Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#21,061
Ava_13579 said:
Thanks so much!

About Lexol, you mentioned "using it for dunking." Does that mean you add Lexol to the water when you dunk a bag, in addition to soap and vinegar?
Does that m
Click to expand...
I use the Lexol Cleaner alone for washing. I’ll gently scrub with a toothbrush, then let soak, for a total of 20 min. At times , probably when I had run out of Lexol, or I wanted to try something different, I used Dawn or Castille soap. Once or twice, when a bag was extra grimy, I added Dawn to the wash water too. Then I empty the water, refill the sink for the rinse step, adding vinegar.
I find Lexol is enough for general cleaning, for the most part.
 
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#21,062
Hey everybody. =)

Interested in your experiences with some of the more intensive conditioners.
- Leather therapy
- Obenauf's Leather Oil
- Maybe Obenauf's LP

More specifically, interested in how these products have worked for leather colors like:
- Navy
- Red
- Also: Bone, White

I've seen some amazing before-and-after pictures from people, using these conditioners on brown leathers. I'm also aware that they can darken leather.
Most of the pictures I've seen have been brown bags. Interested in your experiences with other colors.

Asking because I've got a navy bag that's persistently dry in some spots, and a bit faded.
A red bag that's very dry and hasn't been dunked yet.
Also, a bone bag that's persistently dry, and a white bag with dryness and cracking in the dye along the edges of the straps.

I only use Leather CPR and Blackrock.
 
#21,063
Ava_13579 said:
Hey everybody. =)

Interested in your experiences with some of the more intensive conditioners.
- Leather therapy
- Obenauf's Leather Oil
- Maybe Obenauf's LP

More specifically, interested in how these products have worked for leather colors like:
- Navy
- Red
- Also: Bone, White

I've seen some amazing before-and-after pictures from people, using these conditioners on brown leathers. I'm also aware that they can darken leather.
Most of the pictures I've seen have been brown bags. Interested in your experiences with other colors.

Asking because I've got a navy bag that's persistently dry in some spots, and a bit faded.
A red bag that's very dry and hasn't been dunked yet.
Also, a bone bag that's persistently dry, and a white bag with dryness and cracking in the dye along the edges of the straps.

I only use Leather CPR and Blackrock.
Click to expand...
I've never rehabbed a bone bag because I don't care for that color. I'd have no issue using leather therapy or something similar on a red or navy bag. Just understand that it may darken the color.

If you are concerned, do a test spot, like on the interior pocket near the creed.

Obenauf's LP isn't really used for conditioning. It is more of a finishing coat, like Blackrocks. If you have Blackrocks, I don't think you need Obenauf's LP. I use Obenauf's LP on boots for waterproofing, but I don't think it is that helpful for bags.
 
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#21,064
Not to jinx things as I have more drying and a lot more conditioning to go but I am really in love with whatever color my NYC stewardess appears to be. Maybe by the time she is ready the rain will stop so I can do color comparison pics with my courier...I swear I live in the north east not the north west which my rain complaints make sound like a lie :)
 
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#21,065
aerinha said:
Not to jinx things as I have more drying and a lot more conditioning to go but I am really in love with whatever color my NYC stewardess appears to be. Maybe by the time she is ready the rain will stop so I can do color comparison pics with my courier...I swear I live in the north east not the north west which my rain complaints make sound like a lie :smile:
Click to expand...
I think I’m in love with your Stewardess too, I am partial to BT. I’m in the Mid-Atlantic, I feel you!
 
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#21,067
Catbird9 said:
One more thought on polishing the buckles: Be sure to mask off the leather next to the buckles to protect it. I use clingy plastic wrap, not tape. I like to use Cape Cod Metal Polishing cloths instead of Brasso. Much neater! If necessary, I sometimes use very fine steel wool (#000) too.
Click to expand...

Thanks to your recommendation, ordered Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths on Amazon yesterday, and should have 'em today. :smile:
(Been using Brasso until now.)

Lately, I've been using painter's tape to mask off the bag. Sounds like cling wrap might be more gentle on the leather?

For clingy plastic wrap, may I please ask what you're using?

This?
https://www.amazon.ca/Glad-ClingWra...p&qid=1560793030&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
(I tried this one in the past.)

Or this?
https://www.amazon.com/Glad-Pressn-...ap&qid=1560793014&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

Or something else?
 
#21,068
It is so nice to see so many new people interesting and invested in rehabbing. Great job to the "experts" that keep sharing their knowledge with everyone.
I have not participated in a regular basis for a long time, not because I know everything already, LOL... not at all, but you know how it is, life happens.

