Okay, so I’ve been on this vintage Coach bag kick lately, and I finally decided to take the plunge and try to restore one myself. I found this cute little “Currant Nickel” bag online – it was pretty beat up, but the price was right, and I figured, why not?
Getting Started
First thing I did was give it a good look over. The leather was dry and scuffed, the nickel hardware was tarnished, and the inside was, well, let’s just say it had seen better days. I knew I had my work cut out for me.
Cleaning the Leather
I started with the leather. I’ve heard good things about saddle soap, so I picked some up along with a soft cloth. I tested a small, inconspicuous area first (always a good idea!), and it seemed okay. Then, I gently worked the saddle soap into the leather, going in small circles. I wiped away the excess with a clean, damp cloth. It already looked a bit better, but it was still super dry.
Conditioning Time
Next up was conditioner. I used a leather conditioner I already had. Again, I applied it sparingly with a soft cloth, massaging it into the leather. I let it sit for about 30 minutes to really soak in, then buffed it off with another clean cloth.
Tackling the Hardware
The nickel hardware was the next challenge. it was dull with some obvious dark spots. I’d want to polish it to get back that brilliant shine, but I didn’t know how.
- I tired it with regular cleaning products, but it didn’t work.
- I did it with tootchpaste, but it didn’t work as well.
I almost gave up on this part, but finally, it’s done. I figured out to use a polishing paste, and it will work perfectly. I applied small amount of it, and used a soft cloth to work it.
The Inside Job
The inside lining was fabric, and it was pretty stained. I carefully vacuumed out any loose dirt and debris. Then, I mixed a tiny bit of gentle detergent with warm water and dabbed at the stains with a sponge. I didn’t want to soak it, just gently lift the dirt. I blotted it dry with a towel and let it air dry completely.
The Big Reveal
After all that work, the bag looked SO much better! The leather was supple and had a nice sheen, the hardware was shiny, and the inside was clean. It wasn’t perfect – it still had some character marks – but it was definitely a huge improvement. I’m pretty proud of my first attempt at restoring a vintage Coach bag!
Honestly, it was a bit of a learning process, but it was totally worth it. I’m already eyeing my next project!
