Dooney rehab thread
- Thread starter missy_g
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I finished with Leather CPR and Blackrock. It didn’t seem to me that the Leather CPR really did much, but the Blackrock made is so shiny. I do like that the Blackrock seems to have made the worn parts on the front less noticeable... but is it too shiny? I rubbed it down thoroughly.
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It looks great! I don’t think it’s too shiny. The shine will probably wear off a bit as you carry the bag.
Hi there, I recently acquired some vintage Coach bags and this Dooney - I'm trying to clean them up.
Unfortunately the leather that is holding the brass duck fob split and disintegrated as I was cleaning this. Now I need to replace the leather fob holder which is harder than you would think because there are actually no ties in it - it is a circular leather piece (ties might come undone).
I was thinking of checking bead shops or jewelry supply. Has this happened to anyone else? Fortunately the brass duck fob is fine.
1. If you have skills and the right tools, you could make one from a scrap of thin leather, using the old one as a pattern, if it’s still more or less intact.
2. Possibly a leather worker could make one for you.
3. People sometimes sell these duck fobs on eBay with the leather hanger attached.
Good morning, ladies. New member here. I must say that I am so impressed with your efforts at renewing these lovelies! Bringing them back to life and giving them a second chance is so gratifying, and you ladies rock the rehab!
I've done a little bit of rehabbing myself but only on a Coach. I really had to take a deep breath and talk myself into dunking that bad boy, but he didn't disintegrate before my eyes or blow up in my face, so I consider it a success. Now I'm ready to do a clean up of a vintage Gladstone in average condition, but first I have questions about products.
Yesterday I spent most of my time reading through the 20 pages of posts and noticed that the following products were often used:
vinegar
Apple brand
Bick4
CPR
Fiebing's saddle soap
Wood n Stuff
Blackrock &
Ozone Emitter, along with clean rags and micro fiber cloths.
So, my question is: which products are used in which situations? Which ones are best for what problems? With your vast experience, I'll be prepared to log on to Amazon.
I've done a little bit of rehabbing myself but only on a Coach. I really had to take a deep breath and talk myself into dunking that bad boy, but he didn't disintegrate before my eyes or blow up in my face, so I consider it a success. Now I'm ready to do a clean up of a vintage Gladstone in average condition, but first I have questions about products.
Yesterday I spent most of my time reading through the 20 pages of posts and noticed that the following products were often used:
vinegar
Apple brand
Bick4
CPR
Fiebing's saddle soap
Wood n Stuff
Blackrock &
Ozone Emitter, along with clean rags and micro fiber cloths.
So, my question is: which products are used in which situations? Which ones are best for what problems? With your vast experience, I'll be prepared to log on to Amazon.
Vinegar - a mild cleaner that can be used on leather. It's the best cleaner for vachetta leather. It can also be used to clean brass. It kills mold and mildew, and helps with odors. You'll want plain white vinegar.
Apple brand - Not something I normally use. I don't consider it to be good for rehabs, just for maintenance.
Bick4 - I've used it a few times, again generally for maintenance. It is a thinner conditioner.
CPR - The best all purpose conditioner for rehabs, especially for bags that have been dunked.
Fiebings saddle soap - I never use it. I believe I read that saddle soap isn't very good for leather due to the ph.
Wood n Stuff - an acrylic paint that can be used to touch up or possibly for a complete dye job, although there are probably better things for an all over color change. It isn't really a dye, it sits on top rather than soaks in, but has very good coverage.
Blackrock leather n rich - The best finishing conditioner. I use it at the end of rehabs. It adds shine, hides scratches, and protects the leather from stains and water. I've used it on Dooney AWL and trim.
Ozone emitter - I don't have one. It would be useful in removing odors.
Clean rags and micro fiber cloths - Used for stuffing bags after dunking for reshaping. Also used to applying some conditioners and for buffing afterwards. I prefer a brush for buffing.
With an AWL bag, Wood n Stuff might be used to cover up any flaws in the pebbled leather. Or you could use Saphir Creme Surfine. Most times all that is needed for the pebbled leather is a light coat of Blackrocks, wiped off. The trim can be cleaned with vinegar and then conditioned with CPR and Blackrocks. Brass can be cleaned with vinegar, or a metal polish such as Brasso or Flitz. Fine steel wool can help polish. There are also Cape Cod polishing cloths that do a good job on brass.
