How to Clean Suede Shoes: A Step-by-Step Guide for Care

Ah, suede shoes. They combine elegance and ease, completing any garment. It can be a pair of stylish ankle boots, loafers, or your high-top sneakers, as no matter what, a touch of suede always completes your look’s finish. But let’s be honest; suede can be a magnet for dirt and stains, especially considering its looser weave. We’ve all been there – that awful feeling of going through your favorite pair of suede shoes after a chance meeting with coffee or muddy water.

But fear not! I am afraid it is not very hard to clean your suede boots. If the proper parameters are set, it will not be hard to keep the new appearance of your shoes. This is precisely the aim of this well-compiled guide, which has underlying principles and inputs from professionals with years of experience in the field. It aims to advise you on all the cleaning aspects that are necessary when you want to clean your suede shoes properly and efficiently.

Why Suede is Special (and Needs Special Care)?

Let’s first understand the nature of suede before we get into the cleaning procedure. Puede is manufactured from the inner layer of animal skin, which is why it has that soft and grainy texture. This very texture also brings the risk of water and stain damage. It can be said that velvet is more appealing but requires careful handling.

Essential Tools for Cleaning Suede

If you are able to collect the proper equipment, the whole process gets more straightforward for you. Here’s what you will probably need:

• Suede Eraser (or Pencil Eraser): Although it is a suede tool eraser, its application is to remove scuff marks or dry patches by rubbing and smoothing them without causing any adverse effects on the surface being worked on. Although, in the event that time is a limiting factor, then basically any pencil eraser will suffice.
• Microfiber Cloths: These are soft and highly absorbent to allow just dab or wipe the surface of the material to be cleaned.
• White Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol: The great thing about these two products is that they are effective on hard stains.
• Baking Soda or Cornstarch: When it comes to cleaning any oil stains or grease stains, baking soda and cornstarch are exceptional cleaners.
• Water (in a spray bottle): This would assist with any watermarks on the surface.
• Suede Protector Spray (Optional but Recommended): If you have previously had success with a spray, feel free to apply it since it prevents you from sustaining any more future impressions or marks of water.
• Soft bristle brush (like an old toothbrush or nail brush): With a little bit of patience, this accessory may help you target some areas and do a fair amount of cleaning.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Suede Shoes

Let’s start with what is possibly the single most crucial aspect of maintaining your suede shoes. Cleaning first on a hidden area of the surface is a wise step because it may affect the surface of the material.

1. Let Them Dry Completely

The very first step if your suede shoes are wet is to allow them to air dry completely. This is an essential requirement. Otherwise, if you attempt to clean suede whilst it is moist, you will be merely rubbing in the dirt and grime much deeper within the fibers. Remember not to put them in direct sunlight or use heat sources such as hair dryers, as this will make them shoot or stiffen the suede. Drying them up while stuffing them with paper towels or cedar shoe trees will help to retain their shape.

2. Brush Off Extra Dirt

After thoroughly drying the shoes, it is necessary to use a suede brush to remove dirt or debris that may be lying on the boots. Brush in the direction of the nap of the suede. If scuff marks are present, a bit more effort may be required by using agitation to the fibers and more brushing back and forth to raise the dirt.

3. Use Rubber for Tough Stains

A suede eraser is ideal for dry stains, which are incredibly tough to remove. Please take into account applying more pressure than you would with the brush and rub the eraser on the stain more vigorously than generally over it. Even if you do not own a suede eraser, an ordinary one should work. The aim is to pull the stain particles from the suede fibers gently. After erasing, make sure you remove any traces of the rubber that was used by brushing.

4. Try White Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol

For more stubborn marks that an eraser cannot remove, both white vinegar and rubbing alcohol may help. Take a clean Microfiber cloth and spray water with just a few drops of vinegar or alcohol on it (make sure not to soak it). Using minimal pressure, start by placing the cloth on the archival stain on the edge and then gradually move towards the center. This will prevent the suede from getting irritated through too much friction. The fabric will most likely change color to a darker hue when wet, but it will go back to its natural color after it dries. If it’s needed, do the same procedure over and over again after the treated area is fully dry.

5. Don’t Underestimate Baking Soda, Cornstarch, or Liquid Dish Soap for Tough Stains

• Oil or Grease Stains: In relation to freshly stained cloths by grease or oil particles, dust a generous quantity of baking soda or corn starch around a spot of a mother stain while ensuring that the surrounding surface is clean. Get rid of the mother stain for three or more hours. When the hours are over, gently brush the area with a light cloth to remove any remaining particles or dust.
• Older Oil or Grease Stains: Some clothes only experience partial sensitivity losses when rubbed with soap water. In such a case, make your skin wet with the smallest quantity of mild liquid soap and massage it into the greased or oily clothing. Take another dry uniform, wet it lightly, add a few drops of soap, and massage the material that is stained by soap, being careful not to over-soak the material. Remove any remaining lather or soap by cleaning the area with a wet uniform.
• Salt Stains: Salt stains can be washed off by first adding a bit of mild soap to a glass of water. Take a clean cloth, soak a teaspoon of the prepared solution, and then softly tap on the salt-stained area.

