How to Clean & Restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag
- The Velvet Muzzle
- Feb 4
- 6 min read
Updated: 8 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 Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag in Taupe All-Weather Leather with British tan trim, a rare thrifted find that’s 30+ years old - one of our restored preloved vintage luxury bags.
This large Essex bag is a true treasure for any vintage Dooney & Bourke lover, and we’re excited to show you how we brought it back to life with a detailed restoration!
Keep reading to discover how we gave this classic handbag a second chance as a reloved luxury bag.
This restoration process took several hours to complete. Watch as we speed up the entire process, bringing this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex 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 bags, this post has you covered. We’ll walk you through the cleaning and restoration process that turned this thrifted Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex 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 features a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Taupe Essex Bag, a piece that’s over three decades old but still has so much life left to offer. Here’s how we brought it back to life.
Step-by-Step Restoration: How to Clean & Restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag
Restoring a vintage bag requires patience, the right tools, and a gentle touch. We followed a detailed process to make sure this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag got the love it deserved. Here’s how we did it:
1. Vacuumed the Interior
The interior of a vintage bag can often accumulate dust, lint, and debris over time. Using a handheld cordless vacuum, we carefully cleaned the inside of the bag and the exterior slip pocket, paying special attention to the seams and corners. We also carefully vacuumed the interior zipper, snap and slip pockets. After vacuuming, we trimmed off any loose threads with a small pair of scissors, perfect for this delicate job.
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. Brushed and Unmatted the Suede
One of the things we love most about Vintage Dooney & Bourke bags is their natural suede interiors. The suede interior of this taupe large Essex Bag had developed some matting and wear on the flap, where it sees heavy use, as well as on the bottom interior. We used a specialized suede brush to gently lift and separate the fibers, loosening the dirt and debris embedded in them.
Next, we used a pink eraser—basically erasing the dirt—further lifting it from the suede. This process not only removed the debris but also restored the softness and texture of the suede, giving it a fresh look without damaging the beautiful interior.
3. Wiped Down the Exterior
Because this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag is made with All-Weather Leather (AWL) and accented with British tan leather trim, we used WaterWipes to gently clean the exterior of the bag and the interior leather pieces. This step helped remove surface dirt and grime without being too harsh on the leather or the brass hardware. The goal was to clean the bag while preserving its original vintage look and feel.
To learn more about why we choose to use WaterWipes as a first step in 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.
A note about Dooney & Bourke's All-Weather Leather (AWL): We only used WaterWipes to gently clean the AWL portions of this vintage bag. Oils in leather cleaners and conditioners can interfere with the natural shrinkage process that gives this leather its resistance to the elements. The AWL on this bag was in great shape so there was no reason to condition it further.
To learn more about Dooney & Bourke’s All-Weather Leather, check out our article: Dooney & Bourke's All-Weather Leather: A Timeless Luxury That Deserves a Second Chance.
4. Cleaned and Polished the Brass Hardware
Over time, brass hardware can lose its shine and begin to tarnish. In the case of this vintage Essex bag, the hardware was heavily tarnished, showing its 30+ years of preloved wear. So, we turned to our favorite brass cleaner—Brasso Brass Cleaner—and used a combination of cotton swabs, cotton rounds, and a clean microfiber towel to remove the tarnish, restoring its beautiful shine. It’s important to be gentle with the brass, applying the cleaner in small increments and reapplying as needed to gently lift and remove the built-up tarnish.
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. Cleaned & Conditioned the British Tan Leather
The British tan leather trim, detailing, crossbody strap, interior leather, and duck FOB leather strap all needed cleaning and reconditioning. We used Apple Leather Conditioner, applying it with a microfiber towel on the larger areas and cotton swabs on the smaller areas to clean and nourish the leather. Leather conditioners are crucial for preventing cracking and maintaining the leather’s suppleness, especially on vintage 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.
6. 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.
7. Reassembled and Reshaped the Bag
Once the cleaning and conditioning were done, we rehung the adorable duck FOB and stuffed the bag with white tissue paper. As we stuffed the bag, we reshaped it, returning it to the proper shape. Keeping your vintage 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
Lint Roller: https://amzn.to/4h2pkjI
Scissors: https://amzn.to/3EsYrHG
Suede Brush: https://amzn.to/4fHj2Fd
Erasers: https://amzn.to/4hE4CHj
WaterWipes: https://amzn.to/4gLgCXt
Brasso Brass Cleaner: https://amzn.to/4gKx7TS
Microfiber Towels: https://amzn.to/4a5dl2F
Cotton Swabs: https://amzn.to/3BJg8lD
Cotton Rounds: https://amzn.to/4ggfkTi
Apple Leather Conditioner: https://amzn.to/403bZ3T
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 a Vintage Bag?
Restoring a vintage bag like this Dooney & Bourke Large Essex Bag is not just about cleaning—it’s about preserving a piece of history. These bags were crafted to last, and with a little care, they can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
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 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 Vintage Dooney & Bourke Large Essex 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!