I felt lucky that it was a fake leather bag and not a genuine leather one, because I know that’s much harder to fix up. Using my trusty toolkit, I got to work right away. I started by using a damp cloth to remove all the dirt and grime from the bag. After that, I used a leather conditioner to lubricate the squeaky fabric. I was careful to avoid getting any cleaner in the stitches of the bag, or else I would risk damaging it further.
The next step was to check the stitching of the bag. I noticed that some parts of the seams had unraveled and were starting to come undone. After a little bit of tweaking and tucking, I was able to get them looking almost brand-new again. It really seemed like this bag had been through a lot, but it was a classic and finally it could show its shine.
At this point, the fix squeaky fake leather bag was looking much better but I still wanted to make sure it was fully functional. So, I applied a few drops of sewing machine oil to the fabric and stitched the seams tight. It was then that I truly knew the bag was ready and I had done a good job.
As a final touch, I used a leather dye to add a touch of color to the bags surface. The dye really gave the bag a new life and I couldn’t help but feel proud of my handy work. Of course, now the bag could still start to squeak again if it is exposed to mud and dirt, so I recommended my friend to take care of it in the future.
In terms of maintenance, I suggested my friend to condition the bag every few weeks to keep it looking fresh. To do this, she would just need a small amount of leather deep conditioner and a soft cloth. Applying the conditioner is usually a simple process of massaging it onto the bag, wiping it with a cloth and then buffing it off with a separate dry cloth.
After all the hard work was done, the bag looked great and it didn’t make any noise when you touched it. My friend was so happy with the result, she couldn’t believe how effective the repairs turned out to be. We both agreed that the bag is getting its second life and the squeaking days were finally gone.
Now what do I do with all this great experience I gained fixing my friend’s bag? I want to start a side hustle doing this kind of work for people who don’t have the skills to do it themselves. Would I be successful in doing something like this? It would certainly be a fun way to make a little extra money.
Before I take this idea to the next level, I know I need to practice and hone my skills some more. I’ll start by doing some research on the best tools and techniques. I’ll also need to think about pricing, how to find my market, and whether I should partner with a local tailor shop. This could be a really cool project and I’m looking forward to getting started.
Although fixing a bag can be time consuming, it can be equally rewarding. Not only do you end up with a bag that looks and feels like new, but sooner or later you’ll find yourself able to do the job quickly and efficiently, just like a professional. So if you have a bag that’s in need of repair, I highly suggest that you give it a try. Even if you don’t get it perfectly fixed, you’ll learn loads in the process.