This is a great comparison! I see what you mean about the more grayish tone of the taupe. The difference is subtle but it definitely is there. Thank you for this!
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Thank you both for your notes! I didn’t realize how consuming of an issue this would be for me today, haha! Unfortunately I was scrubbing and blotting and didn’t see them immediately…and I forged ahead with dunking the red tote
It’s drying now…so far, so good! I don’t think I’m totally out of the woods yet, but it’s looking great at the moment.
Thank you both for your notes! I didn’t realize how consuming of an issue this would be for me today, haha! Unfortunately I was scrubbing and blotting and didn’t see them immediately…and I forged ahead with dunking the red tote
It’s drying now…so far, so good! I don’t think I’m totally out of the woods yet, but it’s looking great at the moment.
That's great news!
Cannot wait to see the result!Thank you both for your notes! I didn’t realize how consuming of an issue this would be for me today, haha! Unfortunately I was scrubbing and blotting and didn’t see them immediately…and I forged ahead with dunking the red tote
It’s drying now…so far, so good! I don’t think I’m totally out of the woods yet, but it’s looking great at the moment.
My mind is churning with a million weird solutions to fix the broken chrystie.
I could replace the spring lock for a turn lock, but I like the look of the spring lock and I think I'd feel kinda weird changing the whole look of the bag, plus I'd have to make a bigger hole in the bag and then there's no going back.
Another option I'm considering is keeping the outside for decoration and somehow attaching a magnetic closure to the bag? But I'm not sure how to even remove the spring lock, and I don't know if the outside part won't stay on if I remove the inside part? (btw does anyone know how to remove the spring lock.. I keep staring at it like it's gonna start talking to me but I can't figure out where to start pulling!)
Another magnetized option... magnetic paint? If I paint the female piece with magnetic paint and add a magnetic closure to the other side of the bag maybe they'll stick together?
And the simpler option I guess would be to just wait for a replacement piece to pop up or for a really cheap chrystie bag to steal parts off of.. which I would then use that chrystie for experimentation and perhaps even adding a turnlock..
I'm kinda strongly considering the magnetic paint option because it seems the easiest/fastest/cheapest option but I have no idea if it'll work.
Anybody got any other weird (or better yet, normal) suggestions? lol
My fiancé is wondering why I've got to have a hobby that always has me in a "dilemma" and I'm starting to ask myself the same thing
Well I like to think of collecting Coach as my hobby, and since some of them are in rough shape, they do require so problem solving or creative thinking.
I just saw something on YouTube and want to find out more of the details on studies that were referenced. A point was made about more happiness/satisfaction coming from experiences as opposed to the stuff we have. I already knew that I enjoyed the process of looking for vintage bags, deciding if I wanted to buy them, refurbishing and chatting here. So I am not surprised your new hobby has you in problem solving mode. It will be satisfying to find a solution.Great, hope the donor hardware works!
I am about to embark on my first rehab attempt. Navy City Bag with no obvious stains.
After reading through these threads it seems like the basic process is as follows (assuming I don't intend to dye in any way. That's clearly at least intermediate level expertise.
1) Clean and brush out the inside
2) Give her a bath in warm water with dawn and / or vinegar. This can clean and help moisten
3) Dry and reshape using towels.
4) Condition, condition, condition. Most seem to use Leather CPR (thankfully available at my local Tractor Supply).
5) Apply BlackRocks Leather N Rich. Let sit and wipe off.
5) Brush with horse hair brush to shine.
I have several questions, so please bear with me. And thank you in advance.
Did I miss any steps?
When do you use vinegar in the bath ?
Do most people use their hands to apply the Leather CPR? Or are there inexpensive towels or sponges you like?
I found a horse hair brush that is intended for show pigs. What do you think? Or do you have a better suggestion?
Finally I've also seen references to Lexol. What is this used for?
Thanks in advance for your help. I also plan to spend some time on YouTube. If you've found any videos particularly useful or bad, I'd welcome that input too.
After reading through these threads it seems like the basic process is as follows (assuming I don't intend to dye in any way. That's clearly at least intermediate level expertise.
1) Clean and brush out the inside
2) Give her a bath in warm water with dawn and / or vinegar. This can clean and help moisten
3) Dry and reshape using towels.
