A few weeks ago, I bought a black coach purse at a garage sale for $3. When I got it home, though, I realized that it smelled like cigarette smoke. So, I threw it in the wash with some oxi-clean. I know that sounds crazy. I just didn't have anything to lose. I washed it two more times, put baking soda inside it, and sprayed it with Ozium, a spray that usually takes away the smell of cigarette smoke. It didn't work. I was ready to give up. Sometimes things just can't be fixed.
I had one last idea. Several of my friends have told me about the smell that of sun-dried laundry. I took the purse out and hung it on the jungle gym for a week. Would it work?
It did!?! It did!! The washing had taken a little toll on the bag, so I pulled out a black sharpie marker to fill in along the edges. You can't tell at all. I am really surprised at how well the bag stood up to all that I put it through.
Sometimes I think expensive purses, shoes, jewelry aren't worth it. But, coach bags seem to really stand up. I am thankful they've brought back their classic line of purses. They don't all just have a flashy c on them anymore.
Fixing something leaves me with a good feeling. It means one less thing that's going to end up in a trash can somewhere. Next time I'm going to try the sunshine before all of my other fixes!
I have a very similar one in cream! (My sister gave it to me...it was a gift from an ex-boyfriend ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt's too small to use daily, but I am considering buying a bigger one (all leather, I agree about the fabric ones with the c's all over) because she replaced the one she gave me with a bigger one and its going on 8 years!! I have gone through several cheaper ones over the years.