Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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I have been cleaning out my closets and found an old Coach bag which from the serial number is a 1998 Leather Bleeker Basket tote bag. It is completely sound structurally but is extremely scuffed (see pictures). I've read about cleaning and conditioning but I have a feeling this needs more than that. Suggestions for process and products would be highly appreciated. This would be my first rehab but it is a bag with sentimental attachment. Thanks

It's gorgeous. And will look beautiful after you love on it.

Now, a rambling discourse on process: Everybody kind of does their own thing and uses different products, but there's a basic core set of actions. Dunk/soak/swish around the bag in soapy water in a sink with dishwashing soap. (People here like dawn.) Scrub as needed--I use a toothbrush. Rinse in clean water with white vinegar added (kills mold). Wipe down with a towel. Shape with your hands and stuff bag to reshape. I use bubble wrap and towels to stuff and reshape. Use Leather CPR while still damp (pretty universally recognized here as the best product to use). Follow directions on bottle. Let dry, change towels, etc. I let it dry and then use more go-rounds of leather CPR, with a day or so between application--depending on how dried out the bag is. Your bag, I would touch it up with brown leather dye on the scrape areas--I use Kiwi leather dye (not polish). Finish with a product called Blackrock Leather 'n rich. Buff wildly. Polish the zipper or any brass (I use brasso, and do this as a last step). Some people polish the brass first, in case they spilled any which needs to be removed from the leather. Carry the bag proudly.

Other repairs may or may not be needed. I use Angeles leather filler for rips and edgekote for cracked or missing pieces of edgings. I like Aileen's leather glue as well for glueing. When something needs resewing, like reattaching straps, I turn that over to a professional cobbler or leather worker. PS: some people (I don't know why), prefer saddle soap to dunking, and are afraid of getting the cow wet.

Giving a bath to a lined bag is trickier than unlined but can be done and will greatly improve your bag. I think there is a chance that with a bath and the right conditioners you won't need any dye. Soak in warm soapy water. Be careful about scrubbing too hard as it can scratch the leather. Rinse thoroughly. After removing from the water, pull the lining out completely and use a towel to soak up as much of the excess water as you can. Creeds on lined bags can absorb water, making them hard to read if you don't dry them quickly. You may want to hit the creed with a hairdryer to speed up the drying. Once the lining is nearly dry, you can push it back inside the bag and stuff the bag with towels so the leather will dry in the correct shape. This is when you want to get rid of any wrinkles. If you are drying it on its side, you might want to put the bottom edge against something flat to it doesn't bulge. Some people use different things to help them get the correct drying shape. Change the bag's drying position as needed so all parts can dry. Start conditioning before it is completely dry. I also recommend Leather CPR. Do several coats over several days. Blackrock Leather n Rich as the final conditioning step when the bag is nearly done.

After everything is done, if you still feel it needs color, I find the easiest way is to use a tiny amount of acrylic craft paint or fabric puff paint mixed with conditioner.

Hi and welcome :wave: I would approach with a few minor variations but don’t want to bog you down as what Connie and whateve suggested is quite solid. What I will say is that this style has a place in my vintage loving ❤️! I will add that I dunked one in navy, at least one in black (had 2, don’t recall if I dunked the 2nd) and a camel (stunning rehab failure!). I had no issue with the lining for dunking (full submersion in water) and drying for any of them.
Best of luck with this refurbishing.

Thanks. I'm going to give it my best shot. As you can see from the wear it gave a lot of service!
Great bag for rehab and advice from Connie, whateve and Lake Effect. I've never tried Brasso (I'd probably make a mess:frown:) on the hardware of any I've rehabbed, but I use jewelry polishing cloths instead - on the rings, zipper teeth etc. Cape Cod polishing cloths and some other foam type polishing pads, from Amazon.

Good luck - looking forward to seeing photos!
 
Thanks! Could the rubbery string have been Geist masking gel? As between the two I’ve seen, that one looks easiest to use and pulls off like that. The LeTech fluid gets a lot of airtime but it looks like a pain (at half the price however).
I don't think it would have been that. I can't remember for sure since it was such a long time ago, but that doesn't really ring a bell. I think it was intended for use on paper and with watercolors mainly. But I am finding similar ones now that would have the same applications. Water based, often in this marker-like tube with a thin tip so you don't have to use a brush.
 
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We have the same situation in EU. I think Amazon Germany used to have some 18oz bottles for about 80€ a pop + shipping, but those are gone now. And there are no sellers who sell it in the EU, and US sites won't deliver it. So I'm guessing it's more about regulation. EU, and I also suspect NZ are strict about such things. It might not even be so much about the ingredients, but that it's not disclosed what's in it.
I am in Germany and the last time I was able to purchase Leather CPR, I purchased from this place back in 2023 (https://www.ubuy.com/), however, I placed an order for two 32oz bottles at 48€ each plus shipping and only one was delivered. I had to request a refund for the second as they had charged me for both. I have not attempted to order from them since that time.
 
