Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[houseof999]

Quoting my own post to update you all on the Chester saga: 28 hours into drying, after a second coat of CPR, the toothpaste reared its ugly head again, albeit to a lesser degree. True to my word, I chucked her in the washing machine. Please cross as many fingers and toes as you can spare.

I wonder if the toothpaste bleached out the color. Did you use a whitening toothpaste?

 

[MaraudingMagpie]

I wonder if the toothpaste bleached out the color. Did you use a whitening toothpaste?

I did, but strongly doubt that this is what happened. At least in Germany, "whitening" toothpaste only contains small particles that are mildly abrasive to minimize discoloration caused by coffee and so on. If you want something to actually bleach your teeth, you have to see a dentist or use some at-home DIY remedy that is not allowed to be sold as "toothpaste" .
ETA Also, there is now noticeably less graying, I would expect bleaching to stay more or less the same.

 

[houseof999]

I did, but strongly doubt that this is what happened. At least in Germany, "whitening" toothpaste only contains small particles that are mildly abrasive to minimize discoloration caused by coffee and so on. If you want something to actually bleach your teeth, you have to see a dentist or use some at-home DIY remedy that is not allowed to be sold as "toothpaste" .
ETA Also, there is now noticeably less graying, I would expect bleaching to stay more or less the same.

Interesting! What kind of particles? Now I'm going off topic.. so does it feels sandy in your mouth when using the toothpaste?

I hope the color comes back on your bag with conditioning!

 

[MaraudingMagpie]

Interesting! What kind of particles? Now I'm going off topic.. so does it feels sandy in your mouth when using the toothpaste?

I hope the color comes back on your bag with conditioning!

Depending on the brand, amount of glitzy metallic print on the packaging and number of outrageous claims, yes, they can feel sandy. Yuck! It's mostly silica of varying hardness and calcium carbonate, I believe.
I think the trouble with titanium dioxide is that it's actually used as a white colorant. It's not soluble but rather dispersed in whatever medium it's in. Since there is no medium anymore, it's like a fine powder that has settled deep into the pores of my poor Chester. I don't think it can be conditioned away. It has to come out.

 

[winnielovr.]

I've owned about 4 bags of vintage coach bags and have always wanted to rehab my collection. With more time on my hand now, I started working on this Coach Casino brown handbag I bought off Mercari for $25 a couple weeks ago. I was a bit hesitant on the size but it actually fits all that I carry and need quite comfortably.

Here are a few before pictures:

 

[winnielovr.]

This is how it looks like after cleaning and moisturizing. I vacummed the bag and submerged it into Woolite for 20 minutes and then rinse for another 20. It took about 1.5 days to dry completely. I wasn't confident if I should moisturize it after 24 hrs so I waited it out. Picked up brasso from home depot for cleaning the hardware. It has a very pungent smell but got the job done! I wish the brass came out more shinier but I think that's just the way Brasso works.
And then my moisturizer of choice was Coach moisturizer since my sister in law worked at the retail store for a few years and got them for free. I think the results were decent in comparison to what I saw from other rehabs who used Apple or Leather CPR. I coated it 3 times last week but wanted to fix the scratches and fading on the leather. After some research I bought Chamberlain's healing balm due to it's natural ingredient list and avoiding waxes. I'll post my final results later today!

 

[Aku_no_Hana]

I am now on my second dunk rehab of a british tan bag with “made in the United States” at the bottom of the creed not in the paragraph and, like my first such rehab, the bag which didn’t feel particularly dry before hand has now become stale taffy-like. It is 24 hours since dunk, it is still fairly damp and just got its first CPR application. My question is, is this a quirk of bags of that era when dunked? Something BT bags in general do? I have dunked 2 NYC tabac bags and not had this so it can’t be age. I am just concerned what might happen to my 1996 Sherbourne in BT if I dunk her and this is what BT bags do.

Now that you mention it, my black Station is a made in the United States bag and it has had the stiffest, dryest leather of all my bags after dunked. The second time was better because of all the conditioner I had already applied. It's finally looking and feeling better.

