I remember your post. I guess in person it just seems so much more dramatic. I kinda liked the lighter color.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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I remember your post. I guess in person it just seems so much more dramatic. I kinda liked the lighter color.
I usually wait about 24 hours. That is usually long enough to make sure the conditioner soaks in good before you add more another coat.
You can tell from your original picture that your bag is extremely dried out. As @Catbird9 indicated, it will darken as you add moisture back into the bag. The color of the dye released in the water will give you an idea of the original color, but it is always a guessing game on how dark it will get. I think the best part of rehabbing is watching a bag like yours change as you recondition it. The results can be super dramatic.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391536042042
Opinions please.
I thought it would be a simple rehab, but now Hyacinth has me scared. The interior looked so clean and I don't mind the outside looking lived in. The strap is what has me worried.
Opinions please.
I thought it would be a simple rehab, but now Hyacinth has me scared. The interior looked so clean and I don't mind the outside looking lived in. The strap is what has me worried.
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Did you buy it? The strap and binding along the edges and bottom appear to have some serious issues. It also looks like there might be splits in the binding at the bottom. If so, those are not easy repairs. I'm not sure what you can do for all the cracking. It may be beyond trying to fix.
Challenging rehabs are fun! You never know what you have until you start working on it. With a little work, it may be great.
Thank you for the encouraging words. That was a huge bummer of a reality check.
Has anyone experimented with adding a moisturizer to the rinse water? I'm afraid dish soap may be too drying. I guess I could do more vinegar. That's a natural softener I think.
Would baby oil or coconut oil be a bad idea?
Maybe shampoo instead of dish soap?
Yes to the vinegar. Shampoo is an interesting idea; I've wondered about it and it might be worth a try. Or Dr. Bronner's unscented castille soap. I wouldn't use baby oil (which is mineral oil) or coconut oil alone. The leather will get the right type of oils from the professionally formulated leather conditioners. (I think I read where someone just used coconut oil on leather, and after a while it smelled rancid.)
I don't like using dish soap because it makes too many bubbles and is harder to rinse out. If you don't get all the soap out, your bag will be stiffer. I've used soaps that are specifically formulated for leather, but I wasn't that impressed. I've been using Castile soap, and I really like it. It is gentle and rinses out easily. Be sure to start using conditioner while the bag is still damp -- it makes a huge difference.
Interesting. I always start conditioning practically right out of the water. I think I'll try shampoo. I know there are some shampoos that do not have sudsing agents. I'll check on the Castile soap. Did you buy it in a store or online? What kind of soap is it?
I have a bar of Fels- Naptha. I though about grating that and dissolving in warm water and letting the water cool down before adding the bag to soak.
I must have bought the Castile soap from Amazon. This is what I have:
https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-...173&sr=8-12&keywords=castile+soap+dr+bronners
The history is interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castile_soap
I bought it because the care cards in old Coach bags said to wash them with Castile soap. They make a liquid form, too, which would be easier. I rub the bar in my hands under the running water as I am filling up the tub. If a bag is particularly dirty, I'll also rub the bar directly on a wet cotton cloth and gently go over any dirty spots on the bag with it. It is really gentle and very mild. I am super-sensitive to soaps and have no issue with the Castile soap. I've started using it as my bathroom hand soap, too.
I just looked it up on Amazon. I ordered the liquid. Seems good for just about everything!
Thanks for the tip.
Thanks Catbird9, too!
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What do you guys think of this as my first dye job victim?I haven't bought it yet.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...sh=item3f68d92350:g:sVIAAOSwaB5XsXFr#viTabs_0
Did you get this?? You might get away with just dunking it and retouching, or did you want to experiment? I guess it's an experiment either way...as always! [emoji39]