4) Condition, condition, condition. Most seem to use Leather CPR (thankfully available at my local Tractor Supply).
5) Apply BlackRocks Leather N Rich. Let sit and wipe off.
5) Brush with horse hair brush to shine.
I have several questions, so please bear with me. And thank you in advance.
Did I miss any steps?
When do you use vinegar in the bath ?
Do most people use their hands to apply the Leather CPR? Or are there inexpensive towels or sponges you like?
I found a horse hair brush that is intended for show pigs. What do you think? Or do you have a better suggestion?
Finally I've also seen references to Lexol. What is this used for?
Thanks in advance for your help. I also plan to spend some time on YouTube. If you've found any videos particularly useful or bad, I'd welcome that input too.
Seems like you’ve got it down! I used to just use vinegar if I found that the bag has an unpleasant smell, but recently I’ve been adding it to all my washes to help disinfect as well. It is also helpful when the bag has mold. From what I’ve read, it won’t remove mold stains but it will help to kill the mold at least, but I haven’t had any experience with needing to get rid of mold.
I apply leather cpr with my hand as the warmth of your hand helps it blend into the leather better. However, after the bag is dry and I condition it again, I do apply it with my hand and rub it in, but I then go over it with a lint free microfiber cloth to buff it. I had a pretty bad horsehair brush that would leave hair all over my bags so I just stick to using the cloth, but I would like to get a better brush one day and try it out! I’m not totally sure if a pig brush would be any different from a brush used for leather. Maybe there’s a size difference? Maybe the bristles are less soft? If you want to be sure, maybe stick to one that is geared toward leather products. Pretty sure you can find some at Walmart or Amazon.
As for Lexol, I have never used it before. From what I think I remember reading, it’s just another brand of leather conditioner but I believe it tends to darken the leather. I think leather honey is another conditioner that also tends to darken leathers. Black rock darkens leather a bit too, but I believe not as much as these other two products. I think you’ll be fine just sticking to leather CPR and black rock. And just a tip for the buffing step which might be kind of obvious but i had no idea it made a difference, put MUSCLE into it hahah I couldn’t see a difference in the softness or shine of my leather and thought I was doing something wrong. Someone told me to put some elbow grease into it and it’s made a huge difference
Another step you might want to consider is removing the hardware to polish it. There are some videos on YouTube that can help show you how to remove turnlocks. I’ve copied a link below which I found helpful!
There are many products that can be used to polish. I use brasso but it is pretty harsh smelling, and I always make sure to use gloves so it won’t irritate my skin. I’ve heard of others using mother’s mag polish and cape cod polishing cloths. I’d like to give them a try at some point but I think I’m gonna wait until I run out of brasso.
Hopefully this answers some of your questions! If you have any more please ask! Everyone here is super helpful and have taught me so much. Hope your first rehab is a success
I also use a small handheld vacuum for the inside.
I use Dawn and about 4 cups of plain white vinegar in the sink... usually in hot water depending on the texture of the bag. I also leave it soaking for an hour or 2 (again depending on the bag).
It is good to carefully use a hairdryer on the Coach creed so that it dries more quickly and doesn't flatten out/become less legible from the dunk.
I start conditioning with Leather CPR right out of the bath. Any soft sponge or finger tips will work well. Just be careful not to scratch the leather with fingernails.
Pack the bag lightly to reshape (do not over stuff
Apply a modest amount of Blackrock's so there is none to wipe off. You want to save your hard earned money.
AND/OR
Heat a small amount of Renapur on the sponge and massage in to the leather.
Let absorb for a few days.
This can be repeated as often as necessary. Then buff your heart out.
Have fun, good luck and share the photos with us!
I use my hands and cosmetic sponges to apply Leather CPR. And a good quality horsehair brush works wonders to make the leather glow. My husband is very particular about his shoes and has a horsehair brush that he uses in between polishing. It’s completely clean, good quality, and I use it for my bags. You can find one on Amazon.
A couple of things I’d like to say about your list of steps. I start conditioning with CPR right after dunking. And then I repeat treatments several times a day until dry. I’ve found the leather accepts the conditioner better when pores are open and moisturizes the leather better. As the bag gets drier I start buffing with the brush.
