Dooney rehab thread
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The picture makes the color look very different from the one you posted.That makes sense! I do really like the color of the edging on this bag although it's starting to crack. Hopefully it'll hold up.
While digging through the internet I stumbled upon the bag below on Ebay. I'm pretty sure it's the same color as mine, but everything in the description just says brown. Did Dooney have a color just called brown?
Dooney & Bourke double pocket dillen brown leather satchel purse bag Free Ship | eBay
Dooney & Bourke double pocket dillen brown leather satchel purse bag. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.www.ebay.com
Dooney has probably used 'brown' as a color name, possibly when a bag was made
for a major retail customer (department store, etc.) and they consulted on the naming.
For the bags that Dooney sold at their boutique stores, they often used 'fancier' names
for the different shades of a color. The downside was that unless you were a collector,
or saw the color in person, no one had a clue what Tmoro brown was! (It's a very, very
dark brown, think espresso beans) Also, Dooney probably made unique colors for
their large retail customers, possibly so the bags would be unique.
I am not a collector of brown/tan handbags, so my knowledge in this area is more limited.
It was only recently that I started to enjoy neutrals.
I imagine you could clean it like you would any fabric lining. For mild staining, I use a spray cleaner. For worse cases, I use soapy water, but then you have to rinse, which is a problem if the lining doesn't pull out.
Have you considered just taking the bag to a craft store and picking acrylic paint that matches?
That definitely makes it a lot harder to figure out the color. You're right, lavenderjunkie, after checking it closer to the Ebay listing and a couple others I've found it looks like those are lighter brown. Also, more of a primary brown. Mine seems to have the purple/red undertone. I think the best/easiest thing for me to do at this point is to do as, whateve, suggested and take it with me to a craft store. I did, however, find a different momentary solution. I found someone selling a new black bag exactly like it so I bought it! For $39 shipped it felt like a steal. LOL!
Whateve, what type of spray cleaner do you use? I'm used to cleaning the satin lining in Coach bags which are pretty easy to clean using just alcohol, baby, or makeup wipes.
I use a cleaner that I get at the dollar store and dilute with water. It's called Perfect Floral All Purpose Cleaner. I love the smell. Any mild spray cleaner that doesn't contain bleach should be fine. Sometimes there is staining around the zipper that won't clean off.
I'm late to this conversation about rehabbing vintage D&B AWL, but I've dunked perhaps 25 vintage AWL bags and generally, they come out fine. I use the same process that I use to dunk Coach bags, and there's an active Coach Rehab thread here, which you may also be aware of. Of the 25 D&B bags, 3 had issues with thin binding leather cracking - they were tote style vintage bags, both in leather and fabric.
I was happy to be able to clean and reshape the bags, keeping them stuffed with towels as they dry. And in fact this weekend, have 2 equestrians drying as we speak. Chiming in late, for what it's worth.
Any specific advice on cleaning suede bags? I got lucky on an auction for this (I think) feed bag. It's in pretty good shape except for a sticky area on the suede. I'd love to hear about specific techniques or soaps before I clean it- its a very cute bag. Perfect for fall!
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Don't use kiwi suede cleaner. It leaves a ring and doesn't clean. You could try vinegar. Or you could just use a stiff suede brush and see if it comes off that way. I've used nail brushes, like you use to clean your fingernails, on suede. I've also used a sanding block.
I don't have any experience in cleaning suede, but what ever you do.... test it first on a spot that isn't
too visible. See if it leaves a ring or removes/changes the color or texture, and if it even cleans.
Also, start with the gentlest product/process (soap before chemicals, dry before wet). Sometimes
even corn starch or baby powder will lift some stains and can be brushed off with a dry tooth brush.
After you have tried anything, if the bag still needs more
help, then after the bag is completely dry, you can move onto to the next thing to try.
It's hard not to be impatient when trying to clean up a bag. I've made mistakes by not
testing and by not waiting for the bag to completely dry before trying something else.
Good luck.
too visible. See if it leaves a ring or removes/changes the color or texture, and if it even cleans.
Also, start with the gentlest product/process (soap before chemicals, dry before wet). Sometimes
even corn starch or baby powder will lift some stains and can be brushed off with a dry tooth brush.
