Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Fashionstar101]

Another question I have is before I found this site I used the coach stuff on a bag and I don't like the results! Can I just put leather CPR over it? Or do I have to remove the coach stuff? I think it has a sorta silicone feel to it ( I'm not near te bag at the moment) thanks!!

 

[Fashionstar101]

Also another question. Does a bath shrink leather? The previous owner of the orange bag I have somehow stretch the side where the creed is stamped on a pocket! Or there was not enought stuffing and either way created a big roll that probably stretched overtime. How can I make that go away? A bath? I don't want it to stretch more is my problem! Help!

 

[Mogambo66]

I agree, I think it will come out ok with a bath. Ive washed bags with contrasting leather like that and never had a problem. Worst case scenario is the leather overall will fade, but the colors shouldn't bleed.

Keep in mind that the ink just might not come out, and too much scrubbing will leave a lighter spot with ink in the middle. Use your best judgment.

Those are great bags, I purchased one once but had to return due to undisclosed smoke odor.

Thanks for the advice! I've given the bag a bath and it doesn't seem like the darker leather bled at all. The ink didn't come out, but it looks like it might be a little lighter. It's hard to tell because it hasn't yet dried completely. How long does it usually take for bags to dry? The leather on this bag is so thick and it feels like it is taking forever!

 

[whateve]

Thanks for the advice! I've given the bag a bath and it doesn't seem like the darker leather bled at all. The ink didn't come out, but it looks like it might be a little lighter. It's hard to tell because it hasn't yet dried completely. How long does it usually take for bags to dry? The leather on this bag is so thick and it feels like it is taking forever!

I've had some bags take 4 or 5 days to dry! Usually it is at least 1 or 2 days. I would pull the lining out at first, then stuff it after it is just damp.

 

[Fashionstar101]

The toughest thing about rehabbing for me is expectations. Sometimes a bag is greatly improved by giving it a bath...other times not so much. In some instances I've messed up and created more issues than I had to begin with! IMO here are just NO GUARANTEES. Every rehab is a gamble (IMO) because every bag and its issues are different. We have no way of knowing what caused a mark or stain...and how old it is...therefore not knowing whether it can be fixed.

In the case of your (beautiful) orange bag...if it were mine, I probably wouldn't do a thing...right now. I would encourage you to find a few cheap, practice bags and get a little more experience, before taking the chance on the orange one.

The orange bag I rehabbed is a 1997 Abbie that I bought at a Goodwill Bargain Barn for $1.00 in 2010. In July of 2012 I did the rehab with fairly un-remarkable results. I washed her in the kitchen sink in warm water with a couple of squirts of Dawn Extra Strength to make suds. Once the leather is completely wet I use a regular toothbrush and gently scrub inside and out. (I really don't let my bags soak a long time, unless there are dents or creases. If there are, I use warmer water and maybe let them soak a half-hour or so.) I keep a journal of my rehabs and don't see anything there about color bleeding. I rinse bags in warm running water until I don't see any more soap bubbles. On unlined bags, I rinse until the inside suede feels "squeaky clean" like your hair after a shampoo. I stuff my bags with terry cloth towels of various sizes and recently I've learned to not overstuff. I stuff enough to restore the shape. When still damp, I generously applied Leather CPR and let it sink in. A day later I applied Leather CPR again and let it sit another day. Then I applied Blackrocks, according to the directions on the jar. Let that sit a day and repeated it. In the end, I usually use a horsehair blend brush to buff...sometimes a microfiber cloth.

Rehabbing for me is about refreshing the leather and restoring a bag's shape. Simply washing and conditioning a bag is usually a huge improvement in appearance. Will all the flaws magically disappear...highly unlikely...but I think in most cases you can improve a bag and make it usable.

I hope this info helps you...Remember, this is just how I rehab. Others here have their own techniques. Keep reading, keep asking questions and you'll figure out what's best for you...Good Luck!

