Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[nursebetty]

I had a Poppy Vachetta Whipstitch hobo from 2011. I used vinegar first, then Leather CPR, rubbing gently in a circular motion on corners and soiled areas. It was pretty clean to start with, but the treatment helped.

View attachment 4335983

I don't think I'd dunk the Poppy New Willis. You might try hanging it in a warm moist place (bathroom while showering; laundry room?) to see if the creases and wrinkles will smooth out.

Wow, purse goals. That bag is stunning!
I've already done a bit of CPR. Can I go to the vinegar next?

 

[Lake Effect]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has experience rehabbing a vachetta bag?

I have Poppy Willis in natural, with the striped legacy lining. She came super dirty, and I really want to clean the inside.

Outside, the leather has some staining, most notably pen marks on the front, which I made SO much worse trying to remove them.

Has anyone dunked this bag? Dunked vachetta in general? Is the legacy lining colorfast if I just use a wet cloth on the inside? Is there a benefit to dunking this kind of bag? I am a bit out of my depth here, as I have never had this kind of leather.

So far I have used leather CPR all over to clean. I am totally okay with a deeper patina should that occur. I have been researching docride's patina method with LV and Hermes threads, but of course they don't dunk over there.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

It looks like it is in good shape from the pics. I enlarged the pics and see a small pen mark on the flap, but it does not look like it has been “aggravated”. Even though I am a die hard dunker, I would follow the advice given. The vinegar smell will air out eventually. I missed it, is the wipe down with vinegar straight or diluted??
Overall it looks like a great bag to me. Enjoy.

 

[glp149]

A question for the wise ladies here who have seen a thing or two...I'm in the process of rehabbing a Court bag that appears to be from the 1980s, or possibly earlier (it was made in the US, creed has the "Coach Leatherware" logo and the serial number is a random number 024 1146). Was the Court ever made in nubuck leather? The inside of the flap and the bag have the smooth texture of glovetanned leather, but the outside and the strap have a very fine, velvety texture. I've applied a few coats of Leather Honey and the texture is still velvety, which leads me to wonder whether the leather is different or if it's just extremely dry.

I did reach out to the lady who I bought the bag from, who says that the texture was like that for the whole 15 or so years that she had the bag.

 

[Catbird9]

Wow, purse goals. That bag is stunning!
I've already done a bit of CPR. Can I go to the vinegar next?

Thanks!

Yes, you can use vinegar after CPR, but I'm not sure it will make much difference. CPR is a pretty good cleaner.

 

[Lake Effect]

A question for the wise ladies here who have seen a thing or two...I'm in the process of rehabbing a Court bag that appears to be from the 1980s, or possibly earlier (it was made in the US, creed has the "Coach Leatherware" logo and the serial number is a random number 024 1146). Was the Court ever made in nubuck leather? The inside of the flap and the bag have the smooth texture of glovetanned leather, but the outside and the strap have a very fine, velvety texture. I've applied a few coats of Leather Honey and the texture is still velvety, which leads me to wonder whether the leather is different or if it's just extremely dry.

I did reach out to the lady who I bought the bag from, who says that the texture was like that for the whole 15 or so years that she had the bag.

I believe the Court bag was introduced around 1990. Let me look for a pic. Because of their top handle, the Court and Plaza were part of series, Continental? I am sure by the time I post back, someone else may confirm that. I don’t believe it was introduced before the mid 80’s. I don’t believe it was made in nubuc. Coincidentally, I have a super dry Court!!

 

[nursebetty]

It looks like it is in good shape from the pics. I enlarged the pics and see a small pen mark on the flap, but it does not look like it has been “aggravated”. Even though I am a die hard dunker, I would follow the advice given. The vinegar smell will air out eventually. I missed it, is the wipe down with vinegar straight or diluted??
Overall it looks like a great bag to me. Enjoy.

Oh, I aggravated the heck out of that pen mark. Lol. The photo is very flattering. I used eraser, which was the best, then tried LMB Bye Bye Dye which left a gray haze. So much worse now.