After you have tried anything, if the bag still needs more
help, then after the bag is completely dry, you can move onto to the next thing to try.
It's hard not to be impatient when trying to clean up a bag. I've made mistakes by not
testing and by not waiting for the bag to completely dry before trying something else.
Good luck.
I have a vintage Florentine tote in what they call tan that my sister passed on to me (I'm the poor relative LoL) but the corners at the bottom are a bit brown and the dye has worn off from use. Any suggestions as to how I would clean them and then restore the color? It's just the very tips of the corners but enough to spot them when I use it. Many thanks!
Hi I am new to D&B but was in the Coach rehab several years ago.
I just purchased two used D&B. One Dooney & Bourke Toscana Florentine Hobo in Bordeaux (the bag I have questions on) and a Large Satchel in Bordeaux which should be in fine shape and not needing TLC. I will include a pic of it next to the Toscana Florentine Hobo to show how widely Bordeaux varies (I picked one that is not practically brown, nor that looks flat died as some colors can).
1) The tab strap is dented. Is there a safe way to fix this? (I picked it anyway cos it is in very good shape for the price and the interior cream leather is clean) If the answer is not really it will just be character, I can live with that.
2) The edging in one spot is missing? Just use a stain pen and move on?
She is a very pretty bag. I am actually kinda glad the satchel is smoother than the Toscana Florentine Hobo and lighter. I would hate for them to be the exact same color. The Toscana Florentine Hobo is more of a deep purple red, the Satchel is a brighter red/purple/brown.
Any help appreciated. I have only rehabbed Coach by dunking, and conditioning their older smooth leathers. This Florentine Vachetta is different. I am looking forward to a bag I can rub out minor scratches on.
I just purchased two used D&B. One Dooney & Bourke Toscana Florentine Hobo in Bordeaux (the bag I have questions on) and a Large Satchel in Bordeaux which should be in fine shape and not needing TLC. I will include a pic of it next to the Toscana Florentine Hobo to show how widely Bordeaux varies (I picked one that is not practically brown, nor that looks flat died as some colors can).
1) The tab strap is dented. Is there a safe way to fix this? (I picked it anyway cos it is in very good shape for the price and the interior cream leather is clean) If the answer is not really it will just be character, I can live with that.
2) The edging in one spot is missing? Just use a stain pen and move on?
She is a very pretty bag. I am actually kinda glad the satchel is smoother than the Toscana Florentine Hobo and lighter. I would hate for them to be the exact same color. The Toscana Florentine Hobo is more of a deep purple red, the Satchel is a brighter red/purple/brown.
Any help appreciated. I have only rehabbed Coach by dunking, and conditioning their older smooth leathers. This Florentine Vachetta is different. I am looking forward to a bag I can rub out minor scratches on.
I'm not a rehab expert.... but I do own several Dooney Toscana leather handbags.
They are very different than Florentine leather, even tho they are supposed to be from the
same family. I think the Toscana leather is treated in some way. Scratches
cannot be buffed out and water stains do not dry and then disappear.
So my advice would be to test what ever you do in an area that isn't very visible.
Then you can decide if it will improve or bag or not.
Both your new handbags are beautiful. Enjoy them.
I think the Toscana leather is beautiful and elegant... but I have found it to be delicate.
They are very different than Florentine leather, even tho they are supposed to be from the
same family. I think the Toscana leather is treated in some way. Scratches
cannot be buffed out and water stains do not dry and then disappear.
So my advice would be to test what ever you do in an area that isn't very visible.
Then you can decide if it will improve or bag or not.
Both your new handbags are beautiful. Enjoy them.
I think the Toscana leather is beautiful and elegant... but I have found it to be delicate.
Glad I paid the least for it by far then. That is a bummer, it rains a lot in my town vs when I lived in Southern California across the country where it rarely did.
I'm careful with my bags, but I hate that I'll have to baby it and can't remove it's current tiny scratches. Sigh. Ok so not even Apple conditioner on Toscana then. Hmmm.
One of the other ladies here on the Dooney board had a red Toscana satchel that she wore and wore
for months.... in all weather. She had one of the Toscana handbags when they first came out.
She had no issues at all. Maybe she will chime in and comment.
I was amazed that she had no scratching and no staining.
But my experience was different.