'm often a bit lazy about buffing. It does get any excess out of edges and things and sometimes really needs it but I've not bothered plenty of times. It depends on the bag and what it needs.
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I don't think that you need to do much to newer bags and you don't want to over-treat them. I keep packages of Lexol Leather Cleaner Wipes and Lexol Leather Conditioner Wipes on hand.

When I am putting a bag into storage - and sometimes when I am taking them out of storage, like at the change of seasons, I wipe it down with the Lexol cleaner and let is sit for several hours or overnight.

Then I wipe it down with Lexol conditioner and again let it sit for awhile. Depending on the way it looks, I may buff it gently with a soft cloth or a clean horsehair brush. I usually just massage the hardware with a soft cloth.

Lexol is a very light conditioner that will work okay with most types of leather, so I think it is a good choice for general maintenance of newer bags. But sometimes a newer bag feels dry or looks dull - I noticed that recently with my grey birch Nomad - and I used Lexol Cleaner and then Leather CPR to condition it and then buffed it with a horsehair brush.

Be careful not to go overboard when applying a creamy or thick conditioner to pebbled or textured bags. Light applications work best and you can always do another application later if it still feels dry or looks dull.

If the bag is patent leather bag and it looks dirty or dull. I wipe it down with water, buff it softly with a cloth, and if it still looks dull, I wipe it down with Pledge furniture wipes to restore the shine.

The wipes aren't the cheapest format of a product, but they are very convenient and I think that they make it easier to maintain my bags.
 
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#17,697
I just gave a lovely navy NYC a massage with a generous amount of Leather CPR and noticed the excess conditioner looked almost blue. I waited an hour, wiped it down and it was definitely losing blue dye. Has anyone else noticed this with Leather CPR? The exterior, interior, strap and hangtag are all the same color with no patchiness I’ve seen in other polished or redyed bags.
 
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#17,698
seacoast said:
I just gave a lovely navy NYC a massage with a generous amount of Leather CPR and noticed the excess conditioner looked almost blue. I waited an hour, wiped it down and it was definitely losing blue dye. Has anyone else noticed this with Leather CPR? The exterior, interior, strap and hangtag are all the same color with no patchiness I’ve seen in other polished or redyed bags.
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Yes, I've seen that. The dyes Coach used on older bags weren't colorfast. There is plenty of excess dye that can come off without fading your bag. That is the beauty of the dye going all the way through the leather, unlike how they do it now.
 
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#17,699
Belicious said:
I'm often a bit lazy about buffing. It does get any excess out of edges and things and sometimes really needs it but I've not bothered plenty of times. It depends on the bag and what it needs.
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houseof999 said:
How much newer are we talking?
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Thank you! I just used the leather CPR on my Swagger 20 Shoulderbag. I applied a small amount with my fingers since that is supposed to be skin safe. It was looking a little dry and looks so nice and smooth now. I also used it on my 5-year-old Filofax Malden, and it looks great, but I want to be careful and not ruin them! On the Filofax, the leather felt a little dewy the first day. House, I believe my oldest bag is about 5-years-old. I am not sure about all the pre-loved.
 
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