As far as products go, different bags require different products depending on their condition when you start. I’ve used CPR on every bag after a restorer told me about it. I also have tried Lexol conditioner, chamberlains leather milk, and leather honey. You have to experiment. Everyone has their preferences. The Chamberlain’s left a haze so I only used it once. I love Metal Wizard for the brass polishing and for lighter jobs I use small polishing squares from Amazon. You can use the sticky plastic wrap to protect the surrounding leather of a turnlock and lightly polish it without removing hardware.
Sometimes I hand-dunk bags in the sink but unless it’s a really large or fragile one I’ve started putting them in a pillow case or lingerie bag and washing them with a mild, non-bleach, organic detergent on the delicate cycle of my washing machine. It works great! Do not put the strap on with the bag if you choose this method. I had one leave marks on a bag once.
And lastly, be warned that once you enter the rehab realm you will be totally addicted to it! Good luck!
Thank you both for your notes! I didn’t realize how consuming of an issue this would be for me today, haha! Unfortunately I was scrubbing and blotting and didn’t see them immediately…and I forged ahead with dunking the red tote
It’s drying now…so far, so good! I don’t think I’m totally out of the woods yet, but it’s looking great at the moment.
For those following along at home, I’m reporting in with the good news that the red NYC tote is recovering nicely from her risky dunk! We’re about 24 hrs and several coats of CPR in now, and I’ve only found 2 head-of-a-pin potential ink bleedthroughs, both on the bottom of the bag. I can’t say with any certainty they weren’t there before, and they’re so small I can’t photograph them with the bag still damp. So, I’m claiming victory over those ink spots!
Here she is, in one of several drying positions:
FYI in case anyone is interested, a dark brown (mocha?) next-size-larger version of this tote is available, still for a seriously fantastic price and in what looks like good shape. I already have its twin - and literally just finished working on its triplet for my sister-in-law - or I’d be jumping on it myself
Not my listing, not yet authenticated, but sure looks familiar: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274851771689
Sounds like you are ready for your first rehab, and a dark color like navy is a good choice because light colors can be tricky.
I only add vinegar if I suspect mold and I usually use my hands to apply conditioners Leather CPR and Black Rocks.
One correction, I don't apply the Black Rocks and let it sit. I apply it to one side of the bag and rub it in and then quickly wipe off the excess before apply some to another side of the bag. If I apply BR too heavily or leave it sit without wiping off the excess, it tends to get tacky and sticky and difficult to deal with.
After I am done applying any conditioner, like Leather CPR or Black Rocks, I do let it sit overnight or at least for several hours before applying more or brushing. I use a soft horsehair brush to buff the bag.
Then I used Wenol or another metal cleaner to shine the hardware. I usually don't remove the (removable) hardware unless there are signs of green verdigris around the turnlock.
One other step that you didn't mention, is touching up faded edging on straps or corners. After the rehab is done, the color often returns well and you don't need any touch up. But if the unfinished strap edging or corners still look faded, I will use a small amount of acrylic craft paint mixed with Leather CPR to touch them up. The bag at the link below looks like it will probably need a touch-up on the strap edges after being rehabbed:
Coach City H8P-9790 Glove tanned Dark Blue
Shop plusme's closet or find the perfect look from millions of stylists. Fast shipping and buyer protection. This is a classic 90's bag vintage handcrafted in Costa Rica of natural glove tanned cowhide. No flaws on leather. The Brass has minor scratching for it's age however a mild polishing...
poshmark.com
I do use Lexol on some bags. It is a very light conditioner and it doesn't darken the leather. I sometimes use it on a "delicate" or "textured" bag when I am after of getting too heavy-handed with the rehab. I also often use it to maintain bags that I've been carrying before I put them back into storage. I use Lexol cleaning wipes first and rub the hardware with a soft cloth. Then I use the Lexol conditioner wipes on the leather, let it sit for awhile before stuffing and bagging the purse and putting it into storage. I often do this at the end or a season. It has an odor but it soon fades, like most conditioners.
