Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Nataluccia3]

Do you think this is mold? If so, should I use vinegar/water 50/50 like I’ve done with all of my moldy boots? I then used saddle soap and conditioned with Cadillac and then black rocks. I think I’d do vinegar, dawn, Cadillac with the Bleecker. Do you agree? Or is it not mold, just a settling of conditioner or something?

 

[Nataluccia3]

Do you think this is mold? If so, should I use vinegar/water 50/50 like I’ve done with all of my moldy boots? I then used saddle soap and conditioned with Cadillac and then black rocks. I think I’d do vinegar, dawn, Cadillac with the Bleecker. Do you agree? Or is it not mold, just a settling of conditioner or something?

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And it has verdigris

 

[LunaSilver]

New question

I’m cleaning and building up my collection because we’re in the states for a short period of time. We’re from Hong Kong and I haven’t had access to good vintage bags for 5+ years now. My bags were shipped from HK and arrived last week - they had been packed by the moving company and very poorly handled, just thrown at the bottom of huge boxes, not wrapped or stuffed or anything. Everything is filthy and moldy after 4+ months in transit. We’re going back soon and I’m trying to pack things for the move. Cleaning them, stuffing them, bought muslin organic cotton non-dyed cloth bags, and I’ll put them in plastic bins for transit with silicone packets to absorb moisture. Do you have any other recommendations for packing them? I’m so afraid my leather goods will be destroyed when I see them again. With Covid, there’s no telling how long they’ll be in transit.

thank you again! You all have been such a wealth of information. I’ve scoured through so many older posts to learn how to restore my bags and other leather goods. I’m taking all of my cleaning products with me this time so I can rehabilitate somewhat when we arrive, but it would be a shame if they didn’t arrive in good shape.

Not an expert in packing leather bags. But I know Hong Kong area weather is humid and hot, if leather goods already absorbed moisture prior to packing, in a sealed container for a long time without air flow, mold will be a problem.
Since you are moving from US back to HK, if your current location climate is dry, it will be a better dry start. I would stuff the bags with paper tissues, add fresh silica gel packets inside the bag as well as in the shipping container, slip each leather bag inside a dustbag, then put inside shipping container, with extra paper tissues fill up the space between the bags, then seal the container. Paper tissues can both keep the bag in shape, and absorb moisture as well. If the silica gel need to be re activated, you can put them on baking sheet, bake in the oven for 2 hrs.
ETA: at 200 F

 

[katev]

This (not-authenticated) red legacy small flap bag has a lot of issues, including strap damage, but it is listed for only $16 if someone wants a challenge.

Coach legacy small vintage red leather purse bag

Shop liltone99's closet or find the perfect look from millions of stylists. Fast shipping and buyer protection. Preowned. Fair condition. Strap has cuts in it. See pictures. Measures 8” w X 6” h X 4” d. Made in USA. #9965. Thanks for looking.

poshmark.com

 

[Nataluccia3]

Not an expert in packing leather bags. But I know Hong Kong area weather is humid and hot, if leather goods already absorbed moisture prior to packing, in a sealed container for a long time without air flow, mold will be a problem.
Since you are moving from US back to HK, if your current location climate is dry, it will be a better dry start. I would stuff the bags with paper tissues, add fresh silica gel packets inside the bag as well as in the shipping container, slip each leather bag inside a dustbag, then put inside shipping container, with extra paper tissues fill up the space between the bags, then seal the container. Paper tissues can both keep the bag in shape, and absorb moisture as well. If the silica gel need to be re activated, you can put them on baking sheet, bake in the oven for 2 hrs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I never thought about ‘reactivating’ the silica gel packs. I just bought a bunch more but our stuff was packed with many already. I can reuse them if they’re dried again. There was a lot of packing paper but certainly not enough. And the bags/shoes/jackets weren’t clean and it’s always 90+% humidity in HK. We were stuck here so couldn’t pack the things ourselves. I will surely do a better job.

Im still debating on whether or not to put them in individual or smaller bins rather than one big plastic bin. Like, don’t put all your eggs in one basket...

 

[Nataluccia3]

This (not-authenticated) red legacy small flap bag has a lot of issues, including strap damage, but it is listed for only $16 if someone wants a challenge.

Coach legacy small vintage red leather purse bag

Shop liltone99's closet or find the perfect look from millions of stylists. Fast shipping and buyer protection. Preowned. Fair condition. Strap has cuts in it. See pictures. Measures 8” w X 6” h X 4” d. Made in USA. #9965. Thanks for looking.

poshmark.com

What would you do for the strap?