Thanks for the tips!! When you say give it back shape, what do you mean? One side on the bottom, I think is stretched out. It is straight under the pocket where the creed is stamped. So that probably contributing to the stretch! The stuffing never went under there, causing the weight of the bag to sit on top of it, causing it to stretch. Can I shrink the leather and then shape it correctly??? Plmk! Whateve please weigh in to if you can

 

[coach943]

I know we talked about this back a page or two. But I duque end how to take a better pic of the dirt on the orange bag... Does this dirt look pretty minimal? And removable? One more look! Thank you! For answering all my questions! Plmk!

Also don't worry I'm not using the coach stuff! For some I just have that sitting there ready to be put away! As you can see I'm using leather CPR!

Also looking at the photo from my phone, this photo is not the best either but if you look at the bottom left you can see a mark and over the coarse of the middle.. thanks for the help!

Also another question. Does a bath shrink leather? The previous owner of the orange bag I have somehow stretch the side where the creed is stamped on a pocket! Or there was not enought stuffing and either way created a big roll that probably stretched overtime. How can I make that go away? A bath? I don't want it to stretch more is my problem! Help!

Thanks for the tips!! When you say give it back shape, what do you mean? One side on the bottom, I think is stretched out. It is straight under the pocket where the creed is stamped. So that probably contributing to the stretch! The stuffing never went under there, causing the weight of the bag to sit on top of it, causing it to stretch. Can I shrink the leather and then shape it correctly??? Plmk! Whateve please weigh in to if you can

If this were my bag, I would give it a bath. As someone previously mentioned, there is no perfect technique, and there are no guarantees of how it will come out. If you are a novice at rehabbing and are concerned, practice on some other bags first. I've tried various soaps, and I prefer to use Woolite for my rehabs. There are lots of choices to try to get the marks off, but there is no guarantee they will get better.

A bath is not really going to shrink the leather, but you can reshape it back to its original shape as it dries. After the bath, stuff the bag with towels and reshape it. Stuffing a bag is not as easy as it sounds. When I first started, I was overstuffing my bags. I'm now much more careful about not overstuffing. I also roll towels into logs. I tend to like using thin towels as well.

 

[whateve]

Thanks for the tips!! When you say give it back shape, what do you mean? One side on the bottom, I think is stretched out. It is straight under the pocket where the creed is stamped. So that probably contributing to the stretch! The stuffing never went under there, causing the weight of the bag to sit on top of it, causing it to stretch. Can I shrink the leather and then shape it correctly??? Plmk! Whateve please weigh in to if you can

That shape of bag is very difficult to get perfect. You'll have to experiment. Resist the temptation to overstuff. I use thin rolled towels. You might be successful if you can suspend it while it is drying, so the weight of the bag will pull the sides straight. If the bag is stretched out, it probably won't shrink back.

 

[Fashionstar101]

If this were my bag, I would give it a bath. As someone previously mentioned, there is no perfect technique, and there are no guarantees of how it will come out. If you are a novice at rehabbing and are concerned, practice on some other bags first. I've tried various soaps, and I prefer to use Woolite for my rehabs. There are lots of choices to try to get the marks off, but there is no guarantee they will get better.

A bath is not really going to shrink the leather, but you can reshape it back to its original shape as it dries. After the bath, stuff the bag with towels and reshape it. Stuffing a bag is not as easy as it sounds. When I first started, I was overstuffing my bags. I'm now much more careful about not overstuffing. I also roll towels into logs. I tend to like using thin towels as well.

How do you get into the little nooks and crannys? It is under the flap and I think that is how it stretched (here is a photo of the same bag I have- not my actual bag though) will the bag go back into shape? Also I know there are different tools, but what do you use to clean the bag? How warm of water do you use? Different for color bags? How long do you leave the purse in? Is there a technique on stuffing bags? What do you use for stuffing after the bag is try (like to store it) do I have anything to lose with giving it a bath? Thank you for answering my questions!!