Whenever I am worried about applying a product to a bag I try to "spot-test" it first. I look for a spot on the bag that won't show and apply the product and watch for the results before moving on to apply it fully. I've described the spot-testing process more fully at the link below for a Legacy Straw Tote 113 that I recently rehabbed. I was worried that the leather color might bleed and stain the straw but it was okay so I was able to continue.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
I have wasted tons of time doing this! Once I found a thread in which they discussed interesting threads from the past, and I had to check out those threads. Some took days to read. Thread inception! Lol :lol:
forum.purseblog.com
Good luck with your rehab, please show us some before and after photos!
Last edited:
For those following along at home, I’m reporting in with the good news that the red NYC tote is recovering nicely from her risky dunk! We’re about 24 hrs and several coats of CPR in now, and I’ve only found 2 head-of-a-pin potential ink bleedthroughs, both on the bottom of the bag. I can’t say with any certainty they weren’t there before, and they’re so small I can’t photograph them with the bag still damp. So, I’m claiming victory over those ink spots!
Here she is, in one of several drying positions:
View attachment 5128648
FYI in case anyone is interested, a dark brown (mocha?) next-size-larger version of this tote is available, still for a seriously fantastic price and in what looks like good shape. I already have its twin - and literally just finished working on its triplet for my sister-in-law - or I’d be jumping on it myself
Not my listing, not yet authenticated, but sure looks familiar: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274851771689
I'm so relieved! I was so worried after I saw that you dunked her. Did the ink spots on the inside come out for the most part? She's looking great!
I also use a small handheld vacuum for the inside.
I use Dawn and about 4 cups of plain white vinegar in the sink... usually in hot water depending on the texture of the bag. I also leave it soaking for an hour or 2 (again depending on the bag).
It is good to carefully use a hairdryer on the Coach creed so that it dries more quickly and doesn't flatten out/become less legible from the dunk.
I start conditioning with Leather CPR right out of the bath. Any soft sponge or finger tips will work well. Just be careful not to scratch the leather with fingernails.
Pack the bag lightly to reshape (do not over stuff
Apply a modest amount of Blackrock's so there is none to wipe off. You want to save your hard earned money.
AND/OR
Heat a small amount of Renapur on the sponge and massage in to the leather.
Let absorb for a few days.
This can be repeated as often as necessary. Then buff your heart out.
Have fun, good luck and share the photos with us!
Thank you so much. So very helpful, especially putting muscle in.
I hadn't made a plan on the hardware yet. Thank you for the video.
Funny thing. My mom used to use Brasso on several items so I don't mind the smell so much. I've polished a lot of brass in my life
I will definitely post before and after
For those following along at home, I’m reporting in with the good news that the red NYC tote is recovering nicely from her risky dunk! We’re about 24 hrs and several coats of CPR in now, and I’ve only found 2 head-of-a-pin potential ink bleedthroughs, both on the bottom of the bag. I can’t say with any certainty they weren’t there before, and they’re so small I can’t photograph them with the bag still damp. So, I’m claiming victory over those ink spots!
Here she is, in one of several drying positions:
View attachment 5128648
FYI in case anyone is interested, a dark brown (mocha?) next-size-larger version of this tote is available, still for a seriously fantastic price and in what looks like good shape. I already have its twin - and literally just finished working on its triplet for my sister-in-law - or I’d be jumping on it myself
Not my listing, not yet authenticated, but sure looks familiar: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274851771689
That's fantastic news, keep us posted!
Thank you so much. So very helpful, especially putting muscle in.
I hadn't made a plan on the hardware yet. Thank you for the video.
Funny thing. My mom used to use Brasso on several items so I don't mind the smell so much. I've polished a lot of brass in my life
I will definitely post before and after
Very excited to see the results!
Regarding the hardware, some users are mentioning that you don't have to remove it. I have also polished without removing but I do so very carefully in order not to get the product on the leather. I have gotten some brasso on the leather and I quickly wipe it away and apply conditioner to the area because I can see it become instantly dehydrated. I feel that to do a more thorough polish, removing it is best, but if youre not totally comfortable doing that or if the brass doesn't look too bad, then no need!
Someone actually messaged me after saying that Wizard's metal renew is much better than brasso (and doesn't smell, even if you don't mind it
), and I see that @Paris Girl mentioned using this product as well.