Dooney Beauty Parlour

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KiltyR45

KiltyR45

Member
Sep 23, 2023
1,019
1,980
#1
Sometimes our Dooney's need a day at the beauty parlour. Whether in the passenger seat of our car while sitting in traffic, on our arm while riding the train, dropping off & picking up the kids at school during the snowy months, in our hands at the airport, in our laps while riding the bus on a rainy day, or been through multiple duty stations & deployments; one thing is certain, our Dooney's have been by our side through it all.

Let's discuss here - tips, advice, rehab and repairs when it comes to taking care of your Dooney.

From vintage AWL bags, Florentine, Alto, nylon, canvas or coated canvas, whatever has worked for your Dooney, will help someone with theirs. :smile::peace:
 
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#3
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#4
Lilybarb said:
I use Weiman's stovepipe products. Do the leather wipes say if there is wax on them?
Click to expand...
I don’t see that there is. They’re more oily, if anything. That’s why I suggest to go lightly over the purse with them. If you press too hard, or squeeze, a lot of the oil will come out. And it could leave a more concentrated spot on the purse.

IMG_3843.jpeg
 
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#6
Great thread. I've done limited beauty treatmehts on my Dooney handbags.
But here is what I've learned:

AWL should not be treated with any commercial cleaning or water proofing
or conditioning product. The original AWL was created by shrinking the leather
to close the pores. Any commercial product could undermine the leather, change it's
appearance and inhibit its water resistance.

The smooth brown vachetta leather trim on Dooney handbags
(pebbled leather, etc) can be conditioned. I use Apple brand conditioner
and it helps to prevent water staining.

The natural, un-dyed smooth vachetta leather will spot and stain.
My bags last 1 use before I have an issue from even 1 drop of moisture.
I don't have any rehab or prevention tricks.

I've conditioned Florentine handbags (midown or darker colors)
using Apple brand conditioned. Use product sparingly and don't
over condition. Test leather in a hidden spot first to make sure
there is no color bleeding.

Keep leather treatments and conditioners off any area with
stitching or that might have glue (like strap attachments).
These products can weaken the thread and glue and
handles and trim can end up falling off if too much
conditioner is absorbed. This is sometimes an issue
with preloved handbags.

I also use white cloths (wash cloths or microfiber cloths,
even old clean white T shirts)
when cleaning, conditioning, or even buffing a handbag.
That way I avoid any color transfer and also get a better
handle on what might be coming off the bag too
(color, dirt, etc.).

It's not a good idea to 'dunk' handbags to rehab them.
Vintage bags were made differently and not lined.
So maybe this technique was ok. I don't know.
But modern bags are lined so we have no visibility
to what might be used to help the style and maintain
the structure of the bag. There may be layers of
different material (buckrom? cardboard? who knows?_
submerging the bag in water could ruin it.

If the lining can be pulled out of the bag it can be spot cleaned.
But again, don't soak it and be on guard for color bleeding
which could damage the outside leather of the bag.

Remember, what works on one brand, might not work on another.
And different collections within a brand may need to be treated differently,
or even the same style manufactured at different times, or different colors.
 
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#12
lavenderjunkie said:
Great thread. I've done limited beauty treatmehts on my Dooney handbags.
But here is what I've learned:

AWL should not be treated with any commercial cleaning or water proofing
or conditioning product. The original AWL was created by shrinking the leather
to close the pores. Any commercial product could undermine the leather, change it's
appearance and inhibit its water resistance.

The smooth brown vachetta leather trim on Dooney handbags
(pebbled leather, etc) can be conditioned. I use Apple brand conditioner
and it helps to prevent water staining.

The natural, un-dyed smooth vachetta leather will spot and stain.
My bags last 1 use before I have an issue from even 1 drop of moisture.
I don't have any rehab or prevention tricks.

I've conditioned Florentine handbags (midown or darker colors)
using Apple brand conditioned. Use product sparingly and don't
over condition. Test leather in a hidden spot first to make sure
there is no color bleeding.

Keep leather treatments and conditioners off any area with
stitching or that might have glue (like strap attachments).
These products can weaken the thread and glue and
handles and trim can end up falling off if too much
conditioner is absorbed. This is sometimes an issue
with preloved handbags.

