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How to Clean & Restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody Bag

  • Writer: The Velvet Muzzle
    The Velvet Muzzle
  • Mar 11
  • 7 min read

Updated: 8 hours ago

How to Clean & Restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody Bag | Restored Preloved Vintage Luxury Bags | The Velvet Muzzle

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 Small Essex Crossbody Bag, in Saddle Tan All-Weather Leather with British tan trim, one of our restored preloved vintage luxury bags. 


This adorable Dooney was a rare thrifted find at over 30 years old that we took from preloved to reloved.


When we got her she looked like she’d been run over by a bus! She was horribly misshapen and her beige interior suede was literally gray from dirt. We were super excited to give her a much deserved spa day.


This small 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 a few hours to complete. Watch as we speed up the entire process, bringing this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody 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 Small Essex Crossbody 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 Small Essex Crossbody Bag, in Saddle Tan All-Weather Leather with British tan trim, 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 Small Essex Crossbody 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 Small Essex Crossbody 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, paying special attention to the seams and corners. We also carefully vacuumed the interior zipper and slip pocket as well as the exterior slip pocket. 


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. Cleaned the Exterior

Because this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody 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 including the leather strap, the trim pieces and the duck FOB strap. 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.


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.


3. Cleaned and Unmatted the Suede

One of the things we love most about Vintage Dooney & Bourke bags is their natural suede interiors. Unfortunately, the beige suede in the interior flap of this small Saddle Tan Essex bag was dirty and matted, likely from frequent use. It had a grayish tint, which made it look worn and in need of some serious TLC.


To restore it, we first used a specialized suede brush to gently lift and separate the fibers, dislodging any dirt and debris that had become embedded in the suede. Then, we took it a step further by using a simple pink eraser to “erase” the dirt, helping to lift more of the grime from the fibers.


While this was a time-consuming and tedious process, requiring plenty of elbow grease and patience, it was well worth the effort. Not only did it remove the debris, but it also brought back the suede’s softness, restored its rich color, and revived its texture, all without damaging the delicate material.


4. Cleaned and Polished the Brass Hardware

Over time, brass hardware can lose its shine and tarnish, and this 30+ year-old Essex bag was no exception. To restore its luster, we reached for our go-to brass cleaner—Brasso Brass Cleaner.


Using cotton swabs and a clean microfiber towel, we carefully worked to remove the tarnish. When applying this cleaner, it’s important to be gentle, using small amounts at a time and reapplying as needed to gradually lift the built-up tarnish. This method helps bring back the brass's original shine without causing damage.


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 and Conditioned the Leather

The All-Weather Leather on this Essex bag was in overall good condition. The trim, however, was dry and scuffed and needed the most attention. We used our trusted two-in-one product, Apple Leather Conditioner, applied with a microfiber towel and cotton swabs to the crossbody strap, the duck FOB holder, and the leather trim. This step was crucial in removing any additional 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.


6. Buffed Out the Bag

Once everything was cleaned and conditioned, we used a clean microfiber towel to buff out the entire bag. This step really brought the look and feel of all the leather and brass back to life.


7.  Touched Up the Scuff Marks

After cleaning, conditioning, and buffing the British tan trim, we treated the scuffed areas that needed extra attention. To address this, we used our go-to leather polish, Kiwi Polish Paste, and gently applied it over the scuff marks with a microfiber towel to recolor them. This helped the scuffed areas blend more seamlessly with the rest of the trim while also adding extra nourishment to keep the leather looking its best.


8. Reassembled and Reshaped the Bag

Once we were satisfied with the condition of the bag, we reassembled it, 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 Saddle Tan Small Essex Crossbody Bag:



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 Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody 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!


How to Clean & Restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody Bag | Restored Preloved Vintage Luxury Bags | The Velvet Muzzle

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about how to clean & restore a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Small Essex Crossbody Bag. It was such a rewarding experience to bring this bag back to life, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out. 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!






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