6. Use Water to Combat Water Stains

In some instances, water can be a remedy for water spots. To remove unwieldy watermarks, lightly spray the whole shoe with water using a spray bottle. This will help to blend the existing water stain and prevent a new ring from forming. Use a clean cloth to quickly soak up the rest of the water and leave the shoe outside to dry completely.

7. Use a Suede Protector Spray

After washing and drying the suede footwear, you are recommended to apply a protector spray. This one would protect against water and liquids, and you could easily wipe it in the following years to increase the durability of the shoes. Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the application.

What NOT to Do When Cleaning Suede?

To protect your suede shoes, it would be best to remember these tips and avoid these common mistakes:

• Submerging Your Suede Shoes: Submerging your shoes into water or any liquid is a big no. Water is suede’s greatest nemesis.
• Refrain From: Hazmat, I’m sorry, but chemicals such as bleach, harsh detergents, and general household cleaners will ruin the suede for good.
• Do Not Apply Polish: Shoe polish is made of smooth leather, so if polish is applied to suede, it will damage it.
• Do Not Overdo It: If there is any ingredient you can trust, it is baking soda, but overdoing anything isn’t great news either.
• Use Only When Necessary: Magic erasers can be pretty compelling, so one should not go out of the way to lessen the impact. Instead, they should be used lightly and only a few times.
• Avoid Applying Before Drying: Please do not be tempted to dry suede shoes with hair dryers; put them on heaters and place them in dryers, as heat will do more harm than it looks.

Can Suede Get Wet?

In an ideal situation, the answer is no. You can expect the natural texture of suede to become stiff as the water rinses off the natural oils that are in it, making it shrink or even break completely. Suede, on the other hand, can deteriorate very quickly in wet conditions, even though Water stains can be gotten rid of with a few sprays of water. Now, a good way of drying the shoes is by using bath towels to get rid of as much moisture in the shoes – depending on the type of material that is being used to make the shoes, and then leaving the shoes open to the air.

Caring for Your Suede Shoes to Keep Them in Good Condition

As the adage goes, ‘prevention is better than cure.’ To avoid circumstances when this saying comes into play, here are some maintenance tips for your suede shoes:

• Brush Regularly: Suede shoes require a special brush to help remove dirt and dust from settling on them. This brushing should be done after wearing them, preferably around the heel.
• Use Shoe Trees: In order to prevent the shoes from getting wrinkled, the stuffing of cedar wood to maintain their shape and soak up moisture can be helpful.
• Store Properly: Suede shoes should be placed in a box or a separate bag in order to prevent them from dusting, accidentally being scratched, or wet. Ideally, it is best that such shoes are preserved in a more incredible place away from sunlight.
• Apply Suede Protector: There is a need for a protective spray on these shoes so they do not get damaged due to water, staining, and dirt accumulation.

FAQ Section

Q: Is it okay to clean Pamper Wipes and shower wipes on suede shoes?

A: Treating suede on a shoe or any other leather does become a bit extra sensitive and requires maintaining care. It is best to stick to methods and techniques that are specifically recommended for suit-wearing.

Q: Do you have any special tips to clean light-colored suede shoes?

A: They can be, so avoid cleaning with just about anything without caution, and always test it in an area where it is not visible. Other than scrubbing or cleaning with a washing sponge, all specific cleaning tools that are made for suede can do the job. However, more care will be demanded from lighter suede and cleaners, while dark suede can be applied more often.

Q: We all know mud stains can be a bother, but what’s the best way to remove them from suede shoes?

A: Let the mud dry well, then take the suede brush and, using slight pressure, move the dirt around the shoe in front and back motion several times. If it still doesn’t come out, refer to the hacks for guidelines as explained above.

Q: But what if I wash them with water? Will that help remove the stains?

A: Not even in your dreams; all your hard work for suede shoes will be wasted.

Q: How often should I clean my suede shoes?

A: If needed, do try to clean suede hors one at a time. Speaking for Dirt build-up has helped a lot when it comes to brushing because you do not have to scrub every single time иор trying to keep the dirt from sticking.

Conclusion

At first sight, keeping your favorite pairs of suede shoes in the best condition may look pretty hard. However, if you slow down, use the right tools, and follow these steps, you will get the best outcomes.

Remember, avoid getting too aggressive. Some love and care are all that is needed, and you will enjoy your elegant suede shoes for a long time.