I got my new (to me) Hampton Carryall today. It's in pretty great shape overall. I've done one treatment of Leather CPR that has helped the dryness a lot but I'm wondering about how to deal with the handles. They are stiff and dark, nearly black in some places - this is a British tan bag. I did scrape my fingernail across it to see what would happen and it looks very much alike I got up a layer of dirt. Whats the best way to get layers of dirt out of handles?
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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It's probably a mix of dirt and patina from the natural oils in hands
You can try scrubbing with mild dish detergent or Leather Therapy leather cleaner, and then rinse and condition. That will remove the dirt, but patina is more challenging. Leather Master has an expensive degreasing product.
It's probably a mix of dirt and patina from the natural oils in hands
You can try scrubbing with mild dish detergent or Leather Therapy leather cleaner, and then rinse and condition. That will remove the dirt, but patina is more challenging. Leather Master has an expensive degreasing product.
The patina does not bother me. I'm thinking it's the dirt that is causing the stiffness. Would baby shampoo work maybe? The only other soap I have is Dawn.
so impressed with everyone's effort and great results!
would be grateful for opinions.
got my tattersall lined green bleecker today. make-up smudges, general dinginess on lining. not awful, but could use a clean. the hunter green leather could also benefit.
if anyone who has dunked a similar bag could let me know what their results were, i could maybe stop waffling and decide whether to dunk, or not to dunk...and thanks again to those who have answered before!
would be grateful for opinions.
got my tattersall lined green bleecker today. make-up smudges, general dinginess on lining. not awful, but could use a clean. the hunter green leather could also benefit.
if anyone who has dunked a similar bag could let me know what their results were, i could maybe stop waffling and decide whether to dunk, or not to dunk...and thanks again to those who have answered before!
One more question: has anyone ever used needsfoot oil?
I have a horribly dry and discolored bag and a friend said that was good for dried out leather. I don't want to use a strange product.
The back is lighter than the front, and zipper areas are dark like the pockets.
Plans for this bag are acetone to even out the color, then long bath, then lots of conditioner.
I have a horribly dry and discolored bag and a friend said that was good for dried out leather. I don't want to use a strange product.
The back is lighter than the front, and zipper areas are dark like the pockets.
Plans for this bag are acetone to even out the color, then long bath, then lots of conditioner.
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Neatsfoot oil is one of the oldest products used to soften and condition leather. (It's made from shin bones and feet of cattle, but not the hooves.) I would be careful, because it does darken leather (but then again if the bag is dry and brittle, it'll probably darken up anyways!) But according to wikipedia it can leave an oily residue and might contribute to leather goods becoming brittle later on.
Knowing that, I would just stick with your regular leather conditioner. If you really want to try it, I would use it in a small inconspicuous spot.
Thanks for the info. I will skip it and use the same conditioners that have worked on my other bags.
Almond oil is great for really dried out leather. It is a superfine oil so it gets in between the fibres. Use it before your other usual products.
I have one one in magenta that I need to work on. I plan to dunk her and condition her as I would my vintage Coach bags.
So you are both saying it's probably better not to dunk, just condition. Thanks for your input. I'll mull it over. I wanted to get it for a friend of mine whose a realtor, I thought it might be good to carry her tablet, etc. but I was hoping I could make the ink disappear.
I wouldn't use Neatsfoot oil. I almost bought it once at a tack shop and the proprietor actually talked me out of it. I think it was when she said that it permanently darkens that made me reconsider.
On this, I would use Leather Honey. I used Leather Honey on a wristlet from the same collection, so it has the same kind of leather, and the results were amazing. It darkened it a lot and made the color appear so much more even. It isn't permanent but it lasts a reasonable length of time.
I think I would try cleaning it with vinegar first. The leather might be vachetta so many normal cleaning products might make the spots worse. If it is vachetta, vinegar or lemon juice should help lighten the dark areas.
ETA: Does it have striped lining, or is it the factory version? The factory version might not be vachetta.