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I am in Germany and the last time I was able to purchase Leather CPR, I purchased from this place back in 2023 (https://www.ubuy.com/), however, I placed an order for two 32oz bottles at 48€ each plus shipping and only one was delivered. I had to request a refund for the second as they had charged me for both. I have not attempted to order from them since that time.
Yeah, this site has come up for me as well when I tried searching for US made products. Basically I think it's a dropshipping site or something so they don't actually have any of the things they're selling, and it's kind of like a proxy service in that sense.
But I would say that I've gotten really used to the products I've been using so far and haven't been feeling like I'm missing out terribly.
 
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I am in Germany and the last time I was able to purchase Leather CPR, I purchased from this place back in 2023 (https://www.ubuy.com/), however, I placed an order for two 32oz bottles at 48€ each plus shipping and only one was delivered. I had to request a refund for the second as they had charged me for both. I have not attempted to order from them since that time.
I'm in the US so hopefully it won't be a problem. I'm not starting the project for a week or so as I have some family obligations. Thanks for any and all suggestions
 
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Great bag for rehab and advice from Connie, whateve and Lake Effect. I've never tried Brasso (I'd probably make a mess:frown:) on the hardware of any I've rehabbed, but I use jewelry polishing cloths instead - on the rings, zipper teeth etc. Cape Cod polishing cloths and some other foam type polishing pads, from Amazon.

Good luck - looking forward to seeing photos!
I don't care for Brasso. I've tried many others I feel work better with less effort. On the recommendation of someone in this thread, I've used Mothers. If it isn't too bad, I love the Cape Cod polishing cloths.

On a side note: I tried cleaning our shower head by submerging it in a bag of vinegar and it didn't work. Then I pulled out the Mothers and got it super clean.
 
I don't care for Brasso. I've tried many others I feel work better with less effort. On the recommendation of someone in this thread, I've used Mothers. If it isn't too bad, I love the Cape Cod polishing cloths.

On a side note: I tried cleaning our shower head by submerging it in a bag of vinegar and it didn't work. Then I pulled out the Mothers and got it super clean.
It's funny my mom used to use Brasso to polish things decades ago.
 
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Contiguous-US friends, Tractor Supply Co online has 18 oz CPR for USD 11.99 right now, and free shipping at $49 with code ggshipping49. Other friends, I’m so sorry, I did look for you and they don’t ship beyond. 😢
All good hun...we overseas are well aware and have a quiet cry.
I have been very lucky...but feel very much for those in the UK and Europe.
 
I don't care for Brasso. I've tried many others I feel work better with less effort. On the recommendation of someone in this thread, I've used Mothers. If it isn't too bad, I love the Cape Cod polishing cloths.

On a side note: I tried cleaning our shower head by submerging it in a bag of vinegar and it didn't work. Then I pulled out the Mothers and got it super clean.

It's funny my mom used to use Brasso to polish things decades ago.

Grandma AND Mom always had the ubiquitous tin bottle — and all the candles and handles and tack fittings were my job. I loved how rewarding it was back then but I think that’s why brass hardware is my least favorite part now. 😂 I use Flitz cream around the house (but mostly choose to just enjoy all my brass’s “natural antique luster”). I just ordered a tiny tub of Mother’s to try for rehabs.

I love Cape Cod cloths for light tarnish and I discovered you can actually get some pretty heavy discoloration off with it if you’re willing to rub a little harder. I cut them into tiny squares just large enough to pinch over my pointer fingertip, to minimize getting it onto leather and zipper surround.
 
Grandma AND Mom always had the ubiquitous tin bottle — and all the candles and handles and tack fittings were my job. I loved how rewarding it was back then but I think that’s why brass hardware is my least favorite part now. 😂 I use Flitz cream around the house (but mostly choose to just enjoy all my brass’s “natural antique luster”). I just ordered a tiny tub of Mother’s to try for rehabs.

I love Cape Cod cloths for light tarnish and I discovered you can actually get some pretty heavy discoloration off with it if you’re willing to rub a little harder. I cut them into tiny squares just large enough to pinch over my pointer fingertip, to minimize getting it onto leather and zipper surround.
I like brasso, and I think it works great! But you do have to be careful not to smear it onto any leather surface. I don't just put it on a cloth or on the brass directly. I kind of rub a small dot of it into the cloth fibers, wrap the cloth around my fingertip, and then use my fingertip to work the brass.
 
Contiguous-US friends, Tractor Supply Co online has 18 oz CPR for USD 11.99 right now, and free shipping at $49 with code ggshipping49. Other friends, I’m so sorry, I did look for you and they don’t ship beyond. 😢
I just replenished my stock with two bottles from tractor supply. They didn't have any locally to me, Seattle area, but they did ship to me from Casa Grande, Arizona.
 
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