Forget Lexol and Apple! In desperate situations use Leather CPR!

[nevereverenough]

I just heard from Happybag that she saw leather cpr at TJMaxx with the kitchen stuff, good luck!

Great-thanks. I will be going by there tomorrow anyways. Will definitely look for some.

 

[ledobe]

I will have to get it out and look at it but I was pretty sure it was blue after I cleaned it up.

I would have called it dark dark navy (almost black) but the seller called it eggplant and in certain lights you can really see the purple.

Anyway, just curious if yours matches mine. I'm not sure what colors these came in.

 

[sdkitty]

I recently picked up a Tribecca Convertible Clutch 9091 at the Salvation Army Store for $8. DemRam and Hyacinth confirmed authenticity and told me that the bag was released in the Spring of 1998 for $228.

It was absolutely filthy and the leather was faded, dry, and badly scuffed. I couldn’t tell if it was black, navy, or dark gray. Bebepurse saw the same bag at the SA and she thought it was Navy – and she was right!

The rehab was more difficult than expected because all of the seams and crevices of the bag were loaded with animal hair! I think the original owner kept a pet hamster in her purse! I finally managed to vacuum it all out.

But then I gave it a bath and the bag started to bleed a dark blue-black color and I realized that it had been extensively “touched up” with shoe polish and magic marker! Also, the white marks inside the bag (that I first thought were makeup) were very stubborn and hard to remove. It took two baths, lots of alcohol, and extensive scrubbing to finally get it clean. A couple of the white marks are still faintly visible upon close examination in strong light.

During and after drying the bag stubbornly remained stiff, dry, faded and scuffed. I tried all my tricks and "potions" including multiple applications of therapy oil, lexol, and apple conditioner without much luck. The appearance was definitely improved, but it was just not good enough. I wouldn’t want to carry the bag in that condition. The original owner must have stored it on top of a radiator set on "full heat!"

I had just about decided to give it up as an unsuccessful rehab (and a waste of time, effort, and $8 bucks!) when I remembered that Coffee&Coach and a few other TPFers had recommended Leather CPR for challenging leather problems. And Jessi319 had recently reported that her local Tuesday Morning store sold it at a discounted price. I had never used the product but I decided to give it a try. I found it at a nearby Tuesday Morning store and it was very reasonable, $9 for an 18 oz bottle and $6 for a 12oz tube.

As soon as I used it I could see and feel that the leather was improved! I noticed it especially in the straps which had been very dry and stiff and now felt quite supple. After a couple of more applications I was thrilled with the results and I am now looking forward carrying this lovely bag.

Here are some before pics and I will post after photos in the next message. Please, there’s no need to compliment my rehab skills; I didn’t do anything special – just clean, condition, polish, touch up the edging on the straps, and replace the hangtag – but I wanted to thank my fellow TPFers for their great information and ato lso sing the praises of Leather CPR!

Navy Tribecca Clutch 9091 before cleaning and conditioning:

I got some leather CPR yesterday....easy to find and a lot cheaper than Apple. It didn't do much to the bag I tried it on but the bag didn't really need much. tried it on DH's brown leather recliner....didn't take dirt off. do you follow instructions on bottle or do you do something special? I saw where someone said she applied the stuff and then wrapped in a warm towel?

 

[katev]

I got some leather CPR yesterday....easy to find and a lot cheaper than Apple. It didn't do much to the bag I tried it on but the bag didn't really need much. tried it on DH's brown leather recliner....didn't take dirt off. do you follow instructions on bottle or do you do something special? I saw where someone said she applied the stuff and then wrapped in a warm towel?

I use conditioners like Leather CPR after I have cleaned the bag. There are leather cleaners, like Lexol cleaner, but (depending on the materials in the bag) I often give bags a bath in Dawn dish soap, rinse with water, shape with towels to dry, and then moisturize with leather CPR.

For a large object like a recliner, I would probably sponge it down with soap and water and dry with towels before moisturizing.

 

[sdkitty]

I use conditioners like Leather CPR after I have cleaned the bag. There are leather cleaners, like Lexol cleaner, but (depending on the materials in the bag) I often give bags a bath in Dawn dish soap, rinse with water, shape with towels to dry, and then moisturize with leather CPR.

For a large object like a recliner, I would probably sponge it down with soap and water and dry with towels before moisturizing.

thank you
do you just use the CPR as directed? or do you leave on longer or cover with warm towel? someone said they used a warm towel but didn't say whether the towel was moist

 

[katev]

thank you
do you just use the CPR as directed? or do you leave on longer or cover with warm towel? someone said they used a warm towel but didn't say whether the towel was moist

I rub it in and let it rest awhile to absorb and then buff with a horsehair brush. I have never used a warm towel after moisturizing.