 

[Fashionstar101]

That shape of bag is very difficult to get perfect. You'll have to experiment. Resist the temptation to overstuff. I use thin rolled towels. You might be successful if you can suspend it while it is drying, so the weight of the bag will pull the sides straight. If the bag is stretched out, it probably won't shrink back.

Oh interesting! I never thought of that!! Rolled towell- does that keep you from over stuffing? How do you know when you are over stuffing?

 

[coach943]

How do you get into the little nooks and crannys? It is under the flap and I think that is how it stretched (here is a photo of the same bag I have- not my actual bag though) will the bag go back into shape? Also I know there are different tools, but what do you use to clean the bag? How warm of water do you use? Different for color bags? How long do you leave the purse in? Is there a technique on stuffing bags? What do you use for stuffing after the bag is try (like to store it) do I have anything to lose with giving it a bath? Thank you for answering my questions!!

I know it takes some time, but I recommend you go read all of the old thread and all of this one. There are tons of examples in it. It's how I learned and most of us learned. There is no right or wrong way to rehab. Someone just posted the other day about using a toothbrush or a vacuum to sweep out the inside of a bag. I think both of those are great ideas. If the water ends up with debris in it, I change the water if needed. I use luke warm water. Don't be concerned if the dye bleeds into the water. I have my stored bags stuffed with old clothes, linens, towels, even some curtains I took down. I tend to repurpose things as bag stuffing.

 

[MandCMommy]

Hey all has anyone had luck removing or lightening ink (I do know it's from a ball point pen) from glove tanned leather? I have a tan wallet on the way, I got it knowing about the ink spots. It's the closest match in color and simple lines to my East/West Gallery Tote in Putty.

 

[coach943]

Hey all has anyone had luck removing or lightening ink (I do know it's from a ball point pen) from glove tanned leather? I have a tan wallet on the way, I got it knowing about the ink spots. It's the closest match in color and simple lines to my East/West Gallery Tote in Putty.

See my post #823 above and the one linked in that post.

 

[MandCMommy]

See my post #823 above and the one linked in that post.

Going NOW!

 

[JOODLZ]

If this were my bag, I would give it a bath. As someone previously mentioned, there is no perfect technique, and there are no guarantees of how it will come out. If you are a novice at rehabbing and are concerned, practice on some other bags first. I've tried various soaps, and I prefer to use Woolite for my rehabs. There are lots of choices to try to get the marks off, but there is no guarantee they will get better.

A bath is not really going to shrink the leather, but you can reshape it back to its original shape as it dries. After the bath, stuff the bag with towels and reshape it. Stuffing a bag is not as easy as it sounds. When I first started, I was overstuffing my bags. I'm now much more careful about not overstuffing. I also roll towels into logs. I tend to like using thin towels as well.

That shape of bag is very difficult to get perfect. You'll have to experiment. Resist the temptation to overstuff. I use thin rolled towels. You might be successful if you can suspend it while it is drying, so the weight of the bag will pull the sides straight. If the bag is stretched out, it probably won't shrink back.

Now I know...great minds think alike I also roll my towels into "logs" and I think it works much better than any other method of stuffing, especially to re-shape the bottom and sides of a bag. I've also found that UNDERstuffing a bag helps them dry much quicker.

 

[JOODLZ]

How do you get into the little nooks and crannys? It is under the flap and I think that is how it stretched (here is a photo of the same bag I have- not my actual bag though) will the bag go back into shape? Also I know there are different tools, but what do you use to clean the bag? How warm of water do you use? Different for color bags? How long do you leave the purse in? Is there a technique on stuffing bags? What do you use for stuffing after the bag is try (like to store it) do I have anything to lose with giving it a bath? Thank you for answering my questions!!

With a bag as big as yours, you could actually turn it inside out! Do this gently so you don't scratch anything with the zipper. Once it's inside out, you can use a dry toothbrush (or vacuum cleaner) and brush out all the nooks and crannies.