Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Belicious]

I bought this at good will to try a full rehab, now I am really nervous. I only paid $7.00 so not much of a loss. I can’t tell if the black mark is ink or not. Suggestions? Also the inside feels like a canvas, is dunking ok?



View attachment 4372394 View attachment 4372395 View attachment 4372396 View attachment 4372397

I've dunked a similar bag no problem. That does look like ink. It might spread in the bath. That would be my main concern.

 

[whateve]

So I've had a vintage Regina for a little over a year. She came in pretty great condition so I did nothing but wipe Clorox wipes to sanitize (and discovered the seller used shoe polish but actually even without the shoe polish coverup she looked great).

How often do you moisture or dunk your vintage bags? I live in a dry climate and I think I need to moisturize but I don't want to do the full dunk, stuff, etc process unless necessary and so far the brass is ok.

Current products I have: Apple care, new Coach moisturizer, Frye weatherproof cream, mink oil. Can I get away with any of these or should I get the leather CPR or black rocks you all recommend?

Finally, if I do dunk: woolite is ok? Does dish soap brand matter? Why does no one use saddle soap?

Seriously, a dunk would work so much better. Clorox wipes are terrible for leather, as is shoe polish. The sooner you clean all that off, the better for the leather. Of the items you mentioned, mink oil is the one that is most moisturizing. I assume the bag is black. Mink oil can darken leather, sometimes unevenly. Not a problem on a black bag. The brand of dish soap doesn't matter, just nothing with bleach. Saddle soap is pretty bad for leather. I think woolite would work fine.

 

[Jeny09]

Well here it is lol, not perfect but better than it was. After and before.

Niceee bag [emoji106][emoji7]

 

[Lake Effect]

So I've had a vintage Regina for a little over a year. She came in pretty great condition so I did nothing but wipe Clorox wipes to sanitize (and discovered the seller used shoe polish but actually even without the shoe polish coverup she looked great).

How often do you moisture or dunk your vintage bags? I live in a dry climate and I think I need to moisturize but I don't want to do the full dunk, stuff, etc process unless necessary and so far the brass is ok.

Current products I have: Apple care, new Coach moisturizer, Frye weatherproof cream, mink oil. Can I get away with any of these or should I get the leather CPR or black rocks you all recommend?

Finally, if I do dunk: woolite is ok? Does dish soap brand matter? Why does no one use saddle soap?

For a light conditioning, as in the bag is in decent shape, I have used Lexol conditioner first as a go to and have graduated to Cadillac Supreme. My guess would be the Coach moisturizer would be good. I have heard people says good things about it on other threads. For curiosity sake, I plan on picking up a bottle next time I go to an outlet. I would be hesitant to use a weatherproof creme or mink oil product as there is a possibility they have silicone or sealant products, which would be overkill for my bags. And sealants affect future conditioning. Great for boots and shoes though, who are subject to more abuse.
I am doing a light condition every few uses, it seems these days.
I use Lexol leather cleaner to dunk, as I heard of it early on in another blog, but have used Dawn (hey if it cleans up oily ducks!), my go to in the kitchen and my Castile soap facial cleanser. All work for me. YMMV! For light cleaning, I like to put water and a little Lexol cleaner in a bucket. Wipe down the bag with a damp cloth, then wipe down with the Lexol solution. Saddle soap always struck me as too heavy, waxy for my bags. Great for shoes and saddles though.
As cheap/frugal as I can be, esp with bag purchases, I am willing to spend $ to experiment and try different leather products. Since this is a hobby for me, as well as means of purchasing bags that I use and enjoy, if I spend a little on something that is a hit or miss, it pays off in knowledge for what does and doesn’t work.

 

[valv54]

All this Pony love!

♡ They really are my favorite bags, to bad there so damn expensive!

 

[valv54]

For a light conditioning, as in the bag is in decent shape, I have used Lexol conditioner first as a go to and have graduated to Cadillac Supreme. My guess would be the Coach moisturizer would be good. I have heard people says good things about it on other threads. For curiosity sake, I plan on picking up a bottle next time I go to an outlet. I would be hesitant to use a weatherproof creme or mink oil product as there is a possibility they have silicone or sealant products, which would be overkill for my bags. And sealants affect future conditioning. Great for boots and shoes though, who are subject to more abuse.
I am doing a light condition every few uses, it seems these days.
I use Lexol leather cleaner to dunk, as I heard of it early on in another blog, but have used Dawn (hey if it cleans up oily ducks!), my go to in the kitchen and my Castile soap facial cleanser. All work for me. YMMV! For light cleaning, I like to put water and a little Lexol cleaner in a bucket. Wipe down the bag with a damp cloth, then wipe down with the Lexol solution. Saddle soap always struck me as too heavy, waxy for my bags. Great for shoes and saddles though.
As cheap/frugal as I can be, esp with bag purchases, I am willing to spend $ to experiment and try different leather products. Since this is a hobby for me, as well as means of purchasing bags that I use and enjoy, if I spend a little on something that is a hit or miss, it pays off in knowledge for what does and doesn’t work.

I agree, I've tried saddle soap, as coach recommended it back in the day, but I feel it just doesn't clean as well as dawn, plus dawns alot cheaper. I got a little horse hair brush and it's become one of my favorite tools, it's soft on the leather but really gets the gunk off. Then leather cpr if it's not that dry, or if it's pretty dry leather therapy.

