Clean up work on vintage strops. Help needed.
I just recently got a vintage G. Amodeo or something like that Genuine Shell strop and have a few questions about cleaning it.
I've tried the whole neatsfoot and rubbing thing, but the leather part (shell is horse, no?) is still not getting flat. Should I lay something flat on top of it?
As for the linen, I've gotten it pretty flat, but every time I run something over it firmly, some soapy water comes out and I don't know how to actually rinse it fully. Also, do you think that bleach would help in making the linen whiter, since in its current state, it looks too yellowed and nasty to use?
The whole strop also stinks of mildew and I doubt that I can wash it in a washing machine or something, so what have you guys done to get rid of that "old dead thing" stink that comes with your strops (and most antiques really)? Even my hands stink of mildew now that I've been trying to clean the damn thing.