OMG, this bag is brown! Rehab reveal!

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#31
katev said:
Okay, here are the after pics that hopefully show the difference in color. What a nice little brown bag!
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Wow, amazing job !! I love the idea of rehabbing. I have 2 or 3 thrift shop finds that I am about to rehab...just need to go find some good leather cleaner and conditioner to have on hand after they get a bath.
 
#33
Jessi319 said:
Wow, amazing job !! I love the idea of rehabbing. I have 2 or 3 thrift shop finds that I am about to rehab...just need to go find some good leather cleaner and conditioner to have on hand after they get a bath.
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Good luck, but I warn you - it can become addictive!
 
#40
bunnymasseuse said:
I have a bag like this that looked lighter but cleaned up darker, forget what DemRam or Hyacinth called the real color, mahogany?
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I originally called it maroon but Hyacinth and DemRam said that the Court didn't come in burgandy or maroon, only in "red".

I think we finally decided it was mahagony but the bag definitely has reddish undertones - almost a muted cordovan or something.

It is different and pretty!
 
#41
katev said:
The older, unlined coach bags can be dunked and they come out great! You can even turn many of them inside-out to get the entire bag nice and clean. You need to use a dye and fragrance free soap like Ivory or Woolite.

I soaked it in woolite and warm water for about 45 minutes, then rubbed it down with a soft cloth and gave it a vigorous bath, paying special attention to the dirtiest areas. Then I soaked it in warm water for about a half hour and rinsed it well.

I let it drain in the sink for a bit and then stuffed the bag with old towels to reshape it and let it dry on another towel for 24 hours. Then I took the towels out, rotated it periodically and let it continue to dry over the next few days.

When it is almost completely dry you should apply a leather conditioner. Most Coach bags respond well to Apple Leather Conditioner that is available at Burlington Coat Factory stores. But occassionally you find a bag that needs more intensive leather care. In such cases I use a product available from a local equestrian riding store called "Leather Therapy - Restorer & Conditioner" that claims to be "a blend of rich, replenishing oils formulated to transform dry, hard leather to original flexibility".


The label says that it will NOT darken leather and that it will work on both hard and soft leathers. It is also supposed to inhibit mold and mildew!

Whatever leather product you decide to use, be sure to check the label and contents. You don't want anything that contains petroleum distillates, silicones, waxes, dyes, or perfumes/fragrances.

The only problem with the Leather Therapy is that it is expensive. The riding store only had big, 16 oz bottles that cost $26 but I have already used it on a few bags and it has worked well for me so I am okay with the price. Here's a link to a site that sells the stuff online (NMA):

http://www.leathertherapy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=190

After the conditioner dries you need to rub the bag with a soft, clean cloth to buff it. If the leather still doesn't look good you may want to repeat the conditioning process. When the bag is almost done, use wenol or brasso or other metal polish to shine up the hardware. Try not to get the metal polish on the bag but if you do - just quickly wipe it off with a damp cloth and it should be fine.

There are other products and technigues for different issues and bags. Lexol leather wipes, alcohol to remove ink marks, etc.

My advice is to look for an inexpensive "test bag" that isn't in terrible shape at a thrift shop, garage sale, ebay, etc. Post pics of it in the authentication thread first to make sure that it is genuine because you don't want to invest all this work in a fake, and then try restoring it! Good luck!
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Thank you so much for this info. Someday I hope to find a vintage Coach to rejuvenate. I just love the classic styles!

Also, I have a concern that maybe you can address. I have a Stewardess bag from the late '90s, and was told by a coach to use only Coach products on it, so I did, maybe like 3 or 4 times over the years. And now I see that it has Silicones. Did I do a bad thing?
 
#43
HildyLee said:
Thank you so much for this info. Someday I hope to find a vintage Coach to rejuvenate. I just love the classic styles!

Also, I have a concern that maybe you can address. I have a Stewardess bag from the late '90s, and was told by a coach to use only Coach products on it, so I did, maybe like 3 or 4 times over the years. And now I see that it has Silicones. Did I do a bad thing?
Click to expand...

Silicone will eventually break down the leather and stitching BUT, knowing this now you can make the switch and prevent further damage. Many of us here swear by Ape leather care conditioner and Leather CPR.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
 
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