Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#20,926
pandapreston said:
Hi! I have a question. I have a Madison East West tote that I just got. From all pictures I've seen, the bag can stand on its own. Mine just sort of slouches over, as shown in the pic. Is there any way I can fix that? Or have I been seeing pics of the bag with a lot of stuffing in it?

Also, for cleaning the leather; I have bottles of kate spade leather cleaner and conditioner. Can I just use that to clean the leather? Or should I get something else?
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I've never had this bag but Madison leather is soft and thin so I'm not surprised. My other Madison bags were puddles. To fix it, you can use an insert or make something yourself out of stiff plastic or cardboard. I don't have any experience with kate spade conditioner.
 
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#20,927
whateve said:
I've never had this bag but Madison leather is soft and thin so I'm not surprised. My other Madison bags were puddles. To fix it, you can use an insert or make something yourself out of stiff plastic or cardboard. I don't have any experience with kate spade conditioner.
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I've thought about making or buying an insert. I saw an insert with pockets recently online that would be cool. The measurements were perfect, too. I was just wondering if there was anything else I could do besides that. I guess not.

Btw, there is some very minor wear on the bottom corners. Would Edge Kote be good for that? Or is that just for piping and stuff like that? I've attached a photo of one of the corners to give you an idea of what they look like.
 

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#20,928
Spilledink said:
An update on my City bag. I got the Leather CPR at Bed Bath & Beyond as advised (with a 20% coupon, yay). I debated a lot on removing the hardware since I didn't have any back up (in case it broke) and it was my first time cleaning a bag like this. I actually gave it a bath before dealing with this since I was initially against it. Good thing I went back on my decision:

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There wasn't a lot like some of what I've seen when searching on the forum, but I'm glad I decided to remove the hardware (which I personally thought was a bit challenging). I used a cuticle nipper to pry everything open. I tried to remove any verdigris I could spot on the leather with vinegar, and I used toothpicks and Q-tips as appropriate to scrub it off. I also did the same to clean the hardware. Everything was pat down dry and I put everything back with the cuticle nipper and a mallet.

I haven't polished the hardware because I'm not sure if I wanted to! I might do it later on, but I'm not too bothered by it at the moment. I might order new hardware in the future, but I didn't see the option on the Coach website to request it (did they change their policy on that or am I just blind?). If I do, I'll also ask for a tag since mine was missing one.

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As for the bag itself, I did two coats of Leather CPR and one coat of Blackrock. I quite like how it turned out: the leather feels more amazing and it looks good! I'm happy that the inside is also clean (or as clean as it can get; it was a bit gross) and the shape of the bag is more balanced (especially at the bottom on the front).

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If you live in an area with a Tractor Supply Store www.tractorsupply.com the 18oz bottle of Leather CPR that is 14.99 everywhere else is only 10.99.
 
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#20,929
pandapreston said:
I've thought about making or buying an insert. I saw an insert with pockets recently online that would be cool. The measurements were perfect, too. I was just wondering if there was anything else I could do besides that. I guess not.

Btw, there is some very minor wear on the bottom corners. Would Edge Kote be good for that? Or is that just for piping and stuff like that? I've attached a photo of one of the corners to give you an idea of what they look like.
Click to expand...
For something like that, I would just use Blackrock. Edge Kote will dry to shinier finish and won't match the texture of that leather.
 
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#20,934
whateve said:
I had one with a much bigger hole. I was able to put some iron-on interfacing inside the hole and iron it in place. That would be difficult to do unless you undid some of the stitching.
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That scares me. I have sewing skills, but not so good that I can use it on a Coach bag, so I wouldn't be able to sew it back together. This wear spot is tiny. Fray check sounds like the thing for me.
 
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#20,936
aerinha said:
I leave set one of towels in from wash until I am locking up for the night. I swap towels then. In the morning (I do this on weekends when work isn’t in the way lol) after breakfast I take out the second set of towels and condition a wet but not sopping bag. However my court bag flap was so stiff when I removed the first towels I did CPR on the flap then.

After the second towels come out I never fully stiff again. Washcloth in pockets if they stay stubbornly damp but that is it. I do CPR once a day
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Thanks! The schedule is helpful!
Think I'm going to do a couple of things differently, going forward. Condition a bit earlier, and swap out the towels.

Hahaha yes, think rehabbing on the weekends is the way to go.
When a bag is delivered, it's tempting to dunk it during the week.
It's just sitting there, all ugly-cute. Like it's saying, "Reeeeeeehab me."
 
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#20,937
Ava_13579 said:
Thanks! The schedule is helpful!
Think I'm going to do a couple of things differently, going forward. Condition a bit earlier, and swap out the towels.

Hahaha yes, think rehabbing on the weekends is the way to go.
When a bag is delivered, it's tempting to dunk it during the week.
It's just sitting there, all ugly-cute. Like it's saying, "Reeeeeeehab me."
Click to expand...

I know the do it now feeling when a bag arrives. I try to content myself with little projects in it until the weekend rolls around. I will damp cloth wipe it, clean hardware with vinegar (which I will do again after washing but this gets the worst of the dirt and green off) and try to treat any stains.
 
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#20,938
A rehab story,
Out to dinner
Husband: dont put your bag in the aisle, I'll hold it.
Me: no you're going to put it on the floor.
Husband: no I'll set it on my knee, its fine.
"Done with dinner"
Me: can I have my bag.
"Husband hands me my regina with greasy sauce and kimchee dripped all over the side because he is an f-n mess."
Me: REALLY!!!!
Husband: (sheepishly) sorry
So now I'm washing my regina. :cursing:
 
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#20,939
valv54 said:
A rehab story,
Out to dinner
Husband: dont put your bag in the aisle, I'll hold it.
Me: no you're going to put it on the floor.
Husband: no I'll set it on my knee, its fine.
"Done with dinner"
Me: can I have my bag.
"Husband hands me my regina with greasy sauce and kimchee dripped all over the side because he is an f-n mess."
Me: REALLY!!!!
Husband: (sheepishly) sorry
So now I'm washing my regina. :cursing:
Click to expand...
Ouch! This is always my fear when we eat out in places that don't have a place for me to put my purse.
 
#20,940
valv54 said:
A rehab story,
Out to dinner
Husband: dont put your bag in the aisle, I'll hold it.
Me: no you're going to put it on the floor.
Husband: no I'll set it on my knee, its fine.
"Done with dinner"
Me: can I have my bag.
"Husband hands me my regina with greasy sauce and kimchee dripped all over the side because he is an f-n mess."
Me: REALLY!!!!
Husband: (sheepishly) sorry
So now I'm washing my regina. :cursing:
Click to expand...
Ugh , the new, htf blue Regina??
 
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