Dear Dale and John,
In my years in outdoor specialty retailing (backpacking, camping, climbing gear, etc.) I learned several tricks for dealing with dirty and/or mildewed hiking boots, backpacks, and other gear. The following is a set of guidelines that ought to help.
Since I have no direct experience with Carradice, Karrimor, or other canvas bags, I suspect that Tony Colegrave (who posted much useful info on caring for and rehabbing Brooks saddles) as well as other contributors from Great Britain with greater and more direct experience with the bags like yours, may have superior suggestions.
Leather and canvas can both usually be washed successfully with mild soaps and water, or even treated with a mild chlorine bleach solution, but they may be affected somewhat by shrinkage, discoloration, or other issues. (Old and already-weakened threads, fabric, or straps may disintegrate under the stresses of washing or bleaching, for example.)
If the bags do not have mildew, I think I would start with hand- washing the bag in warm lukewarm water with Woolite or another gentle soap. (Liquid dishwashing soap is good for this and does a great job on grease.) A stiff nylon-bristle brush may help with any thick grime. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and air dry out of the sun. The bag will be somewhat cleaner, but still have the patina and character that age and use bring.
MILDEW If mildew is involved, then the only alternative is to wash it first (see above), then apply a mild bleach solution or lemon juice solution with a sponge to the mildewed areas, then rinse, wash per above, and rinse it again.
RETREATMENT If the bag was originally made with waxed cotton, you can re-treat the cotton with a can of one of he re-waxing treatment available, which is much like Proofhide in its general aesthetics.
Woolite and liquid dish soap are both relatively leather-friendly, but leather should always be re-treated with Proofhide or a similar leather dressing after the bag is washed and has dried.
Your mileage will probably vary, of course.
Good luck with your projects!
Jon Spangler Hoping his tips are useful in Alameda, CA USA
On Jan 10, 2010, at 11:59 AM, <classicrendezvous-
request@bikelist.org> <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org> wrote:
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:31:09 -0500
> From: <oroboyz@aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR] Help on Cleaning a Dirty ol Saddlebag (
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Message-ID: <8CC604298B4DD66-5E94-1D360@webmail-m062.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> I will be interested to hear suggestions as I have a similar very
> old Jack Taylor bag...
>
>
>
>
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, North Carolina USA
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Siemsen <velorosso@flash.net>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Sun, Jan 10, 2010 1:28 pm
> Subject: [CR] Help on Cleaning a Dirty ol Saddlebag
>
>
> Need suggestions on cleaning a canvas with leather trim large
> saddle bag.
>
> The bag in question accompanied a barn find 1952 Hetchins. It
> appears to have
> mold residue and is generally very dirty and somewhat stiff. On
> the other hand,
> it seems in quite good condition.
>
> So how can I do a thorough cleaning on the canvas while not
> damaging the
> leather?
>
> John Siemsen
> Portland, Oregon
> _______________________________________________
>
Jon Spangler Writer/editor Linda Hudson Writing
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