I only wanted to say that with time you will get to "feel" what the bag needs, and all those different products will be used in some bags and not on others. There is not a "must follow" routine, because the condition of the bags are all different, specially about those things we can not see, like the area where they were used, the way they were kept, if anything was done along the way.....

I would suggest (may be it was done already and I missed it), to try to work on the stains before the bath, being gentle and see if it yields results or not. I have been able to clean darkened corners with just a soft eraser and pen marks with a Coach Leather cleaner and a toothpick (and a lot, a lot of patience). Other times nothing helped after even trying the advice given here for the particular bag.

I use a light leather conditioner like Apple or lotion like Penguin as my very first coat when the leather is still a bit damp. Then move to CPR on the next applications. I feel that a lighter conditioner absorbs faster and starts the "softening process", without the risk of some colors absorbing too much CPR and changing the color in spots.

As the very wise experts on this thread often say... rehabbing is not a science, is to be patient and learning from mistakes, :smile:

Getting ready to tackle a Cody bag, and I will use the vinegar in the bath, great tip. Thanks! :tup:
 
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#21,069
Ava_13579 said:
Thanks to your recommendation, ordered Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths on Amazon yesterday, and should have 'em today. :smile:
(Been using Brasso until now.)

Lately, I've been using painter's tape to mask off the bag. Sounds like cling wrap might be more gentle on the leather?

For clingy plastic wrap, may I please ask what you're using?

This?
https://www.amazon.ca/Glad-ClingWra...p&qid=1560793030&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
(I tried this one in the past.)

Or this?
https://www.amazon.com/Glad-Pressn-Seal-Plastic-Food/dp/B00KKC6C2I/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=press+and+seal+wrap&qid=1560793014&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

Or something else?
Click to expand...
I just use whatever plastic wrap I have on hand, no particular brand. I like the Kroger "Home" Plastic Wrap at the moment.
 
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#21,070
Hello, I'm new but have been lurking for a bit. I was hoping for some advice on how to proceed with a couple of thrifted Coach items. I recently bought this blue Soho satchel, and a matching wallet. They are both in decent shape, but that pretty light blue leather certainly does show dirt and wear. I've given both of them a once-over with Leather CPR, but I'm not sure where I want to go from here.

The bag has some pretty grimy areas, and wear/loss of color around the rim, on the bottom corners, and a few other spots. The worst dark areas are on the grips of the handle straps, as you'd expect. Luckily, the few pen marks are confined to the inner flaps, so I'm not too worried about them (though I might try the rubbing alcohol). It also has a small slice through the thin outer leather, on the bottom, about the length of a fingernail. Not too noticeable, but I don't want it to get worse. The wallet is pretty dirty inside the pouch where money goes (not surprising), but otherwise is not terrible.

61193420_2418920798188046_381023213301268480_n.jpg

I am not really sure about giving the bag a bath--it is cloth lined, and I do worry about darkening the leather color too much. I have tried some spot cleaning by horsehair brushing with Leather CPR but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

I was thinking of trying leather cement on the tiny cut, and maybe some of that leather paint/dye (mixed with conditioner) to attempt a little recoloring where the color has worn off. I'd try it on the interior first to see how it looks.

sohosmall.jpg

I am also not sure about dunking the wallet, as it has some fabric inside as well.

smallwallet.jpg
61586688_2418919934854799_8382592773747900416_n.jpg

Any thoughts? With such a pale leather, I am afraid to mess it up. Thanks for any advice.

Sad update: I tried some brushing and have removed color from an area. Now I have learned not to do that! Never again on this particular bag!
 
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#21,074
Ava_13579 said:
Thanks to your recommendation, ordered Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths on Amazon yesterday, and should have 'em today. :smile:
(Been using Brasso until now.)

Lately, I've been using painter's tape to mask off the bag. Sounds like cling wrap might be more gentle on the leather?

For clingy plastic wrap, may I please ask what you're using?

This?
https://www.amazon.ca/Glad-ClingWra...p&qid=1560793030&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
(I tried this one in the past.)

Or this?
https://www.amazon.com/Glad-Pressn-Seal-Plastic-Food/dp/B00KKC6C2I/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=press+and+seal+wrap&qid=1560793014&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

Or something else?
Click to expand...

I tried the Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths, and WTF, SO SHINY.
I LOVE IT!
 
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#21,075
Ava_13579 said:
I tried the Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths, and WTF, SO SHINY.
I LOVE IT!
Click to expand...
I have been using Flitz (with corrosion protection), since I found it recommended in this thread and I love it, a tiny bit goes a long way, but it has the same drawback as other metal cleaners, if not very careful they can get on the leather and stain it.
Do this cloths leave residue too? Can you re use them? I imagine that to polish a little ball chain you do not need much.... Just wondering, always willing to increase my supplies, LOL
 
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