 

[Cyanide Rose]

Today’s rehab pile [emoji4]

I had to order leather CPR from amazon because TJ Maxx doesn’t seem to carry it anymore. So it comes today and now I can finally get back the knocking down my rehab pile.

I have a few questions though. I haven’t had much luck with the type of leather in the bag in the second picture. I couldn’t tell from the sellers pictures or I would not have purchased it. It’s a soft leather but it seems like you get major color loss from dunking it. Has anyone else ever had this issue? Also, I did a rehab on a navy courier bag and the leather is still pretty soft but the color still looks dull. There are striations (I guess you would call it) in the leather that are lighter and I was wondering if dunking it again would help.

Thanks so much for any suggestions you may have and all the help I received in the past.

 

[Cyanide Rose]

This app will only let me add one picture in a post. This is the bag with the leather that I’ve had color loss in a different bag in the past.

 

[Cyanide Rose]

This is the courier bag that I’m considering dunking again because of the leather lines. That the best way I can describe them.

 

[Catbird9]

So I've had a vintage Regina for a little over a year. She came in pretty great condition so I did nothing but wipe Clorox wipes to sanitize (and discovered the seller used shoe polish but actually even without the shoe polish coverup she looked great).

How often do you moisture or dunk your vintage bags? I live in a dry climate and I think I need to moisturize but I don't want to do the full dunk, stuff, etc process unless necessary and so far the brass is ok.

Current products I have: Apple care, new Coach moisturizer, Frye weatherproof cream, mink oil. Can I get away with any of these or should I get the leather CPR or black rocks you all recommend?

Finally, if I do dunk: woolite is ok? Does dish soap brand matter? Why does no one use saddle soap?

Seriously, a dunk would work so much better. Clorox wipes are terrible for leather, as is shoe polish. The sooner you clean all that off, the better for the leather. Of the items you mentioned, mink oil is the one that is most moisturizing. I assume the bag is black. Mink oil can darken leather, sometimes unevenly. Not a problem on a black bag. The brand of dish soap doesn't matter, just nothing with bleach. Saddle soap is pretty bad for leather. I think woolite would work fine.

I agree with everything whateve said except I did find conflicting information on Woolite:
https://www.autopia.org/forums/epic-threads/152520-leather-cleaner-recommend-3.html

I followed this Woolite question up with highly regarded leather expert Roger Koh. When shown the MSDS sheet on Woolite, Roger was shocked that anybody would use this product on leather surfaces, stating that..

"pH Value:
The pH value indicated is 8.
The pH neutral of average leathers is 3 - 5.
Assuming the pH neutral of leather is 4, then this product at pH 8 is 10,000 times more alkaline than the average pH of leather.
pH scale is calculated at the power of 10.
The continue use of this product will cause the leather constituents like tanning agent, fatliquor to break bond (hydrogen bonding with the protein fibers), thus denaturing the leather.
The perforated and needle holes will crack as the leather weakens through continuous alkaline exposure combine with physical stresses and flexes.
Uneven application of alkaline cleaning products may results in streaks or brightening effect.
Most leather finishes will also turn tacky on continuous use and can be detected by wet finger testing.
These adverse effects however can be corrected by neutralizing with a low pH of 2 with acidifier."

 

[Catbird9]

This is the courier bag that I’m considering dunking again because of the leather lines. That the best way I can describe them. View attachment 4372889

I'm pretty sure dunking won't affect those lines. They fall under the category of "natural variations characteristic of full grain leather."

 

[Catbird9]

Today’s rehab pile [emoji4]

I had to order leather CPR from amazon because TJ Maxx doesn’t seem to carry it anymore. So it comes today and now I can finally get back the knocking down my rehab pile.

I have a few questions though. I haven’t had much luck with the type of leather in the bag in the second picture. I couldn’t tell from the sellers pictures or I would not have purchased it. It’s a soft leather but it seems like you get major color loss from dunking it. Has anyone else ever had this issue? Also, I did a rehab on a navy courier bag and the leather is still pretty soft but the color still looks dull. There are striations (I guess you would call it) in the leather that are lighter and I was wondering if dunking it again would help.

Thanks so much for any suggestions you may have and all the help I received in the past. View attachment 4372887

Those flap bags -- love them!

 

[Cyanide Rose]

I'm pretty sure dunking won't affect those lines. They fall under the category of "natural variations characteristic of full grain leather."

Thanks they just seem a bit lighter than the rest of the bag and I was wondering if anything would help it blend a bit better. Thanks again [emoji4]

 

[Cyanide Rose]

Those flap bags -- love them!

Thank Catbird9! I absolutely adore this style, it’s the most comfortable for me to carry. Which is why I love the pony so much [emoji4] The big blue one is faded near the buckles. I’m hope dunking will help that a little but I don’t mind it much. I may not dunk the brown faith’s legacy, it doesn’t need much done to it but maybe leather CPR and black rocks.

 

[Catbird9]

Thanks they just seem a bit lighter than the rest of the bag and I was wondering if anything would help it blend a bit better. Thanks again [emoji4]

Blackrock and buffing with a horsehair brush might help somewhat.