Thank you, though, I'm goinh to enjoy this bag anyway

 

[whateve]

A question for the wise ladies here who have seen a thing or two...I'm in the process of rehabbing a Court bag that appears to be from the 1980s, or possibly earlier (it was made in the US, creed has the "Coach Leatherware" logo and the serial number is a random number 024 1146). Was the Court ever made in nubuck leather? The inside of the flap and the bag have the smooth texture of glovetanned leather, but the outside and the strap have a very fine, velvety texture. I've applied a few coats of Leather Honey and the texture is still velvety, which leads me to wonder whether the leather is different or if it's just extremely dry.

I did reach out to the lady who I bought the bag from, who says that the texture was like that for the whole 15 or so years that she had the bag.

I believe the Court bag was introduced around 1990. Let me look for a pic. Because of their top handle, the Court and Plaza were part of series, Continental? I am sure by the time I post back, someone else may confirm that. I don’t believe it was introduced before the mid 80’s. I don’t believe it was made in nubuc. Coincidentally, I have a super dry Court!!

I believe they were introduced Fall 1989. Anything with a Made in the United States line at the bottom of a creed couldn't have been made before 1988.
It wasn't made in nubuck. I think the leather is probably just damaged.

 

[Lake Effect]

Oh, I aggravated the heck out of that pen mark. Lol. The photo is very flattering. I used eraser, which was the best, then tried LMB Bye Bye Dye which left a gray haze. So much worse now.

Thank you, though, I'm goinh to enjoy this bag anyway

On the flap?? And, yes, many of my bags photograph a little nicer.

 

[tealocean]

Wow, purse goals. That bag is stunning!
I've already done a bit of CPR. Can I go to the vinegar next?

I don't know if I'm doing it correctly, but on bags that just need a light cleaning, I do a wipe down with vinegar-water first and then condition with CPR. I pull out the lining if possible and clean with the vinegar too, and as the vinegar evaporates, it helps remove odors if there are any.

 

[tealocean]

So I was able, and I used a straw because it was handy, to dab all the surfaces without oversaturating it. And pinched the opening to close it. I used a straw so my fingers could dab up any excess. Let’s see how it dries.View attachment 4336043

I hope this works! I would like to understand which glues are the best for leather. I have fixed broken wooden objects with wood glue, and it falls apart, but the Aleen's glue lasts. I just got some E6000 glue for some fun projects, but after reading how toxic it is, I will use it outside on a warm day. Do you know how the Fieblings compares to e6000 for leather, like your strap?

 

[tealocean]

Is it okay if I ask a shoe question? DH's favorite "dressy" leather shoes are no longer made and still look great other than the back of the ankle showing wear. Can I restore the color and protect the area by cleaning and conditioning with vinegar and leather CPR, shoe polish (before or after CPR?), followed by Blackrocks? I have no idea how to do shoe polish. Is the shoe polish color that comes on a sponge a good idea? (It's okay if that last one made you laugh.)

 

[Lake Effect]

I hope this works! I would like to understand which glues are the best for leather. I have fixed broken wooden objects with wood glue, and it falls apart, but the Aleen's glue lasts. I just got some E6000 glue for some fun projects, but after reading how toxic it is, I will use it outside on a warm day. Do you know how the Fieblings compares to e6000 for leather, like your strap?

I have not used any other leather glue; I read in a post Catbird9 had used Fiebing's and it was carried at a Michael's I stopped at. I will post a pic of the strap when it has had 24 hours to dry.

Is it okay if I ask a shoe question? DH's favorite "dressy" leather shoes are no longer made and still look great other than the back of the ankle showing wear. Can I restore the color and protect the area by cleaning and conditioning with vinegar and leather CPR, shoe polish (before or after CPR?), followed by Blackrocks? I have no idea how to do shoe polish. Is the shoe polish color that comes on a sponge a good idea? (It's okay if that last one made you laugh.)

