Sometimes you can wipe them off with a mild spray cleaner. Sometimes the marks are permanent. Somehow they get beneath the protective coating. If you use anything too aggressive to clean with, you'll damage the coating.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Ok I know shoe polish is bad. But can someone explain how bad it is? I just bought a tote and it smelled like it was stored in an auto shop so I left that in the review that the seller did not disclose the smell. Seller contacted me in return explaining he used this conditioner:
The bag looked too shiny and the conditioner didn't say anything about shine so I asked him again if he used anything to cover up scuffs. He said yes. BROWN SHOE POLISH!!
He said he "polished for 45 min to an hour to get the marks and scratches to disappear"
I looked at my listing and now I believe he is misleading people by claiming they are in excellent condition AFTER he treats them with polish and conditioner. I think that's lying by omission. 
Here's the listing: So you can see the photos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Large...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Should I return it? Keep it? Rehab it? Is it dead? Can it be restored?
The bag looked too shiny and the conditioner didn't say anything about shine so I asked him again if he used anything to cover up scuffs. He said yes. BROWN SHOE POLISH!!
He said he "polished for 45 min to an hour to get the marks and scratches to disappear"
I looked at my listing and now I believe he is misleading people by claiming they are in excellent condition AFTER he treats them with polish and conditioner. I think that's lying by omission. Here's the listing: So you can see the photos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Large...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Should I return it? Keep it? Rehab it? Is it dead? Can it be restored?
What a shame! It does look too shiny. I think it is deceptive. Leather should never be treated with shoe polish. This isn't a pair of shoes. Shoe polish wasn't meant to be used for it. How would you have known to ask that question? It can be removed but it is very difficult. It takes a lot of elbow grease and acetone.Ok I know shoe polish is bad. But can someone explain how bad it is? I just bought a tote and it smelled like it was stored in an auto shop so I left that in the review that the seller did not disclose the smell. Seller contacted me in return explaining he used this conditioner:
The bag looked too shiny and the conditioner didn't say anything about shine so I asked him again if he used anything to cover up scuffs. He said yes. BROWN SHOE POLISH!!
He said he "polished for 45 min to an hour to get the marks and scratches to disappear"
Here's the listing: So you can see the photos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Large-Brown-Leather-Laptop-Business-Briefcase-LEATHER-INSIDE-amp-OUTSIDE-/131963894996?nma=true&si=ebpTfzfcraWMH0yP2wmy0K7FArE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Should I return it? Keep it? Rehab it? Is it dead? Can it be restored?
Ok I know shoe polish is bad. But can someone explain how bad it is? I just bought a tote and it smelled like it was stored in an auto shop so I left that in the review that the seller did not disclose the smell. Seller contacted me in return explaining he used this conditioner:
The bag looked too shiny and the conditioner didn't say anything about shine so I asked him again if he used anything to cover up scuffs. He said yes. BROWN SHOE POLISH!!
He said he "polished for 45 min to an hour to get the marks and scratches to disappear"
Here's the listing: So you can see the photos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Large-Brown-Leather-Laptop-Business-Briefcase-LEATHER-INSIDE-amp-OUTSIDE-/131963894996?nma=true&si=ebpTfzfcraWMH0yP2wmy0K7FArE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Should I return it? Keep it? Rehab it? Is it dead? Can it be restored?
Such a nice bag, I'm sorry this happened to you!
A lot of people don't know about not using shoe polish on leather bags. I had to learn the hard way to ask about it before purchasing, especially if an item looks suspiciously shiny. I'm not trying to defend the seller, but unless he's familiar with rehabbing vintage leather bags, he probably wouldn't know this.
You could try a SNAD claim. Seller did not disclose use of shoe polish? Seller did not disclose chemical odor? I suppose it's worth a try. It's certainly unfortunate! Having rehabbed a shoepolished Dinky -- using lots of acetone -- I can barely imagine trying to get it all off that big briefcase. Good luck with whatever course of action you choose!
What's a mild spray cleaner? I read online things like nail polish remover? Toothpaste? I've never dealt with patent leather before so I am not sure.
Nail polish remover will remove the shine from your patent. Toothpaste is probably too abrasive. A mild spray cleaner is what I use to clean my counters. I get it at the dollar store and dilute it with water. The one I'm using now is called Perfect Floral. I've also used Fabuloso. I think you could probably use simple green diluted. Don't use one that has bleach in it. Basically these are cleaners that you don't have to rinse off. You can also use soapy water but you'll have to rinse.
The seller already said sorry and said I could return. I am trying to decide if I should keep it because it's such a hard to find bag. What happens to bags that have been treated with shoe polish over the years? Is the polish going to ruin the leather? Make it stiff? It might be a while before I can get to it so I am trying to find out how long I can leave it like this or I should drop everything else and work on this instead.
I tried nail polish remover, dish detergent, fabuloso. Would something like patent leather cleaner work? Or it's just a lost cause? The spot where I did try the nail polish remover does look duller.
I don't know anything about patent leather but I was under the impression that it's a very easy fabric to manage and upkeep. It doesn't seem like it.
Patent leather is easy care most of the time. However, it is very easy to get stains that get underneath the coating. I think that is what has happened here. I don't think you'll be able to get it clean without taking drastic measures. I've never heard of a patent leather cleaner. If it were mine, I'd try painting it. I think you can use glossy fabric paint (puff paint) on it. I can't remember. It's be a long time since I rehabbed patent. I know nail polish doesn't work!
Otherwise, you could try to remove the coating by using more nail polish remover, then attempt to clean the leather underneath, and afterward add a gloss finish to replace the coating.
Hard to say...you probably don't need to work on it immediately, but the sooner the better.
I'd recommend returning it. Another one will come along. I have two of them. They rehab very well, so even if you find one in bad shape, it should come out well. The shoe polish is definitely not going to do the leather any favors in the long term. It will be really hard to remove. I think you would be better off to return it and find another.
My first one started off as this:
And ended up like this:
I did not use any dye on it. I washed it, then conditioned. I believe I used Leather Therapy on it. It was super dry and took lots of applications. It was one of my first rehabs. The leather is amazing now. The change in that bag from the start to finish is why I fell in love with rehabbing!
Just finished this bag and wanted to share it with you guys. It's probably my best rehab yet, and I just LOVE how it turned out! Dunked it, followed by one coat Lexol and two coats Leather CPR (first time using this, really like the results!) and finished with Blackrock. I think she needs a scarf, or maybe a charm?
Before:
After:
Thanks for letting me share
Before:
After:
Thanks for letting me share
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