How to Clean & Restore a Dooney & Bourke East-West Slouch Shoulder Bag
- The Velvet Muzzle
- Feb 18
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Welcome to The Velvet Muzzle! In today's blog post, we’re sharing our step-by-step process for how to clean & restore a Dooney & Bourke East-West Slouch Shoulder Bag, in White Pebble Grain Leather with British tan trim - one of our restored preloved vintage luxury bags.
East-West bags are making a major splash on the Spring fashion runways, and this beauty is ready for her second debut!
Keep reading to discover how we gave this fashionable handbag a second chance as a reloved treasure.
Watch as we bring this Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag back to life!
Whether you're a Dooney & Bourke enthusiast, a lover of preloved fashion, or just interested in learning how to restore vintage and luxury bags, this post has you covered. We’ll walk you through the cleaning and restoration process that turned this thrifted Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag from preloved to reloved.
The Velvet Muzzle: Restored Preloved Vintage Luxury Bags
At The Velvet Muzzle, we specialize in restored preloved vintage luxury bags, giving them a second chance. Some of the bags we restore are kept in our personal collection, while others are offered for sale on our website at www.thevelvetmuzzle.com. Every bag we choose is treated with love and care, ensuring that it’s ready for its next chapter.
This restoration project showcases a beautiful Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag—it's not quite vintage, but it's definitely got some age, and still on-trend with plenty of life left to offer. Here’s how we brought it back to life.
Step-by-Step Restoration: How to Clean & Restore a Dooney & Bourke East-West Slouch Shoulder Bag
Restoring a leather bag requires patience, the right tools, and a gentle touch. We followed a detailed process to make sure this Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag got the love it deserved. Here’s how we did it:
1. Vacuumed the Interior
The interior of an older bag can often accumulate dust, lint, and debris over time. Using a handheld cordless vacuum, we carefully cleaned the inside of the bag, paying special attention to the seams and corners. We also carefully vacuumed the interior zipper and slip pockets.
To learn more about the importance of using a handheld vacuum for your vintage and luxury bags, check out our article on Why Using a Handheld Cordless Vacuum is Essential for Cleaning Preloved Vintage and Luxury Bags.
2. Wiped Down the Interior
After using our handheld cordless vacuum to remove all the lint and debris, we gently wiped down the interior liner with a WaterWipe. This step helped lift surface dirt and grime without damaging the fabric.
To learn more about why we choose to use WaterWipes for cleaning our preloved vintage and luxury leather bags, check out our article on How WaterWipes Help Us Give Preloved Vintage Luxury Bags a Fresh Start.
3: Cleaned and Conditioned the Leather
The entire bag required both cleaning and reconditioning. We used our trusted two-in-one product, Apple Leather Conditioner, applying it with a round horsehair brush and a microfiber towel to work the conditioner into every nook and cranny of the pebble leather, the handle, leather zipper pulls, and any leather trim. This step was essential for removing any remaining debris and nourishing the leather.
Leather conditioners are vital for preventing cracking and maintaining leather’s suppleness, especially on vintage and luxury leather bags. The Apple Leather Conditioner works as both a cleaner and conditioner, making it our go-to product for all our preloved vintage and luxury leather bags.
To learn more about the importance of choosing the right leather cleaner and conditioner for your vintage and luxury leather bags, check out our article on How Apple Leather Conditioner Helps Us Give Preloved Vintage Leather Luxury Bags a Second Chance.
4. Cleaned and Polished the Brass Hardware
Over time, brass hardware can lose its shine and start to tarnish. While the brass on this bag was in good condition, there were a few light tarnish spots. We reached for our favorite brass cleaner—Brasso Brass Cleaner—and used cotton swabs along with a clean microfiber towel to gently buff away the tarnish, restoring its beautiful shine. It’s important to apply the cleaner in small amounts, reapplying as needed, to carefully lift and remove the tarnish without damaging the brass.
To learn more about the importance of choosing the right brass cleaner and polish for the hardware on your vintage and luxury leather bags, check out our article on How Brasso Metal Polish Helps Us Restore Brass Hardware on Preloved Vintage and Luxury Bags.
5. Buffed Out the Bag
Once everything was cleaned, conditioned, and polished, we used a clean microfiber towel to buff out the entire bag. This final step really brought the look and feel of all the leather and brass back to life.
6. Reassembled and Reshaped the Bag
Once the cleaning and conditioning were done, we stuffed the bag with white tissue paper. As we stuffed the bag, we reshaped it, returning it to the proper shape. Keeping your vintage and luxury bags stuffed when not in use is crucial to ensuring the bag retains its original structure and functionality, especially after years of use.
If you'd like to see how we applied these steps, check out the video below for the full transformation!
Tools and Products Used in the Restoration
We want to make sure that you can easily follow the same process if you're restoring a bag of your own.
Here are the products and tools we used to restore this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag:
Handheld Cordless Vacuum: https://amzn.to/4j3cDXW
WaterWipes: https://amzn.to/4gLgCXt
Apple Leather Conditioner: https://amzn.to/403bZ3T
Horsehair Brush Kit: https://amzn.to/3X4t78F
Brasso Brass Cleaner: https://amzn.to/4gKx7TS
Microfiber Towels: https://amzn.to/4a5dl2F
White Tissue Paper: https://amzn.to/40mH83C
These are the same products and tools we use for our restored preloved vintage luxury bags, and they’re all available on Amazon through the links above. We receive a small commission if you decide to purchase through these affiliate links, but it doesn’t cost you any extra. Thank you for your support!
Why Restore an Older Luxury Bag?
Restoring an older luxury bag like the Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about preserving a piece of fashion history. These bags were crafted to last, and with a little care, they can continue to be cherished for many years to come.
Plus, the East-West handbag style is making waves on the runway for Spring 2025!
When you restore a bag, you’re giving it a second life and keeping it out of a landfill. It’s a more sustainable option than buying new, and you’re also able to own a unique, possibly one-of-a-kind item. Plus, vintage and luxury bags often have better craftsmanship than newer bags, making them a true treasure to own.
At The Velvet Muzzle, we believe in giving preloved vintage and luxury bags a second chance, and we hope this restoration inspires you to start your own bag care journey!
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed learning about the transformation of this Dooney & Bourke East-West Pebble Grain Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag. It was such a rewarding experience to bring this bag back to life, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out. This beautiful bag is available for purchase in the Shop on our website. If you want to learn more about vintage bag restorations, or if you're looking for other preloved luxury treasures, be sure to check out our website.
Join The Velvet Muzzle Community
If you love restored preloved vintage luxury bags, designer bag restorations and thrifted fashion, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social media @thevelvetmuzzle for more vintage and luxury bag transformations and restoration tips. We post new content regularly, and you won’t want to miss any of our upcoming projects!