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How to Clean & Restore a Rare Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag

  • Writer: The Velvet Muzzle
    The Velvet Muzzle
  • Jun 19
  • 7 min read
How to Clean & Restore a Rare Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag from The Velvet Muzzle

Welcome to The Velvet Muzzle! In today’s blog post, we’re sharing our process for cleaning and restoring a rare Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag in Black Italian Florentine Leather with British Tan Trim from the early ’80s! 


Given her age, this bag was in outstanding condition! The Florentine leather was dry and showed a few marks and scratches, but with a thorough cleaning and deep conditioning, we were able to remove most of them and restore her natural beauty.


This Feed Bag is a true treasure for any vintage Dooney & Bourke lover. We’re excited to walk you through the detailed restoration process and show you how we brought her back to life.


This restoration process took a few hours to complete. Watch as we speed up the entire process, bringing this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag back to life!


Whether you're a Dooney & Bourke enthusiast, a lover of preloved fashion, or simply curious about restoring vintage bags, this post has you covered. We’ll take you through the cleaning and restoration journey that transformed this thrifted vintage find 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 each one a second chance. Some of the bags we restore become part of 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 it’s ready for its next chapter.


This restoration project features a Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag—a piece that’s over three decades old, yet still has so much life left to give. Here’s how we brought her back to life.



Step-by-Step Restoration: How to Clean & Restore a Rare Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag


Restoring a vintage bag requires patience, the right tools, and a gentle touch. We followed a detailed process to ensure this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag got the love it deserved. Here’s how we did it:


1. Vacuumed and Lint Rolled the Interior

The interior of a vintage bag can 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 gently vacuumed the interior zipper and slip pockets.


After vacuuming, we used a lint roller to pick up any remaining debris before moving on to the next step.


👉 To learn more about why this tool matters, check out our article: Why Using a Handheld Cordless Vacuum is Essential for Cleaning Preloved Vintage and Luxury Bags.


2. Deep Cleaned the Suede Interior

One of the things we love most about vintage Dooney & Bourke bags is their natural suede interiors. The suede interior of this Feed Bag was in excellent condition. We didn’t note anything significant beyond typical vintage wear, and she was a little misshapen. However, because her interior is black, it can easily hide dirt and stains, so we gave her a deep cleaning to ensure she was truly clean and fresh for her reloved debut!


Using warm water and our unscented castile soap solution, we cleaned the interior suede with a horsehair dauber brush, working in small circular motions. After cleaning each panel, we wiped it down with a warm, damp cloth before moving on.



3. Stuffed & Reshaped the Wet Bag

Once the interior was clean, it was time to dry and reshape the bag.

We stuffed the interior with clean towels, carefully reshaping her as we went—because she would dry in the shape we gave her. This is a critical step to get right the first time!


After 24 hours, we removed the damp towels and replaced them with a fresh, dry set to finish the drying and shaping process. She was already standing on her own at this point—just like when she was new! The final day of drying locked in the shape, and we were thrilled with the result.


4. Deep Cleaned the Leather Exterior

Because this Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag was pretty dry, we gave her exterior a deep cleaning to help restore both her color and original shape.


As with the interior, we created a solution of warm water and unscented castile soap, then applied it using a horsehair dauber brush in a circular motion, working one panel at a time. After applying the solution, we used a dry microfiber towel to wipe off the excess and lift away dirt before moving to the next panel.


This step removed both surface dirt and ground-in grime without being too harsh on the Florentine leather or brass hardware. We also cleaned the shoulder strap using the same method.


👉 To learn more about why this staple matters, check out our article: How Microfiber Towels Are Essential to Our Restoration Process for Restored Preloved Vintage Luxury Bags.


5. Conditioned the Leather Exterior

Once the leather was clean, we wanted to make sure it stayed moisturized and pliable. We used Apple Leather Conditioner on the entire bag, including the shoulder strap and the interior leather pockets and detailing, applying it with our gloved hands so we could really work it into the leather. We needed every drop of moisture to help with restoring her color and fixing her shape. Leather conditioner is essential for preventing cracking and maintaining suppleness, especially on vintage leather bags.



6. Buffed Out the Bag

With the leather cleaned and conditioned, we used a clean microfiber towel to buff the entire exterior. This brought the look and feel of the leather back to life.


7. Deep Conditioned the Leather Exterior

Once the leather was remoisturized, we could clearly see the areas that needed additional attention—spots with marks, discoloration, and scratches. Florentine leather is notorious for revealing every flaw; however, it’s also one of the best and hardiest leathers to restore—in our opinion!


We applied Blackrock Leather ‘N’ Rich cleaner and conditioner to the entire bag using our gloved hands. This product is extremely emollient, and a little goes a long way, so be sure to use it sparingly and really work it into the leather, as we did, to get the best result. We gave extra attention to those problem areas.


Once the entire bag was treated, we allowed the leather to rest for 48 hours.


8. Buffed Out the Bag (Again)

With the leather deep conditioned, we used a horsehair brush to buff the entire exterior to a lustrous sheen. This additional step helped soften harsher scratches while also removing lighter marks and fading discoloration, giving the bag a renewed glow and smooth finish.


9. Stuffed the Finished Bag with Tissue Paper

With the cleaning and conditioning complete, we reassembled her shoulder strap, and stuffed the finished bag with white tissue paper to help maintain her new shape.


Keeping your vintage bags stuffed when not in use is key to preserving their structure and functionality, especially after restoration.


🎥 Want to see this full transformation? Check out the video below to watch the entire process, step by step!


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 Feed 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!



How to Clean & Restore a Rare Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed Bag from The Velvet Muzzle

Why Restore a Vintage Bag?

Restoring a vintage bag like this Dooney & Bourke Feed 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 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 rare  Vintage Dooney & Bourke Feed 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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