Some of you might remember me posting about a tan Dooney sling pack a while ago asking for advice on cleaning off verdigris from the leather. I decided to pass on that one but purchased a similar style in black. Little did I know, the black bag was also full of verdigris (first picture) on its hardware and some greenish gunk all over the drawstring 
Fortunately, I was able to clean it off pretty easily! So I just wanted to share what I did and hopefully it might help someone else
For the hardware I dipped a q-tip in white vinegar and swabbed it on, then used a paper towel to dig in the grooves and half push half wipe off the verdigris. It comes off pretty easily but it's just in quite deep between the grooves so I had to dig a LOT. In hindsight, it would have been easier with a toothpick or something similar.
For the drawstring, I used vinegar again, scrubbing slightly with my nail after dabbing on the vinegar, then wiped it off with a paper towel. Again this came out pretty easily so I think the leather was not discolored, just surface gunk.
After this, I removed and washed the straps with a bit of ivory dish soap in warm water, and used a toothbrush to scrub the buckle where I couldn't dig out the verdigris in the "solid brass" indentation. This went pretty well so I decided to go ahead and wash the whole bag (as Coach rehabbers like to call dunking) since I didn't like how floppy it was and I wanted to reshape it to a better form! While it was in the water I also made sure to scrub the hardware with a toothbrush in hopes of getting out whatever verdigris that I missed before. To shape I just stuffed the bag with paper towels and let it sit on its side until it was mostly dry (second picture). Then I removed the paper towels and started applying conditioner, letting it dry and repeat for a few coats (I only have Lexol which seems like it doesn't reaaally do much so I always apply several coats)
That's all and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get rid of the verdigris. The third picture shows the bag after all the cleaning. Now I only hope the green nightmare won't return
Fortunately, I was able to clean it off pretty easily! So I just wanted to share what I did and hopefully it might help someone else
For the hardware I dipped a q-tip in white vinegar and swabbed it on, then used a paper towel to dig in the grooves and half push half wipe off the verdigris. It comes off pretty easily but it's just in quite deep between the grooves so I had to dig a LOT. In hindsight, it would have been easier with a toothpick or something similar.
For the drawstring, I used vinegar again, scrubbing slightly with my nail after dabbing on the vinegar, then wiped it off with a paper towel. Again this came out pretty easily so I think the leather was not discolored, just surface gunk.
After this, I removed and washed the straps with a bit of ivory dish soap in warm water, and used a toothbrush to scrub the buckle where I couldn't dig out the verdigris in the "solid brass" indentation. This went pretty well so I decided to go ahead and wash the whole bag (as Coach rehabbers like to call dunking) since I didn't like how floppy it was and I wanted to reshape it to a better form! While it was in the water I also made sure to scrub the hardware with a toothbrush in hopes of getting out whatever verdigris that I missed before. To shape I just stuffed the bag with paper towels and let it sit on its side until it was mostly dry (second picture). Then I removed the paper towels and started applying conditioner, letting it dry and repeat for a few coats (I only have Lexol which seems like it doesn't reaaally do much so I always apply several coats)
That's all and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get rid of the verdigris. The third picture shows the bag after all the cleaning. Now I only hope the green nightmare won't return
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