Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[coach943]

New project: my first ever pre-creed bag! I'm am so excited. It's in really great shape, just needs a bath to be reshaped really. The seller stuffed it with airbags that didn't do it any favors, but it's soft and has great patina: I'm sure it'll be fine, and best of all, no ink and no holes! Woot! Any tips for washing one so old? I am a little scared of it I must admit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131724083147?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I've dunked two with that Coach cartouche. The first was so dried out, that it didn't really recover very well. (I may see if I can track down some type of leather rejuvenator product for it and see if that helps.) I dunked the second one recently and am rehabbing it now. It is looking much better. I don't think you will have trouble with yours since the leather is on the softer side.

I've not dunked one with those handles, but others here have. I don't think you want leave it in the bath very long because of the handles. If I were rehabbing it, I'd also use an oil-based conditioner on it like Leather Therapy because of its age. I think the older bags do better with oil-based conditioners, but that is just my opinion and preference. (LT may also darken the bag.)

 

[whateve]

Hi lovely TPFers here,

I don't know if this is the right forum to ask.

I have a Coach Court bag made in 2001, I think. The bag was bought on ebay and authenticated here and I've had it for a few years. So now the edges all around have scuffed pretty badly, you can see the whitish part without really trying. My question, do you think it's worthwhile to get it sent to professional for rehab? Or should I just get a new one off ebay?

Why don't you just rehab it yourself?

 

[whateve]

New project: my first ever pre-creed bag! I'm am so excited. It's in really great shape, just needs a bath to be reshaped really. The seller stuffed it with airbags that didn't do it any favors, but it's soft and has great patina: I'm sure it'll be fine, and best of all, no ink and no holes! Woot! Any tips for washing one so old? I am a little scared of it I must admit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131724083147?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Wow, you got a deal! Don't soak the handles very long. Sometimes these soften up and there isn't much you can do to stiffen them back up. You can lightly scrape some of the gunk off the handles with fine steel wool.

 

[innocent_eyes]

The shipping expenses both ways, plus the fee to do the rehab, would probably be more than it would cost to buy another one and start over. You could also sell the old one if you wanted to.

There is a local leather professional care here that I know has done great jobs on designer bags and other leather goods. But I think the cost might be more than what I paid for the bag. Getting a new one sounds more economically friendly.

Why don't you just rehab it yourself?

Looking at all the excellent photos here, I'm thinking to do it myself. But, I'm not confident enough in myself and scared I will ruin the bag further.

 

[Belicious]

I've dunked two with that Coach cartouche. The first was so dried out, that it didn't really recover very well. (I may see if I can track down some type of leather rejuvenator product for it and see if that helps.) I dunked the second one recently and am rehabbing it now. It is looking much better. I don't think you will have trouble with yours since the leather is on the softer side.

I've not dunked one with those handles, but others here have. I don't think you want leave it in the bath very long because of the handles. If I were rehabbing it, I'd also use an oil-based conditioner on it like Leather Therapy because of its age. I think the older bags do better with oil-based conditioners, but that is just my opinion and preference. (LT may also darken the bag.)

Okay. I will be careful of the handles, good point. I don't have leather therapy, but I did just get a new bottle of Obenauf's oil today. That would work equally good right? I though it might darken/deepen the color of the bag a little to match the handles.

I'm wondering if I should go for cool water for this one because of the age and the handles? I usually use pretty warm water and a longish soak, and I don;t shy away from adding a little borax to the water. But I guess maybe the gentlest cleaner might be better for this like some glycerin soap or something?

 

[Belicious]

Wow, you got a deal! Don't soak the handles very long. Sometimes these soften up and there isn't much you can do to stiffen them back up. You can lightly scrape some of the gunk off the handles with fine steel wool.

I thought that was a good price! I think the reason I have never have had a pre creed bag is because I'm too much of a cheapskate

Thanks for the tips about the handles. They are pretty grotty but I really don't want to risk ruining them. I will focus on mainly a quick, gentle washing just to reshape it. I feel pretty lucky. It really is in as good shape as it looks in the listing.

 

[honkers]

Just bought a Colette Carryall and it needs a little cleaning both inside and out. Any suggestions on best way to clean light soiling on the leather? Leather CPR? Can these bag be dunked? Thanks!

 

[whateve]

Just bought a Colette Carryall and it needs a little cleaning both inside and out. Any suggestions on best way to clean light soiling on the leather? Leather CPR? Can these bag be dunked? Thanks!

I don't dunk newer bags unless they are hopeless. Most conditioners are also cleaners, or you can use a mild spray cleaner on a cloth to clean the exterior. The lining can be pulled out and either washed with soap (I use dishwashing soap) and water, taking care to keep the leather dry, or you can use the same mild spray cleaner. The advantage of the spray cleaner is that it doesn't have to be rinsed off. If you use soap, it will have to rinsed thoroughly. Then squeeze dry and lay it out on a towel with the lining still out until it dries. You can use anything on the lining that is safe for fabrics.