Not too long after I started rehabbing I was interested in seeing how these products would work on my shoes and boots. The products work great. I have not used shoe polish in a few years! First, what type of leather are the shoes?
I have short black Timberland boots that I just couldn't seem to clean salt from. Since they are old, I thought maybe it's time to let go. But I realized they were essentially the same glove tanned leather as my Patti. So after a wipe down with Lexol cleaner (mixed a solution in a small bucket), let them dry, gave a generous app of Leather Therapy (that ran out, so now I use CPR), let dry and buffed, and they looked very good. The next year, after more snow, salt, I doubled down and added Obenauf's Oil after the cleaning and LT, and again, they look fabulous. And it turns out the residue I couldn't seem to get rid of was the chalky residue Lexol condition leaves on black leather.
I have a pair of Taos pumps, thinner leather, but still seemed like it would respond to the general process. They were a slightly distressed taupe shade which felt impossible to match, which I wanted to preserve, so I cleaned then the same, applied LT sparingly, and since the leather sucked it, applied more, just with a lighter hand. I used a light app of Blackrock and they came out better than I hoped for!
For color loss for premium dark shoes, I would invest in Saphir products. If these shoes are expensive or no longer available, they are worth the expense. Go to The Hanger Project website, I find it easiest to read about and compare their shoe polishes and recolorant products.
Lol, no I am not a Saphir spokesperson.

 

[tealocean]

I have not used any other leather glue; I read in a post Catbird9 had used Fiebing's and it was carried at a Michael's I stopped at. I will post a pic of the strap when it has had 24 hours to dry.

Not too long after I started rehabbing I was interested in seeing how these products would work on my shoes and boots. The products work great. I have not used shoe polish in a few years! First, what type of leather are the shoes?
I have short black Timberland boots that I just couldn't seem to clean salt from. Since they are old, I thought maybe it's time to let go. But I realized they were essentially the same glove tanned leather as my Patti. So after a wipe down with Lexol cleaner (mixed a solution in a small bucket), let them dry, gave a generous app of Leather Therapy (that ran out, so now I use CPR), let dry and buffed, and they looked very good. The next year, after more snow, salt, I doubled down and added Obenauf's Oil after the cleaning and LT, and again, they look fabulous. And it turns out the residue I couldn't seem to get rid of was the chalky residue Lexol condition leaves on black leather.
I have a pair of Taos pumps, thinner leather, but still seemed like it would respond to the general process. They were a slightly distressed tauod shade which felt impossible to match, which I wanted tp keep, so I cleaned then the same, applied LT sparingly, and since the leather sucked it, applied more, just with a lighter hand. I used a light app of Blackrock and they came out better than I hoped for!
For color loss for premium dark shoes, I would invest in Saphir products. Go to The Hanger Project website, I find it easiest to read abut and compare their shoe polishes and recolorant products.
Lol, no I am not a Saphir spokesperson.

Thank you! They're not premium shoes, but he likes them; so I thought I could try livening up the tiny thin area at the top/heel that is showing color loss. I will take a look and see if I can figure out what kind of leather it is.

 

[Lake Effect]

Thank you! They're not premium shoes, but he likes them; so I thought I could try livening up the tiny thin area at the top/heel that is showing color loss. I will take a look and see if I can figure out what kind of leather it is.

If it is a small area, then one of the shoe polish brand touch products might work. People here have shared using them on bags.

 

[Catbird9]

I don't know if I'm doing it correctly, but on bags that just need a light cleaning, I do a wipe down with vinegar-water first and then condition with CPR. I pull out the lining if possible and clean with the vinegar too, and as the vinegar evaporates, it helps remove odors if there are any.

That's how I do it too, if I'm not going to dunk the bag.

I've also used vinegar after conditioning with CPR, on some spots. Sometimes it helps, sometimes I don't see much difference. I'd follow up with CPR and Blackrock in any case.

That Poppy vachetta hobo I posted upthread was a bit intimidating for me. I totally loved it, but knew I'd never carry it for fear of getting it dirty, so I gave it to my sister. She gets lots of compliments on it. Over the holidays when she visited, she brought it with her so I could show her how to clean it. We wiped it down with a cloth dampened with vinegar, let it dry, then finished with CPR.

Vachetta is kind of a special case so it's hard to recommend specific treatments without having the bag in my hands. A lot of rehabs are a process of trial, error and intuitive responses to what the bag seems to need.