And that's why I feel much safer buying dirty dusty bags - the ones that most definitely weren't "cleaned, conditioned and polished - ready for use by you!" LOL!
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Thank you, Thedseer! I had a feeling that this neglected bag was gorgeous - I just needed to reveal it's true beauty.
I was given a medium NYC saddle pouch in black for my birthday (good boyfriend, he gets a cookie for buying me what I suggested on eBay lol) and I adoooore it, but I think it's been polished, or something. It's shiny, and a noticeably stiff, and everything is very uniformly black. Very much different feeling than my other three vintage bags. So I took a damp paper towel with a teeny tiny dot of dish soap, and did a little rubbing, and was getting a purpleish tint off the bag. I've never soaked a bag, I'm really new to this, and I'm mortified of the idea of messing up the gift my sweet boy gave me...I will search, but my only internet access is on my phone, and is some times tricky. Could anyone give me a quick rundown of what I need to use (soap?) and do, if I can get up the courage?
Do it! I've never had a bag come out worse from a bath. Fill your sink with warm water and some dish soap. Immerse the bag. Let it soak for 15 minutes or more. Gently scrub if needed. Make sure the soapy water gets inside all the pockets. Then rinse thoroughly. It is important to get rid of all the soap so the leather doesn't end up stiff. Sometimes the inside of the bag will feel slimy, which might be conditioner melting off the bag. Wrap the bag in a towel and pat dry. Then stuff some rags or towels in it, just enough to get it to the right shape and lay on a towel to dry.
A bag can end up stiff just from lack of moisture. The bath will restore a lot of moisture, and then you will need to add conditioner to hold that moisture in. You should start applying the conditioner after the bag is almost dry, which might be as soon as a day, so make sure you have some.
If your other vintage bags aren't as old as this one, it is possible that it will have a different texture. Or it could just have a different type of leather due to the style. My riding pouch is stiffer than some of my other bags.
I bought another NYC saddle pouch immediately, because I loved this black one so much (the other is red, and now there's a flannel one coming, oops hehe), so I have that to compare. The red one feels AMAZING, sooo silky and supple, and the poor black one is squeaky stiff :/ So just normal dish soap, I currently have Dawn. I don't imagine I need to use much, right? I'm going to have to order conditioner before I try...I see Apple mentioned the most, and Blackrock. I was thinking of buying both, just to have options. I sure wish I could get the search dropdown menu to cooperate with my darn phone! Thanks for the help, everyone here is so awesome
A red one, lovely! Yes just a squirt of Dawn. Apple is good for maintenance but you need something likeI bought another NYC saddle pouch immediately, because I loved this black one so much (the other is red, and now there's a flannel one coming, oops hehe), so I have that to compare. The red one feels AMAZING, sooo silky and supple, and the poor black one is squeaky stiff :/ So just normal dish soap, I currently have Dawn. I don't imagine I need to use much, right? I'm going to have to order conditioner before I try...I see Apple mentioned the most, and Blackrock. I was thinking of buying both, just to have options. I sure wish I could get the search dropdown menu to cooperate with my darn phone! Thanks for the help, everyone here is so awesome
CPR or Leather Therapy to bring it back to life first. Apply at least two coats, you might even need three, leaving a day between coats. Buff between coats with a shoe brush, horsehair if you can get one. Finally finish with one or coats of Black Rock and buff again. Please post before and after pics here! Good luck.
Thanks, ladies! You know how important it is to get positive result after your first dunk... I just sent an equestrian hobo (thanks for authenticating it, Whateve!) to the sink full of soapy water without blinking my eye
Soozlz, your dog is adorable. You should've revealed the owner of that shiny nose much sooner!
Thanks, ladies! You know how important it is to get positive result after your first dunk... I just sent an equestrian hobo (thanks for authenticating it, Whateve!) to the sink full of soapy water without blinking my eye
Soozlz, your dog is adorable. You should've revealed the owner of that shiny nose much sooner!
Lol! That first dunk can be tough!! Especially that last moment when it's you, the bag and a sink full of water!!
That's bailey....he thinks he's adorable too!! Lol!! (He REALLY does) Truth be told, when I first uploaded my avatar I was having trouble getting his face centered in the square and gave up. Finally got around to changing it.
I'm seeing that Leather Therapy is more expensive, does that mean it works better? haha
So should I get both the Apple cleaner AND conditioner (what about the water/stain spray?), Black Rock, and Leather Therapy? So many products!!! I wonder if there's anywhere I can order them all from at once, but probably not.
Also, my buttery red bag has some darkening on the edges in a few spots...could I use like the Apple cleaner for spot cleaning, or is there a good way to do that? It's soooo gorgeously soft, I'm really terrified to do anything to it, even condition it!
Hi, I am working on cleaning up a blue/gray suede purse d33-9579. I noticed that one side of the bag the suede is flatter than the rest even after cleaning with Apple suede cleaner and a suede brush. Is this just where it has rubbed off? If not is there anyway to get it to match the rest of the purse? I wasn't able to get a good picture but the right is smooth and the left rougher. Thanks
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Yes, it might be worn down there. You could try using fine steel wool. I have one bag where part of the suede got completely smooth, like regular leather and I've never been able to fix it.Hi, I am working on cleaning up a blue/gray suede purse d33-9579. I noticed that one side of the bag the suede is flatter than the rest even after cleaning with Apple suede cleaner and a suede brush. Is this just where it has rubbed off? If not is there anyway to get it to match the rest of the purse? I wasn't able to get a good picture but the right is smooth and the left rougher. Thanks
Honestly, I don't see any reason to get Apple. I think their products are for new bags. I've never used Leather Therapy. I use Leather CPR, Leather Honey and Blackrocks. Sometimes you can get Leather CPR at Tuesday Morning, Marshalls or TJ Maxx. They also have it at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but it costs more there.
Conditioners also clean so I'm not sure you need a separate cleaner. I haven't noticed my leather cleaner actually ever removing any stains. Conditioning your red bag might make those spots less noticeable. The darkening could be where the color has worn away, so cleaning won't help.
I'm pretty sure the darkening is from hand oils/soil from use, because it's on spots like the strap you buckle the bag closed with, and the edge of the pockets. Is there a spot cleaning method at all? Conditioning hopefully won't darken the red one too much, I hope. So which is your favorite for general conditioning then? And how often do you do yours?