Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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#13,353
Hi! Does anyone know how to clean waxed cotton canvas? I found an old Kate Spade that is mostly cream waxed cotton canvas with patent leather handles and bottom. I looked up online that it should be cleaned with mild soap and water. I did surface clean with a toothbrush, and it looks dingier in some places than before. I know this is a Coach rescue board, but everyone here has so much experience and good ideas. What should I be doing to clean it?

Thanks!
 
#13,355
@coach943 What I meant by "paint" was a surface color that didn't really penetrate the leather, like a dye would. Maybe something like furniture leather? I have a hard time thinking that a dye can be a light color--to me dye is always dark! But I trust that you know way more than I do, so I really appreciate the reply.
 
#13,359
Tosa22 said:
Hi! Does anyone know how to clean waxed cotton canvas? I found an old Kate Spade that is mostly cream waxed cotton canvas with patent leather handles and bottom. I looked up online that it should be cleaned with mild soap and water. I did surface clean with a toothbrush, and it looks dingier in some places than before. I know this is a Coach rescue board, but everyone here has so much experience and good ideas. What should I be doing to clean it?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've tried dry brushing w/ a soft toothbrush and using a toothbrush + Dawn and both made the dirt smudges worse on mine. I also tried dunking a thick cotton canvas bag (not sure if that one was waxed) and it didn't really improve the bag, but wrinkled it (boo!) I've hesitated to try anything else after those experiments. Maybe someone else has had better luck!
 
#13,360
Tosa22 said:
Hi! Does anyone know how to clean waxed cotton canvas? I found an old Kate Spade that is mostly cream waxed cotton canvas with patent leather handles and bottom. I looked up online that it should be cleaned with mild soap and water. I did surface clean with a toothbrush, and it looks dingier in some places than before. I know this is a Coach rescue board, but everyone here has so much experience and good ideas. What should I be doing to clean it? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Ravvie99 said:
I've tried dry brushing w/ a soft toothbrush and using a toothbrush + Dawn and both made the dirt smudges worse on mine. I also tried dunking a thick cotton canvas bag (not sure if that one was waxed) and it didn't really improve the bag, but wrinkled it (boo!) I've hesitated to try anything else after those experiments. Maybe someone else has had better luck!
Click to expand...

I have only rehabbed a couple of microfiber Kate Spade items, and I haven't worked on a canvas KS bag, but my KS bags held up very well during the cleaning process and came out looking good.

If I have tried all of the "more delicate" methods of cleaning a bag and it is still too dirty and scruffy to wear, then I usually go for the rougher, more intensive treatment. I figure that if I'm not going to carry it in the current condition then I may as well risk damaging the bag. Often times, the bag holds up well and comes out looking much better. Of course, it's easier to take chances if I didn't spend a lot of money on the bag!

Below is the link to a rehab I did on a light-colored, canvas Coach bag with leather trim. It was badly stained with red wine and I tried everything but I couldn't get it clean - I finally put it through 2 cycles in the washing machine and it survived and turned out beautifully! Maybe this will help you decide what to do next with your KS bag, good luck!

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...n-if-it-takes-2-trips-thru-the-washer.692432/

Edit: after I posted this I discovered that the thread is so old that many of the original photos have disappeared including after pics of the under-flap area that was so badly stained with red wine, so I have reposted some of the photos:
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...s-thru-the-washer.692432/page-5#post-31275767
 
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#13,361
Tosa22 said:
Hi! Does anyone know how to clean waxed cotton canvas? I found an old Kate Spade that is mostly cream waxed cotton canvas with patent leather handles and bottom. I looked up online that it should be cleaned with mild soap and water. I did surface clean with a toothbrush, and it looks dingier in some places than before. I know this is a Coach rescue board, but everyone here has so much experience and good ideas. What should I be doing to clean it?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If it is coated canvas, it is impossible to clean. Stains work their way under the coating and become permanent. If it is actually waxed, washing should remove the wax finish.
 
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#13,362
katev said:
I have only rehabbed a couple of microfiber Kate Spade items, and I haven't worked on a canvas KS bag, but my KS bags held up very well during the cleaning process and came out looking good.

If I have tried all of the "more delicate" methods of cleaning a bag and it is still too dirty and scruffy to wear, then I usually go for the rougher, more intensive treatment. I figure that if I'm not going to carry it in the current condition then I may as well risk damaging the bag. Often times, the bag holds up well and comes out looking much better. Of course, it's easier to take chances if I didn't spend a lot of money on the bag!

Below is the link to a rehab I did on a light-colored, canvas Coach bag with leather trim. It was badly stained with red wine and I tried everything but I couldn't get it clean - I finally put it through 2 cycles in the washing machine and it survived and turned out beautifully! Maybe this will help you decide what to do next with your KS bag, good luck!

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...n-if-it-takes-2-trips-thru-the-washer.692432/
Click to expand...
^^^^ Great report, inspiring rehab! Thank you!
 
#13,363
@katev That was an amazing rehab! I only spent $7 on my KS, so I am willing to try the more intensive treatment.
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and after this, I will stay away from waxed cotton and coated canvas rehabs. The Kate just looked so sad on the rack, I had to try to save her. :)
 
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#13,365
Tosa22 said:
@katev That was an amazing rehab! I only spent $7 on my KS, so I am willing to try the more intensive treatment. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and after this, I will stay away from waxed cotton and coated canvas rehabs. The Kate just looked so sad on the rack, I had to try to save her. :smile:
Click to expand...

Thanks, I know what you mean, sometimes it is hard to walk away from a beautiful mistreated bag! Good luck!
 
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