Get some dry charcoal paks, the stuff they put in aquarium filters. Put it in a plastic bag, seal it up and check on it again in 2 weeks. If that doesn't do the trick seal up again and let sit some more.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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So that leads me to my original question..
Should I go ahead and condition it so the leather doesn't dry out? I don't have any charcoal packets right now (I'll get some soon, we need new fish filters anyway)....
I put it back into the washing machine with some vinegar. I hope it doesn't beat it up too much...I really just wanted to get all the chemicals/soap out that I used to clean the spots off. It was actually in really good shape, just needed cleaned up, and well now the smoke smell needs to be gone.
I read to try dryer sheets so I think I might do that tonight while it's drying to see if it at least helps the inside...then I'll get some charcoal tomorrow and just let it sit....sigh....I wanted to use it soon too.
Should I go ahead and condition it so the leather doesn't dry out? I don't have any charcoal packets right now (I'll get some soon, we need new fish filters anyway)....
I put it back into the washing machine with some vinegar. I hope it doesn't beat it up too much...I really just wanted to get all the chemicals/soap out that I used to clean the spots off. It was actually in really good shape, just needed cleaned up, and well now the smoke smell needs to be gone.
I read to try dryer sheets so I think I might do that tonight while it's drying to see if it at least helps the inside...then I'll get some charcoal tomorrow and just let it sit....sigh....I wanted to use it soon too.
The dryer sheets are a good idea. I just don't want you to seal up while damp because I am not sure if mold would form. Dampness + sealed plastic=bad news.
Putting outside will help. It may take a few weeks or more. I have used a combination of alcohol, bath salts, charcoal, airing out, etc. It might help if you can tell where the smoke is concentrated. The washing may have cleared it from the fabric and it is just stuck in the leather. There is also a spray called Zero Odor that might help.
I had a very smoky vintage leather bag that I eventually got the smoke smell out of. Then I pulled it out a few weeks ago and I could detect a tiny bit of the smoke smell, so I think there is a little bit still deep in the leather.
Thank you so much for the advice! That's kind of what I was thinking on the piping.
My husband suggested using his dremel with the wire brush attachment to remove the interior crud. Some of it we think is actually glue! I'm going to have to look at it a little closer before I decide what to do.
Here are a few pictures to illustrate. I also have a thread in the Dooney forum about this, but there doesn't seem to be as much vintage bag chatter over there.
This is the bag overall. I love it and love the size, otherwise I would not mess with this much effort.
This is the interior:
The damaged piping corner:
I smelled the bag today and it's definitely imbedded in the leather...even the poor little hangtag smells. The fabric smells OK...actually it's pretty much gone from the fabric. It still feels damp so I'm just going to leave it outside until it gets dark. Then I'll bring it in for a little while.
I traded for the bag, but I have sworn off buying from yard sale sites (this one was on Facebook). I know it'll cost more but I'm sticking with Ebay. At least that way I'm protected.
There is no way I wouldn't be bathing that. Even if you can get most of it off with the Dremel, I wouldn't feel like it was really clean unless it got a good soak. Since it is suede, the dremel or sanding wouldn't hurt it.Thank you so much for the advice! That's kind of what I was thinking on the piping.
My husband suggested using his dremel with the wire brush attachment to remove the interior crud. Some of it we think is actually glue! I'm going to have to look at it a little closer before I decide what to do.
Here are a few pictures to illustrate. I also have a thread in the Dooney forum about this, but there doesn't seem to be as much vintage bag chatter over there.
This is the bag overall. I love it and love the size, otherwise I would not mess with this much effort.
This is the interior:
The damaged piping corner:
There was a Coach style almost identical to that.
Docride, in the Hermes rehab thread recommends something called Smelleze. I believe you can buy the packets online.
I have a mystery. With the help of a wonderful tpfer, I recently acquired a 1960's Bonnie Cashin with the striped lining and metal Coach tag. Inside the purse was a card labeled "Old Fashioned Harness Leather." On googling this term, I found this listing with an identical card: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apropos-Pur...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 which looks like a Bonnie Cashin, possibly missing the Coach tag, that sold for $8!
Does anyone have any information about "Old Fashioned Harness Leather"? Did Coach ever use this term or enclose this card with their items?
Does anyone have any information about "Old Fashioned Harness Leather"? Did Coach ever use this term or enclose this card with their items?
Sorry for the late reply - what exactly is a leather bath? I see a lot of references to it, but can't find a 'recipe', (so to speak).
Attached is a pic of the wrinkling on the side of the bag. There are also dark spots on the front flap (in the other pic), which didnt come out with basic leather cleaner - any advice would be welcome.
TIA
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That wrinkling looks it could be caused by dryness. A leather bath is when you immerse the entire bag in soapy water, let it soak, gently scrub, rinse, pat dry, and then stuff with towels to reshape the bag as it dries. It helps to plump up the leather as well as to clean the bag. It might help with the wrinkling. Then the bag needs to be moisturized with plenty of conditioner. The spots could be grease which might respond to cornstarch, or they could be mold or something else. Alcohol and acetone work on some spots. Some spots are permanent.
I don't have additional information but will say that my Bonnie double header definitely doesn't feel like glove-tanned leather. I have seen my bag in listings with original paperwork and it was labeled as having the harness leather. The bag I have is like this one but with the striped lining: http://www.etsy.com/listing/1627095...a_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=vintage
Congrats on your new bag!
Congrats on your new bag too! Hope it's a nice one. About the harness purse you put a link on, that looks like the best deal I have ever seen, congrats to them also. I'm no expert but I think it's possibly a coach bag because a while back, I saw one and I believe either Beenburned or Demram authenticated or ID'd it for me, and it had the same label on it, I'll try to find that again. Sadly by the time I got back to it, it had been sold.I think the coach plaque was underneath the cloth label, if I remember correctly.