 

[honkers]

I don't dunk newer bags unless they are hopeless. Most conditioners are also cleaners, or you can use a mild spray cleaner on a cloth to clean the exterior. The lining can be pulled out and either washed with soap (I use dishwashing soap) and water, taking care to keep the leather dry, or you can use the same mild spray cleaner. The advantage of the spray cleaner is that it doesn't have to be rinsed off. If you use soap, it will have to rinsed thoroughly. Then squeeze dry and lay it out on a towel with the lining still out until it dries. You can use anything on the lining that is safe for fabrics.

Thanks, Whateve!!

 

[coach943]

Okay. I will be careful of the handles, good point. I don't have leather therapy, but I did just get a new bottle of Obenauf's oil today. That would work equally good right? I though it might darken/deepen the color of the bag a little to match the handles.

I'm wondering if I should go for cool water for this one because of the age and the handles? I usually use pretty warm water and a longish soak, and I don;t shy away from adding a little borax to the water. But I guess maybe the gentlest cleaner might be better for this like some glycerin soap or something?

The Obenauf's oil is great stuff. It should be fine. Given the age of the bag, it would not surprise me if it darkens quite a bit. I've found that older bags tend to dry out more and hide their original color. I like watching them change color as moisture gets added back into them. I used cooler water and gentler soap on my bag from this time frame, too. My instinct was that it might be better for it, too. I used Castile soap for the first time. The cards in old Coach bags recommended Castile soap, so I thought I'd try it. It seemed very mild and not too sudsy. I'm definitely going to keep using it.

 

[Sonoma]

I don't dunk newer bags unless they are hopeless. Most conditioners are also cleaners, or you can use a mild spray cleaner on a cloth to clean the exterior. The lining can be pulled out and either washed with soap (I use dishwashing soap) and water, taking care to keep the leather dry, or you can use the same mild spray cleaner. The advantage of the spray cleaner is that it doesn't have to be rinsed off. If you use soap, it will have to rinsed thoroughly. Then squeeze dry and lay it out on a towel with the lining still out until it dries. You can use anything on the lining that is safe for fabrics.

Hi whateve

What kind of mild spray cleaner do you use?
Wondering if that might work well on my friend's 2013 Ashley leather hippie bag..
(see post 10600)

TIA!

 

[Belicious]

The Obenauf's oil is great stuff. It should be fine. Given the age of the bag, it would not surprise me if it darkens quite a bit. I've found that older bags tend to dry out more and hide their original color. I like watching them change color as moisture gets added back into them. I used cooler water and gentler soap on my bag from this time frame, too. My instinct was that it might be better for it, too. I used Castile soap for the first time. The cards in old Coach bags recommended Castile soap, so I thought I'd try it. It seemed very mild and not too sudsy. I'm definitely going to keep using it.

Ack! Just finished the quick bath and one of the handles started falling apart. Hard to describe, but it's like a little bit in the center across the top kinda came dislodged and a bit of soggy cardboard fell out. I hope I can just push the leather back in when it's dry,maybe a little glue might help. I just gave the handles a very quick brush over with a nail brush, like the kind you use to clean the dirt out from under your nails. Otherwise the bag looks okay, the leather didn't start cracking or anything... I think it's going to be okay. Very yellow water. I'm not sure I have any other bags quite so yellow.

 

[whateve]

Ack! Just finished the quick bath and one of the handles started falling apart. Hard to describe, but it's like a little bit in the center across the top kinda came dislodged and a bit of soggy cardboard fell out. I hope I can just push the leather back in when it's dry,maybe a little glue might help. I just gave the handles a very quick brush over with a nail brush, like the kind you use to clean the dirt out from under your nails. Otherwise the bag looks okay, the leather didn't start cracking or anything... I think it's going to be okay. Very yellow water. I'm not sure I have any other bags quite so yellow.

Are there any holes in the stitching or breaks in the leather? I'm surprised anything would fall out. I have had some in which the handles cracked.

 

[whateve]

Hi whateve

What kind of mild spray cleaner do you use?
Wondering if that might work well on my friend's 2013 Ashley leather hippie bag..
(see post 10600)

TIA!

I use something I get from the 99 cent store called Floral All Purpose Cleaner. It comes in a big bottle and I dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle. I love the smell.

Leather Honey has a new leather cleaner out on Amazon that has great reviews. I've never found any leather cleaner that works better than my all-purpose cleaner but I'm tempted to try it.

 

[Belicious]

Are there any holes in the stitching or breaks in the leather? I'm surprised anything would fall out. I have had some in which the handles cracked.

No it's kinda like the leather was folded under, and there was cardboard under the fold, and the fold came loose then the cardboard got soggy and fell out. I will take a picture. I just tried to shove the fold back into the handle with a toothpick but it didn't work. I will wait till it dries and maybe need some really quick drying glue or something. It's quite a big bit that came loose.