 

[whateve]

Hi, I'd be grateful for some advice!
I just got this yesterday and it's pretty dirty. Should I dunk it? I've never dunked before, so I'm nervous, lol. It's a late 9os geometric roll. View attachment 4723698

Yes, I would dunk.

I am now on my second dunk rehab of a british tan bag with “made in the United States” at the bottom of the creed not in the paragraph and, like my first such rehab, the bag which didn’t feel particularly dry before hand has now become stale taffy-like. It is 24 hours since dunk, it is still fairly damp and just got its first CPR application. My question is, is this a quirk of bags of that era when dunked? Something BT bags in general do? I have dunked 2 NYC tabac bags and not had this so it can’t be age. I am just concerned what might happen to my 1996 Sherbourne in BT if I dunk her and this is what BT bags do.

Maybe you aren't using the best soap, or it isn't getting rinsed out completely? Or maybe your water is hard? I haven't had this happen with any of my dunks.

I finally washed my Loden legacy small zip and Currant Willis. Loden looks pretty much the same as it came in very good condition. The bath water didn't run dirty at all. I just feel better knowing it is clean I can use it soon! Currant Willis OTOH came with active mold with spores and all. I had to ask my DH to dry brush and vacuum outside the house as I'm allergic to mold.
View attachment 4723546

Won't that put mold spores inside your vacuum?

 

[LunaSilver]

Quoting my own post to update you all on the Chester saga: 28 hours into drying, after a second coat of CPR, the toothpaste reared its ugly head again, albeit to a lesser degree. True to my word, I chucked her in the washing machine. Please cross as many fingers and toes as you can spare.

Fortunately it is black, I think touch up the whole bag with Saphir black colorant will make the bag great again. Sorry for burrowing your words Mr. *****.lol..

 

[LunaSilver]

Depending on the brand, amount of glitzy metallic print on the packaging and number of outrageous claims, yes, they can feel sandy. Yuck! It's mostly silica of varying hardness and calcium carbonate, I believe.
I think the trouble with titanium dioxide is that it's actually used as a white colorant. It's not soluble but rather dispersed in whatever medium it's in. Since there is no medium anymore, it's like a fine powder that has settled deep into the pores of my poor Chester. I don't think it can be conditioned away. It has to come out.

Just some thoughts and not sure if it will damage leather finish, so if you want to try, test at a hidden area first.
If the discoloration was caused by tiny particles deposited into leather cores, you should be able to pull them out by creating vaccum effect on the surface of leather, such as pressing down sticky packing tape, then pull the tape off, some particles may come out with tape?

 

[houseof999]

Yes, I would dunk.

Maybe you aren't using the best soap, or it isn't getting rinsed out completely? Or maybe your water is hard? I haven't had this happen with any of my dunks.

Won't that put mold spores inside your vacuum?

Yes. It uses HEPA filter so I don't think it would escape back into the air.

 

[MaraudingMagpie]

Just some thoughts and not sure if it will damage leather finish, so if you want to try, test at a hidden area first.
If the discoloration was caused by tiny particles deposited into leather cores, you should be able to pull them out by creating vaccum effect on the surface of leather, such as pressing down sticky packing tape, then pull the tape off, some particles may come out with tape?

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming! I think it might be embedded to deep though.

 

[aerinha]

Yes, I would dunk.

Maybe you aren't using the best soap, or it isn't getting rinsed out completely? Or maybe your water is hard? I haven't had this happen with any of my dunks.

Won't that put mold spores inside your vacuum?

i am using Dawn and have had no problems with any other dunked bags. Just the 2 BT with made in the usa at the bottom of the creed. It’s a mystery lol

 

[gaditana]

Took a chance on this poorly listed bag that looked like a Casino. Arrived yesterday in pretty good condition, just a little dirty and squashed. Here is eBay listing, before and after:

 

[VintageIsBest]

Took a chance on this poorly listed bag that looked like a Casino. Arrived yesterday in pretty good condition, just a little dirty and squashed. Here is eBay listing, before and after:View attachment 4723963View attachment 4723964View attachment 4723965View attachment 4723966

Great deal and rehab! I carry a casino as my daily bag