Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[rx4coach]

I was looking forward to trying Fiebing's Black Saddle Soap but I'm hesitating due to concerns about color transfer to clothing.

What are those of you who have used it finding about transfer during use?

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Will most of the older light bags need recolorant to be rehabbed? As a newbie, I learned my first lesson by experience not to buy a bone bag thinking I could just clean those “dirty” edges! After cleaning and conditioning and removal of stubborn verdigris on the leather under the hardware, she looks worse than when I started! Should I just wallow in regret and learn to love her anyway, or try recoloring next?

I'm sure it's a case by case basis based on the bag's condition. I just got another light bag and I have no intention of recoloring, except maybe along the piping. There are no hard and fast rules. I think this "dye mixed with CPR" is a gentle way to add some color. I used a very small amount of dye in a good sized glob of CPR for each application--I think I did around 4 applications. Here's my new bag, which I think will clean up and look amazing without dying.

 

[Bookloverlori]

I found a great diaber bag that I'm using as a work tote but it's so slouchy. I've tried to fix it by using a hair dryer and stuffing it into shape. It didn't work and I think it might be worse. How can I get this gorgeous bag to stand up properly? I was thinking of briefly soaking it and letting it dry with supports. What can I do?

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I was thinking of briefly soaking it and letting it dry with supports.

Go for it! (And share your results.) Stuff with towels or bubble wrap to hold its shape while drying.

 

[katev]

I found a great diaber bag that I'm using as a work tote but it's so slouchy. I've tried to fix it by using a hair dryer and stuffing it into shape. It didn't work and I think it might be worse. How can I get this gorgeous bag to stand up properly? I was thinking of briefly soaking it and letting it dry with supports. What can I do?

You can take a look at the purse organizer inserts on Amazon and see if one will wirk for you.

 

[coachomufi]

Hi everyone! I wanted to get the opinions of folks that have been cleaning up coach bags for a while and see what you all think this could be! I’m interested in this bag but the comments on the listing are saying that it has mold measles? If it does, then is that easy to treat? Sorry if it’s a super newbie question, this would be the first time attempting to treat mold if that’s what this is. Attached is a pic of the bag, and thanks in advance!

 

[whateve]

Hi everyone! I wanted to get the opinions of folks that have been cleaning up coach bags for a while and see what you all think this could be! I’m interested in this bag but the comments on the listing are saying that it has mold measles? If it does, then is that easy to treat? Sorry if it’s a super newbie question, this would be the first time attempting to treat mold if that’s what this is. Attached is a pic of the bag, and thanks in advance!

Mold measles are permanent stains. You can kill the mold but the stains will remain. If they are bad, they will have changed the texture of the leather.

 

[coachomufi]

Mold measles are permanent stains. You can kill the mold but the stains will remain. If they are bad, they will have changed the texture of the leather.

Thank you! That’s good to know, I’ll ask if there are any texture changes with the leather in those spots

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

In a red mood. Working on a mini bag. Got a black stain on front...ideas for removal?? All I've done so far is dunk and use a soft-bristled toothbrush on it with some bar soap.

 

[DL Harper]

In a red mood. Working on a mini bag. Got a black stain on front...ideas for removal?? All I've done so far is dunk and use a soft-bristled toothbrush on it with some bar soap.

I have no suggestions, but I do find reds to be difficult to work with sometimes. They seem to have taken the original dye differently, and therefore, the stain as well. Some reds seem to be more susceptible to body oils etc than other reds. But I love a red Coach!

Good luck - please keep us posted with your progress.

 

[katev]

In a red mood. Working on a mini bag. Got a black stain on front...ideas for removal?? All I've done so far is dunk and use a soft-bristled toothbrush on it with some bar soap.

I have no suggestions, but I do find reds to be difficult to work with sometimes. They seem to have taken the original dye differently, and therefore, the stain as well. Some reds seem to be more susceptible to body oils etc than other reds. But I love a red Coach!

Good luck - please keep us posted with your progress.

I agree, I love red coach bags but they can be tricky to rehab. Before you do anything, you might consider taking the bag to a leather/shoe repair professional and asking for an opinion.

I've posted these pics before but they show a mahagony brown Patricia's Legacy 9951 that had a bad spot/damage on the front flap. I was going to try to repair it myself but the bag also had a tear so I took it to a cobbler that I had used in the past and trusted.

He was able to smooth the area and "spot stain" the leather and I thought that it came out great! Below are the before and after pics of the bad spot (before I restored the bag) and I was very glad that I had taken it to a professional; but remember, results may vary and red can be difficult! Good luck!

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I agree, I love red coach bags but they can be tricky to rehab. Before you do anything, you might consider taking the bag to a leather/shoe repair professional and asking for an opinion.

I've posted these pics before but they show a mahagony brown Patricia's Legacy 9951 that had a bad spot/damage on the front flap. I was going to try to repair it myself but the bag also had a tear so I took it to a cobbler that I had used in the past and trusted.

He was able to smooth the area and "spot stain" the leather and I thought that it came out great! Below are the before and after pics of the bad spot (before I restored the bag) and I was very glad that I had taken it to a professional; but remember, results may vary and red can be difficult! Good luck!


View attachment 5947275View attachment 5947276

I WISH I had a good cobbler. Two stories. One. I bought a really nice modernish Coach bag that needed the handle resewn to the body of the bag, it was coming undone. I took it in to a local guy. He said he could do it! He said the stitching would show on the lining, but if I wanted him to go inside the lining and make the repair invisible, I could pay more. I agreed to the quality more expensive repair. $30 I think. Tick tick tick. A week later. I got back the bag. Looks fine, no obvious indicators of sewing. I carry the bag, and the handle detaches from the body. He had GLUED it, not sewn. And the glue failed. Hey, if I wanted to glue it, I could have done that myself. Fraud!! The agreement was for sewing. I paid for sewing. I went back to the guy and got my money back.

Took it to another cobbler/leather guy who actually sewed it. Second story. I have a gorgeous vintage bag (navy blue, Coach soft satchel) I showed here before that I removed the broken zipper. I asked this second cobbler if he could put in a zipper. "no." Wouldn't touch it. And no recommendations of anyone who could. I still haven't found anyone to help me with that bag!

 

[coachomufi]

Hi everyone, I wanted to see if anyone had an opinion on how to go about repairing this? It’s a repair for a bag I’m interested in buying and the description of the damage says that the leather is peeling up. Am I wrong to think that this could possibly be repaired with some glue or is it a more complicated repair than that? Attached is a pic of the damage, and thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Hi everyone, I wanted to see if anyone had an opinion on how to go about repairing this? It’s a repair for a bag I’m interested in buying and the description of the damage says that the leather is peeling up. Am I wrong to think that this could possibly be repaired with some glue or is it a more complicated repair than that? Attached is a pic of the damage, and thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Progress on the red Mini bag. I woke up thinking about this bag this morning. I decided to try some light sandpaper on the black mark. Not sure it did much! Then I did shoe cream Scarlet mixed with leather CPR. Here's where we're at.