I think it looks pretty good. It is hard to get good results with dyeing. The original color looks beautiful though.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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It looks like mold damage. There isn't really a way to fix it. The best you can probably do is condition the bag so that the marks blend in. I'm not a huge fan of using saddle soap on vintage bags, though I think Coach recommended saddle soap at one time. I think saddle soap is a little harsh. (I like Castile soap. Others here use dishwashing soap. Whatever you use, just make sure you get all the soap out of the bag or it will dry stiff.) Be careful using a toothbrush as you don't want to damage the leather. A soft cloth (or a microfiber cloth) is probably all you need. You can use vinegar in the rinse to make sure the mold has all been killed.
Cadillac isn't my favorite conditioner for rehabs. I like Leather CPR or Leather Therapy, but Cadillac should be fine if that is what you have. I highly recommend using Black Rocks to finish if possible.
It could be mold. You can add vinegar to the rinse water to make sure it doesn't bloom. I've never used saddle soap. I don't think it is the best cleaner for leather. http://info.mannapro.com/equine/Busting-the-Saddle-Soap-Myth I use dish soap and warm water.
The words "shoe polish" make me shudder. I have Cadillac boot and shoe care, which is a really nice conditioner. Is that what you have? I like Cadillac, but I usually wouldn't use it as my only conditioner. It seems more like Lexol to me, more of a maintenance conditioner. The great thing about it is that it doesn't change the color of your leather. If you bathe your bag, which you should, I think you will need other conditioners. I prefer Leather CPR and Blackrock Leather n Rich.
Thank you for your reply! Can you give me a link to amazon for that "Black rocks" ? What do you think about soaking the leather after cleaning with soap in water diluted with vinegar or acetic acid for about 2 hours?
Is this the black rock you are thinking about http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Blackrock-Leather-n-Rich-Cleaner-Conditioner-4-oz-/181435279510??
That is the correct link for Blackrock. I typically soak my bags with Castile soap for about 30 minutes in warmish water. Then I rinse it until there are no soap bubbles left in the water, and then let it soak for another 10 minutes or so to make sure it is rinsed well. I sometimes add the vinegar to the bath, and sometimes to the rinse. I don't think you want to soak it for two hours. That seems way too long to me.
*buys on ebay right this moment*
Thanks. I'm gonna give this a go and will update with before and after photos. I think I might also need to paint this bad boy...Damn you beyond retro!!
Hello! I'm planning to get this coach bag which i just posted in the Authenticate this Coach Thread for authenticity validation. From the pictures, i believe this is a bone colored pocket purse but it is very dirty. In my limited rehab experience, i have not really tackled light colored bags and I'm hoping i get your opinion on how i would go about the rehab process for this type of color and bag. Do you think this would be a good rehab project for a beginner like me? Please do share your rehab experiences on light colored bags. Please help me on what to do. Thank you!
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I've had limited success with rehabbing light-colored bags and I now tend to shy away from them unless they are in very good condition. If it is really cheap and you want to tackle it as a "learner bag" that's fine, if not then it might be better to look for a light-colored bag in much better shape.
My problem is that I am not comfortable carrying a bag that looks dirty or shabby even though I know that it is clean because I have washed it several times, so I end up wasting money and doing a lot of work for nothing.
Just my opinion, good luck!
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I bought a bag on ebay for $15, free shipping. When it came I could see the postage cost was over $13. It made me feel sorry for the seller. But the purse has an ink mark and some of the stitching is ripped out, both nearly impossible repairs, and neither were disclosed. I really hate opening SNAD cases, but I guess I'm going to have to.
Update: the seller is fighting it. She accused me of showing a different purse! I have to wait until the 18th to escalate.
Here's a couple of rehabs that I've just finished. The first is a black Basic Bag made in 2001. I didn't take any "Before Pictures" but it was in pretty good shape. A little dirty and scuffed, a bit misshapen, the brass hardware was dull, and the leather felt a dry to the touch.
I rehabbed it for a friend, she told me that it had been a gift from her husband and she loved it - but hadn't carried it for quite a long time and wanted to carry it again.
It was an easy rehab. I just gave it a bath in Dawn, stuffed it to dry and applied Leather Therapy Oil while it was still a bit damp. Later I treated it with Leather CPR and finally with Black Rock's. The last step was to polish the hardware.
We are planning a lunch date soon so that I can give it back to her and I think that she will be very happy with the results.
I rehabbed it for a friend, she told me that it had been a gift from her husband and she loved it - but hadn't carried it for quite a long time and wanted to carry it again.
It was an easy rehab. I just gave it a bath in Dawn, stuffed it to dry and applied Leather Therapy Oil while it was still a bit damp. Later I treated it with Leather CPR and finally with Black Rock's. The last step was to polish the hardware.
We are planning a lunch date soon so that I can give it back to her and I think that she will be very happy with the results.
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The second rehab was also pretty straight-forward but a bit more difficult. I rehabbed a black Lexington Briefcase 5265 from the 1990s. I picked it up a few years ago at Goodwill for $10.
Here are the before pictures. The bag is dirty, worn, and scuffed and missing the edging on the top handle. One of the corners is starting to split and the leather attachments for the handle and strap loops were also showing signs of wear. There was verdigris under the turnlock and it appeared that the turnlock was broken.
Here are the before pics.
Here are the before pictures. The bag is dirty, worn, and scuffed and missing the edging on the top handle. One of the corners is starting to split and the leather attachments for the handle and strap loops were also showing signs of wear. There was verdigris under the turnlock and it appeared that the turnlock was broken.
Here are the before pics.
Here are the after pics of the black Lexington Briefcase 5265. I also gave it a bath and stuffed it to dry, but I had to give it a second bath because I wasn't pleased with the shapes of the handle and the flap after it dried. I was more careful about shaping it after the second dunking and I was much happier with the results.
I also applied Leather Therapy Oil, then Leather CPR, and finally Black Rocks. I used a bit of Fabric Fusion in the corner that was starting to split and on the attachment areas for the handle and strap hooks. And I touched up those areas and the handle edging with a small amount of puff paint mixed with conditioner. There were also a couple of shallow "cuts" on one side and I used Fabric Fusion to secure the little flaps in place.
I removed the turnlock to clean out the verdigris. I thought that I would have to replace the turnlock because it appeared to be broken, but it worked fine after I removed it and cleaned it. So I polished all the hardware and then put the turnlock back in place.
Here are the after pics, I will show close-ups of the problem areas next.
I also applied Leather Therapy Oil, then Leather CPR, and finally Black Rocks. I used a bit of Fabric Fusion in the corner that was starting to split and on the attachment areas for the handle and strap hooks. And I touched up those areas and the handle edging with a small amount of puff paint mixed with conditioner. There were also a couple of shallow "cuts" on one side and I used Fabric Fusion to secure the little flaps in place.
I removed the turnlock to clean out the verdigris. I thought that I would have to replace the turnlock because it appeared to be broken, but it worked fine after I removed it and cleaned it. So I polished all the hardware and then put the turnlock back in place.
Here are the after pics, I will show close-ups of the problem areas next.
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