All of this is just my opinion. Others may use other products with success.
I KNEW I came to the right place. You're a veritable encyclopedia of rehab. Thank you so much.
So, I'll start with vinegar first; I figure I'll have to clean the vachetta more than once. And what is your opinion of dunking the AWL? As is often the case, the corners are grungy with wear and dirt. At some point I may want to color them up, but for now I'd just like them less dirty. As for the handles, they are dark but not black, so I may just live with them.
I'd love to hear from others, too....
I have dunked AWL Dooneys.... and haven't had any problem but some folks have with piping crack so... it can happen (with any bag there can be a risk in dunking)......on Dooneys after a dunk I use Leather therapy on the straps and trim and occasionally on the pebbled leather if it is really dry and a final thin coat of Blackrocks , followed by horse hair brushing. Hope that helps.
P.S. Leather therapy also makes a cleaner that I use sometimes on dooneys....... add a few spritzes to the water for a dunk or sprayed on a damp cloth just to clean off grime without dunking.
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Yes, that does help. Once again, thanks so much.
So after it gets a bath, you use Leather Therapy on it. Is that just to condition it? I was thinking of using CPR and then Blackrocks.
My General Inspector Rascal & I are not toooo worried about the corners, but he wants me to focus on the splotchy vachetta first. This morning we wiped down the interior with vinegar which he did not like. At all.
In this moment, I'm still on the fence about a bath. I suppose it would be good to help to reshape it, but it's a lot of work. Oh, decisions, decisions. So many decisions.
So after it gets a bath, you use Leather Therapy on it. Is that just to condition it? I was thinking of using CPR and then Blackrocks.
My General Inspector Rascal & I are not toooo worried about the corners, but he wants me to focus on the splotchy vachetta first. This morning we wiped down the interior with vinegar which he did not like. At all.
In this moment, I'm still on the fence about a bath. I suppose it would be good to help to reshape it, but it's a lot of work. Oh, decisions, decisions. So many decisions.
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Your general inspector is adorable! If you can get away without dunking, I would. You could try stuffing it with warm towels and placing it in a steamy bathroom. Heat can help reshape it.
Oh, little Rascal is aptly named. He is into everything and anything on the floor is a toy. (In the first pic he has his two front paws inside the Gladstone, just to be sure, y'know?) But he's also
very affectionate.
Well, I think I'll continue to scrub a dub dub inside and out with vinegar and then do CPR. After that I'll decide what to do next. I'm thinking I won't use Blackrocks until it's nice & clean and possibly re-dyed at the corners. This puppy is very dry, but I don't want to condition it either until it's as clean as I can get it. Does that make sense to you? Any other suggestions?
very affectionate.
Well, I think I'll continue to scrub a dub dub inside and out with vinegar and then do CPR. After that I'll decide what to do next. I'm thinking I won't use Blackrocks until it's nice & clean and possibly re-dyed at the corners. This puppy is very dry, but I don't want to condition it either until it's as clean as I can get it. Does that make sense to you? Any other suggestions?
I would do all conditioning before any recoloring. Sometimes the conditioning helps with color loss and the color changes slightly so you'll want to match the colorant to the color of the bag after conditioning, not before.
Rascal looks tiny and huggable. I miss having a kitty.
Trying Multi quotes
Oh and your Fuzzie is adorable..... I miss mine,,,
I agree with Whateve... looks in good shape. try cleaning and conditioning. You can use Leather CPR ( I do sometimes on doonies) just use a light hand as it can get caught in the Nooks and crannies of the pebble leather and leave white marks.
Oh and your Fuzzie is adorable..... I miss mine,,,
Well, now, ladies, missing little furkids is a problem easily solved. There are plenty of irresistible ones, young & old, at your nearest shelter.
As for the Doonie, I'm not too concerned about the AWL - as you know, it's tough as nails and in great shape. The vachetta is another story. Fortunately for me, I'm not very demanding and will probably just focus on that. Wish me luck!
Thanks for all your advice. i'll let you know how it turns out.
As for the Doonie, I'm not too concerned about the AWL - as you know, it's tough as nails and in great shape. The vachetta is another story. Fortunately for me, I'm not very demanding and will probably just focus on that. Wish me luck!
Thanks for all your advice. i'll let you know how it turns out.