Okay, so I got my hands on this old Coach bag, the 9845 model. It looked pretty beat up when I first got it, honestly. Dry, kinda sad looking leather, some scuffs here and there. You know how these old bags get. But I love bringing things back to life, so I thought, let’s give it a shot.
Getting Started
First thing I did was just empty it out. Found some old receipts, dust bunnies, the usual stuff. Then I gave it a good look over. The structure was still good, which is a big plus with these vintage Coaches. The leather, though, definitely needed some serious TLC. It was thirsty.
The Cleaning Phase
So, I grabbed my cleaning stuff. Nothing fancy, just some gentle leather cleaner I had lying around. I put a bit on a soft cloth and started wiping down the whole exterior. Used an old toothbrush, a really soft one, to get into the crevices and around the hardware. You gotta be gentle, though, don’t want to scratch it more.
- Wiped down the entire bag with leather cleaner.
- Used a soft brush for tricky spots like seams and edges.
- Let it air dry completely. Took a little while.
The inside needed attention too. It wasn’t too bad, mostly dust and lint. I just used a damp cloth, wiped it out, and made sure it dried properly. Didn’t want any mold issues later.
Conditioning the Leather
This was the main event. Once the bag was clean and totally dry, I took out some leather conditioner. Again, nothing super special, just a decent brand. I applied it using another clean, soft cloth. Worked it into the leather in circular motions. The bag just drank it up, especially on the drier spots. You could almost see the color deepening.
Important step: I applied a good amount, but not like, soaking wet. Then I let it sit. Like, really sit. Overnight, actually. Let the conditioner do its magic and really penetrate the leather. Next day, I took a clean cloth and buffed the whole bag. This gets rid of any excess conditioner and gives it a nice, subtle sheen. Not too shiny, just healthy looking.
Dealing with Scuffs and Hardware
There were a few noticeable scuffs, especially on the corners. I used a bit more conditioner on those areas, gently rubbing it in. Didn’t completely erase them – it’s a vintage bag, it’s got history – but it definitely made them less obvious. Blended them in a bit.
The brass hardware was looking a bit dull. I used a bit of metal polish on a cotton swab. Just carefully polished the turnlock, the buckles, stuff like that. Made sure not to get the polish on the leather. Wiped it off with a clean cloth. Made a surprising difference, actually. The shiny brass really pops against the leather.
The Final Result
And that was pretty much it. Took some time, mostly waiting for drying and conditioning, but wasn’t too difficult. The bag looks so much better now. The leather feels soft and supple again, not dry and stiff. It’s got that nice, rich color back. It still looks like a vintage bag, which is what I wanted. It has character, you know? Didn’t want it looking brand new and weird. Just clean, cared for, and ready to be used again. Pretty happy with how this Coach 9845 turned out. Just goes to show what a little cleaning and conditioning can do.