I also use white cloths (wash cloths or microfiber cloths,
even old clean white T shirts)
when cleaning, conditioning, or even buffing a handbag.
That way I avoid any color transfer and also get a better
handle on what might be coming off the bag too
(color, dirt, etc.).

It's not a good idea to 'dunk' handbags to rehab them.
Vintage bags were made differently and not lined.
So maybe this technique was ok. I don't know.
But modern bags are lined so we have no visibility
to what might be used to help the style and maintain
the structure of the bag. There may be layers of
different material (buckrom? cardboard? who knows?_
submerging the bag in water could ruin it.

If the lining can be pulled out of the bag it can be spot cleaned.
But again, don't soak it and be on guard for color bleeding
which could damage the outside leather of the bag.

Remember, what works on one brand, might not work on another.
And different collections within a brand may need to be treated differently,
or even the same style manufactured at different times, or different colors.
Click to expand...
I came across this old article on AWL. Interesting.
vintagedooneybourke.wordpress.com

Care of All Weather Leather from Dooney & Bourke

Hi Paula, Do you have information on restoring DB bags? I sent mine to the company and the cost was $150, but that was some years ago. I don’t even use my bags now because I like them so much…
vintagedooneybourke.wordpress.com vintagedooneybourke.wordpress.com
 
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#13
What have people used on alto leather? My Camilla looks dry and has a few scratches that need buffing out. I was tempted to try apple brand or Cadillac… but was curious if anyone has experience with cleaning/ conditioning alto
 
#14
lavenderjunkie said:
Great thread. I've done limited beauty treatmehts on my Dooney handbags.
But here is what I've learned:

AWL should not be treated with any commercial cleaning or water proofing
or conditioning product. The original AWL was created by shrinking the leather
to close the pores. Any commercial product could undermine the leather, change it's
appearance and inhibit its water resistance.

The smooth brown vachetta leather trim on Dooney handbags
(pebbled leather, etc) can be conditioned. I use Apple brand conditioner
and it helps to prevent water staining.

The natural, un-dyed smooth vachetta leather will spot and stain.
My bags last 1 use before I have an issue from even 1 drop of moisture.
I don't have any rehab or prevention tricks.

I've conditioned Florentine handbags (midown or darker colors)
using Apple brand conditioned. Use product sparingly and don't
over condition. Test leather in a hidden spot first to make sure
there is no color bleeding.

Keep leather treatments and conditioners off any area with
stitching or that might have glue (like strap attachments).
These products can weaken the thread and glue and
handles and trim can end up falling off if too much
conditioner is absorbed. This is sometimes an issue
with preloved handbags.

I also use white cloths (wash cloths or microfiber cloths,
even old clean white T shirts)
when cleaning, conditioning, or even buffing a handbag.
That way I avoid any color transfer and also get a better
handle on what might be coming off the bag too
(color, dirt, etc.).

It's not a good idea to 'dunk' handbags to rehab them.
Vintage bags were made differently and not lined.
So maybe this technique was ok. I don't know.
But modern bags are lined so we have no visibility
to what might be used to help the style and maintain
the structure of the bag. There may be layers of
different material (buckrom? cardboard? who knows?_
submerging the bag in water could ruin it.

If the lining can be pulled out of the bag it can be spot cleaned.
But again, don't soak it and be on guard for color bleeding
which could damage the outside leather of the bag.

Remember, what works on one brand, might not work on another.
And different collections within a brand may need to be treated differently,
or even the same style manufactured at different times, or different colors.
Click to expand...
I'd like to add a comment about dunking, I've done it to a Dillen ii satchel that was in horrible shape. It was mustard color and had significant staining, cigarette smell and was thrashed. (I bought it 2nd hand for the strap essentially and figured I could try to clean the bag for fun) I eventually dunked it after many cleaning attempts. While the outside cleaned up beautifully, the lining became orange from the leather dye seeping in. Anything lined should not be dunked in my opinion. In fact, I don't think I will dunk anything ever again.
 
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#15
Good tips from all. Thank you!

I have always been afraid to get water near my handbags. The most I have managed is to dampen the tassels on my florentine satchel. I found the idea on PF D&B. I wrapped the tassels in paper towels and taped them to dry. The tassels look perfect and the bag looks new. It is over ten years old and I carry it frequently.

That is as brave as I have gotten. Does anyone have tips for Alto bags?
 
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