 

[aerinha]

What would you do for the strap?

You might be able to get the edging replaced somewhere

 

[Nataluccia3]

What would you do for the strap?

I have that issue on so many bags. What do they do and is it expensive?

 

[BeenBurned]

This (not-authenticated) red legacy small flap bag has a lot of issues, including strap damage, but it is listed for only $16 if someone wants a challenge.

Coach legacy small vintage red leather purse bag

Shop liltone99's closet or find the perfect look from millions of stylists. Fast shipping and buyer protection. Preowned. Fair condition. Strap has cuts in it. See pictures. Measures 8” w X 6” h X 4” d. Made in USA. #9965. Thanks for looking.

poshmark.com

What would you do for the strap?

I have that issue on so many bags. What do they do and is it expensive?

Don't buy that bag from Poshmark seller liltone99! It's fake!

 

[Nataluccia3]

Don't buy that bag from Poshmark seller liltone99! It's fake!

Oh my. Well I have enough rehab going on I don’t need to add to the pile of projects. Still curious about edging though...

 

[Nataluccia3]

Do you think this is mold? If so, should I use vinegar/water 50/50 like I’ve done with all of my moldy boots? I then used saddle soap and conditioned with Cadillac and then black rocks. I think I’d do vinegar, dawn, Cadillac with the Bleecker. Do you agree? Or is it not mold, just a settling of conditioner or something?

View attachment 4817188

My mom took one look and said, nah it’s salt crystals. Haha. I just have mold on the brain. No vinegar for this bag. She’s been dunked and is stuffed for a bit of drying. The red had already transferred to the lining in some parts so I’m not too concerned if it bleeds a bit more. I’ll take the lining out before I go to bed.

On another note, I was rinsing out the dawn with warm water and the water was still coming out pink. I switched to cooler water and it went crystal clear within one rinse. Maybe that’ll help inhibit color transfer to the lining? We’ll see I suppose. Good night all!

 

[katev]

This (not-authenticated) red legacy small flap bag has a lot of issues, including strap damage, but it is listed for only $16 if someone wants a challenge.

Coach legacy small vintage red leather purse bag

Shop liltone99's closet or find the perfect look from millions of stylists. Fast shipping and buyer protection. Preowned. Fair condition. Strap has cuts in it. See pictures. Measures 8” w X 6” h X 4” d. Made in USA. #9965. Thanks for looking.

poshmark.com

Don't buy that bag from Poshmark seller liltone99! It's fake!

Thank you @BeenBurned!

 

[Nataluccia3]

Hello Coach Rehab Experts!

I will be polling the audience for advice in the coming days - so my first question revolves around wallets....

I read mixed reviews that sometimes dunking causes wrinkles and they don't revert back to their wonderful shapes. I have two to rehab - the black looks cleaner (may just be hiding behind the color) and the honey-colored wallet (that is all sorts of dirty)

WWYD?

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Good morning! Did you end up washing these yesterday? If so, how did they turn out?

 

[Nataluccia3]

Hi Aerinha! I found your previous post about repairing edges. The edging is peeling off a bag I dunked yesterday and I’m wondering how I could re-adhere it to the flap and strap. Thoughts?

On my vintage coach bags, I have used Angelus leather paint after all conditioning is done so the edges are hydrated and not too rough. Sometimes a gentle nail file maybe needed to smooth a rough spot out. I tried to fix actual edge coat on a very small Fendi peekaboo monster I got dirt cheap and a Celine nano to mixed results. The Fendi came out beautifully, the Celine was a mess although the previous owner had already done and removed whatever they had done before I got it. So I cannot say if the problem there was my application, the product or just that the strap had had too much done to it.

I forget the product I used, I did post about it in this thread, but it’s more readily available in Europe and I had a tough time getting it in the US. I bought the matte version because it was all I could get, but there was a glossy version and a substance to make matte glossy that was not available for US purchase. If you want the name, let me know, I can figure out where I put it or comb my past Etsy purchases.

You might be able to get the edging replaced somewhere

 

[Nataluccia3]

Hi Aerinha! I found your previous post about repairing edges. The edging is peeling off a bag I dunked yesterday and I’m wondering how I could re-adhere it to the flap and strap. Thoughts?

Heres a pic of what I mean. I don’t want it to keep peeling off...