How can i clean suede shoes

It also holds in warmth like leather, which is why there are so many suede boots and booties released for fall and winter. Suede shoes are crafted from the underside of hides taken from lambs, pigs, cows, deer, goats, and other animals.

Leather is smooth and tough with a buttery, polished appearance. However, suede has more of a fuzzy or nappy finish that allows the material to hold in warmth.

While both materials are durable, suede is a bit more delicate and more likely to soak up liquids and hold in stains. A liquid that might roll right off a leather shoe is likely to soak into suede. In terms of durability, suede is a middle ground between leather and lighter fabrics like cotton. It has the strength and longevity to hold up to more wear and tear than a lightweight sneaker made from woven fibers, but that strength comes with more rigidity.

When you slip into suede, you expect a firm shoe that feels stable but also comfortable. You want warm feet ready to tackle a busy day in chilly weather. The downside to winter footwear made from suede is the vulnerability to moisture. In fact, you may notice that gently stepping over a large puddle leaves visible water marks on lighter-colored suede. If you have suede hanging in your closet, you can follow directions on the tag to toss it in the washing machine or take it to the dry cleaner.

Keep reading if you want to know how to DIY clean suede shoes. We hear you. The same goes for stain proofing. You can take leather shoes to the dry cleaner just as you might an expensive garment made from suede fabric. DIY now and learn how to clean your suede shoes. Depending on the type of stain or blemish on your suede, one or more of the following tools will get the job done efficiently:. Are you taken aback by some of these tools? Some of the most unexpected items are your best friends when you have suede shoes in need of a cleanup.

Items that you likely have lying around your home right now are the perfect tools to keep your shoes looking brand new. They may not have specific cleaning issues, but they need some TLC. Without further ado, here is my recommended suede cleaning process. If you do get your suede shoes wet, you can use paper towels or a lightweight cloth towel to pull some of the water from the fabric. You should press the towels down gently, blotting as much moisture as possible. You may also stuff the shoes with paper towels to pull more moisture out with time.

Store the shoes in a safe place while they dry out completely, and then continue with the cleanup process. Before you start rubbing, take a second to notice the direction in which the suede naturally rests when you rub your finger over the material. If you have a suede brush, use it to brush with the grain. That will knock off a lot of the dirt and grime collected in the fabric with normal use.

If you see spots of dirt, you can try to brush back and forth, with and against the grain lightly, to see if they will come off without further cleaning. Just a light file over the suede will do. Apply firm pressure and move back and forth over the spot. You can use a soft cloth towel or even one of those microfiber cloths used to clean your face or remove your makeup.

Dip the corner into white vinegar and scrub the stain in a back and forth motion. You want to apply small amounts of white vinegar with each attempt, but you can dip into the vinegar over and over while making repeat passes over the stain. That happens naturally when you get suede wet, but white vinegar will evaporate as the material dries, returning the suede to its original color.

Before moving on to the next step, allow the wet spots to dry. You might not know if you got the stain out entirely until it dries. A leather degreaser is effective for some suede shoe stains, but make sure that you choose a product made specifically for suede.

Remember, there are some differences between suede and leather, so you want to use products designed for this more fragile material. Please read the package instructions and follow them closely, applying the degreaser only to small spots on the suede that you believe are oily in nature.

Once your shoes are clean and dry, you can go over them one more time with a suede brush or toothbrush. Remember to brush with the grain. Supply: Paper towels White vinegar Leather degreaser made for suede Cloth towel. Tools: Suede brush Suede rubber Pencil eraser Fingernail file. Are you ready to learn how to clean suede shoes when you know the source of the stain?

Those general cleanups are great at the start of a new season or maybe toward the middle of the season if you wear your suede shoes a lot. There are other instances where something spills on your shoes, you step in a mess, or your shoes otherwise need cleaning from a known contaminant. This is one of the most common contaminants in your shoes.

You walk through parking lots, gravel driveways, lawns, and many other natural environments over the course of an ordinary day. Even walking on cement or concrete will expose your shoes to dirt and possibly mud. You can step carefully, but small particles of dirt will still collect on the surface of your shoes over time.

The more you wear your shoes outdoors, the more often you will need to clean dirt spots. If you read the general suede cleaning instructions covered earlier in this guide, you already know the best cleaning dirt and mud strategies. Start by allowing wet mud to dry. Then use your suede brush or toothbrush to brush the spots, going back and forth with and against the grain.

That should take out most, if not all, of the dirt. If you still see dirt spots, try rubbing them with a suede rubber or clean pencil eraser. For more resistant dirt that is deeper in the matted suede surface, a nail file may work. On our product pages, you can see a complete list of the materials used to craft each shoe, as well as a breakdown of their cost to produce.

Just to Make Things Clear: What exactly is suede? So, how do I clean my suede shoes? Before that, we also suggest that you have the following items on hand if you have more than one pair of suedes: A hard-bristled suede brush; Clean rags for wiping off dust, stains, and smudges; Rubbing alcohol or white vinegar; Waterproofing or fabric protectant sprays; Shoe trees; and Shoe horns.

General Rules for Stain Removal For light stains , simply brush the shoes with a firm back and forth motion using a stiff-bristled brush. Alternatively, you can clean spot stains by rubbing over a suede eraser. For heavier stains , dampen a clean rag with any of the following: white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or liquid shoe cleaner but be sure that it's marked as safe for suede!

Rub the dampened rag over the stained area with a firm, circular motion, and let your shoes dry completely. When the shoes are dry, give them a good brush to fluff up the nap and remove any residual dirt. Once this has been removed, brush the area again. Do so more vigorously in a back-and-forth motion to take out deep-seated dirt from the fibers in the nap; Use a suede eraser: Stains that go in a bit deeper in the nap need to be rubbed out using a suede eraser.

Made of a chemical compound that crumbles on contact with suede, suede erases draw out dirt and contaminants that have sunk deep into the fibers of the material. Rub the eraser firmly over the stains and keep rubbing until the stain is removed. It does take a bit of time and effort, and it can get messy, so be sure to take your shoes to your back yard or garage if you're using a suede eraser to clean them; Skip the Water for Cleaning Suede: Water can only make matters worse when it comes to cleaning suede shoes, as it can actually set stains and cause permanent discoloration.

Instead, dampen a clean rag with either white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to effectively wipe out stubborn stains. Leave the shoes to dry thoroughly, then brush well to fluff up the nap to velvety softness; Shave the Strings Away: If your suede shoes are starting to look ratty or stringy, it would be best to trim off any fluff or loosening strands with an old shaving razor. How frequently can I wear my suede shoes? I got my shoes wet on the way home last night. What do I do to stave off water damage?

Is it okay to just put my suede shoes in my shoe rack? If a suede eraser isn't available, you can also use a pencil eraser. After removing excess dirt clumps with your handy suede-cleaning brush, gently rub the shoes with a clean, dry bath towel. Wipe them down and remove any unseen layers of dust, etc.

Remember to wipe in the direction of the grain, and avoid any vigorous back-and-forth motions. Up next, these are the 5 sneaker brands celebs actually buy for themselves, according to a Hollywood stylist. Invest in a suede-cleaning brush. Put crumpled paper inside before cleaning. For really tough grime, use white vinegar. Remove stains with an eraser. Rub the surface of your shoes with a clean bath towel. Shop Our Favorite Suede Boots.