Diet Coke in my Badgley Mischka - Help! - YouLookFab Forum

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Diet Coke in my Badgley Mischka - Help!

Marley

Veteran

Went to the movies tonight and "snuck" a diet coke in with me because I'm such a cheapskate that I didn't want to have to pay $5.00 for a drink that I could get at the 7/11 for $.99. I put it in my purse and when I went to get it out, I dumped it all into my handbag - the theater was packed and the movie had started and I tried to sop up the 64 ounces of liquid sloshing around in the bottom of my bag with my jacket - but it didn't really work. Such a mess! Anyway, I'm home now - and the diet coke has soaked all the way through the lining and has stained a good part of the handbag. The bag is a light tannish-gold color - and one of my all-time favorites. I am just sick! Anyone know what I should do???

General

29 replies

Latest reply was from ManidipaM

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Yikes

No advice from me, just hoping you can get it cleaned

Debbie

Veteran

Marley-Take your bag to a cobbler as soon as possible. One of my daughters dumped a drink into a brand new bag several years ago. I cleaned it the best I could and then took to our local cobbler. He was able to clean the bag and it was as good as new. I think it cost about $40 to have it done.

Marley

Veteran

Thanks Debbie! I'm going to take it in first thing in the morning, but I'm kind of in a panic tonight because the leather is slowing drying and there is this awful stain over about half of the bag. Darn it!

DonnaF

Veteran

Have you checked the bag forum? I think it was there that folks talked about running their Coach bags through their washer! The lining of your bag, like most linings, is probably more delicate than the leather part. Take a deep breath and figure that your answer is probably somewhere on the internet.

One of the chains in my area, AMC, is okay with bringing in your own food and drink. I asked. But now I know why I would only carry water and nothing super sticky.

Hope your jacket is okay, too, and that the movie was entertaining.

MsMaven

Veteran

This sounds like something that would happen to me. So sorry it happened to you.

No useful advice other than that given before me--take it to a professional asap.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oof, I don't know! Cornstarch?? I am lighting a candle for your poor bag...

Kari

Veteran

Oh, that makes me feel ill on your behalf! Crossing my fingers that a cobbler can restore your bag back to tip-top shape.

Kari

Veteran

Maybe this can help.

http://www.ehow.com/how_633994.....ather.html

http://home.howstuffworks.com/.....stains.htm

Lyrebirdgully

oh no! the exact same thing happened earlier this year to my son - or more precisely, to the expensive premium leather satchel that I had bought him for his 20th birthday. He was shamefaced and I was aghast. I hastily browsed "spilled soft drink in my leather bag" and found heaps of advice - do read!
What we did:
There was no way we could not use water, as the cola had soaked right through to the outside of the leather and the cotton Burberry lining was saturated and disgusting. In the end - being the weekend - we just immersed the whole bag gently in cool water, rinsed it several times and then let it dry veeery slooowly over about 3 days in the pantry (near the water heater). I carefully stuffed it with soft plastic bags so it would retain its shape. I must say it came up pretty good. The shape was a little stiffer than before but it has softened up again with daily use. No staining is apparent (luckily the leather is a dark brown) not sure how successful you would be with your tan colour.
I have seen what leather looks like if you just let lemonade dry on it-- the drink leaves a visible "tidemark " line behind. For the satchel, I knew we had to wash the lining; and I also knew it would be best to act before the drink had dried. I can tell you, I was pretty nervous plunging the bag into water, but the online advice was encouraging. Just thought i'd share this in case you are thinking about using water too. Good luck!!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I feel your aggravation! The only thought I have to add is that if all else fails, perhaps you can dye the whole thing.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Oh no! Poor you! What bad luck.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Oh no! Poor bag! Poor Marley! Maybe this is why I don't drink pop at all...
If you do decide to wash your bag I suggest to stuff it with scrunched paper towels instead of plastic bags: they will help to absorb the water from the inside better.
Here my fingers are crossed for both of you!

Deborah

Veteran

No advice but I feel your pain. I thought I was only one who did things like this:). Hope you can get it cleaned up ok.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have no wisdom -- only hugs!! I hope you are able to clean it, Marley! So frustrating.

MNsara

Veteran

Aww, You're getting great tips here. If I had that happen to a bag I wasn't ready to part with, I'd take mine to this leather place in town
http://www.leathercleaning.com/

They have some incredible before/after pics posted in person, and have people mailing leather to them often to be restored.

Don't know if yours would fall under handbag cleaning, but last time I talked to them the service price is actually $49 (not the $69 it said online). They do better work on leather than they do on their website

Good luck! (I'm a carbonated mineral water sneaker myself, and still don't want any of it leaking into my purse!)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*crying for you*

Hope you can rescue your little wardrobe pet.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

At least the Diet Coke does not have sugar in it, that would bring the damage to another level.

Would you consider dyeing it a darker shade? The cola stain might darken the bag quite a bit. I hope your jacket, that was used as mop, is ok! And I hope you didn't damage any electronic devices. I had a bottle of Propel in my computer bag. I thought it was tightly screwed, but I think movement can loosen the cap. Anyway I don't think I need to get into any more detail except to say that there was only a little bit of water that escaped but still the repair estimate was over $1200 (ruined mother board). So I got a new laptop.

Hugs and I hope you still enjoyed the movie a little!

Anonymous

Marley I would just soak a white towel in warm water and will tap over the stain to remove at least the dye from the coke, before it dries out. You are likely to be left with a water mark but that's easier to deal with.

K. Period.

Veteran

Could you put it inside a ziplock to keep it from drying out? I'm not sure which would be worse, a wet stain or a dried in stain. My gut says the dried in stain. So sad!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Hey, I do the same thing and pack in my theatre treats. Nothing better than our own goodies, that taste better without the high prices. How did the Diet Coke escape from the bottle or can? Did you open it up earlier?

Hope the bag is in better shape after these great tips and Rae's candle! Love the ziplock idea, too, and must remember.

Marley

Veteran

Just an update: I took the bag to a handbag restoration expert and he took one look at it and said that the only thing that could be done with it would be to dye it black. I'm so bummed - I don't want it to be black - I want it to be goldish-cream! (Throwing a little temper tantrum.)

cobaltblue

Veteran

Oh, no, Marley! I was hoping for a more positive update! A sobering reminder to us all to only sneak in cheap treats in cheap handbags.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, no!!!!

That totally sucks.

If you love the bag, I'd dye it anyway.

But wow, that is so disappointing.

Anonymous

I would try washing it then! You don't have anything to lose. So sorry.

cobaltblue

Veteran

Ceit is right! Try washing it, and then dye if you have to.

JAileen

Veteran

Disclaimer: I'm not familiar with your particular handbag. But, if you don't want to dye it and feel you have nothing to lose, then you could try washing it. I have washed many many handbags. Most were vintage Coach, but also other brands. You should check out this thread. The people there are really amazing in what they accomplish. You could post a picture of the bag and see what they think. They may be able to give you some helpful suggestions, such as leather conditioners suitable for your particular bag.

http://forum.purseblog.com/coa.....24452.html

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Aww. So sorry to hear about the verdict - maybe time for a second opinion?

Lisa

Veteran

Oh gosh! I like the idea to wash it, since the stain is waterbased, maybe you will get lucky?

ManidipaM

Veteran

Just adding commiserations and crossed fingers, Marley.