How to clean suede boots: do-it-yourself recommendations for cleaning shoes from salt, dirt, white spots and stains

Impregnation of suede shoes

This is the most important step in shoe care. Impregnation will extend the life of your shoes and is very important, especially when it comes to suede shoes.

• Suede is an untreated natural leather characterized by very short bristles.
• The material is very soft and wears out from rough friction. The flexibility and softness of suede make shoes made from this material very susceptible to dirt accumulation.
• This property discourages many from purchasing suede shoes. Another problem is that suede shoes do not tolerate contact with water and moisture well.
• In order for suede shoes to be worn not only on sunny days, it is necessary to ensure their regular cleaning and proper impregnation.

The role of impregnation is to create a gentle and invisible coating on the shoes that will prevent the shoes from absorbing moisture. Thanks to impregnation, the shoes will also be more resistant to stains.

Whether you buy leather or suede shoes, always treat them with a treatment immediately after purchasing a new pair of women's boots or other shoes. Shoes protected in this way, such as autumn suede boots, will be resistant to moisture and dirt, and their color will not fade.

The impregnation process should be repeated from time to time, preferably following the instructions on the packaging of such a preparation. Impregnations are available on the market at different prices and with different properties. The most common and easiest to use are sprays.

Methods for cleaning suede boots

To easily clean a pair of shoes from stubborn dirt and greasy stains, use the following methods:

1. A solution of water, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide will help clean your boots from clay, mud from the swamp, as well as from reagents and salt that are sprinkled on roads in winter, and from stains after snow. Rub it onto the stained areas and wash off with a damp sponge after half an hour.
2. Freezing in the freezer and chipping off the stains with a knife will help you quickly remove wax or paraffin residue at home.
3. To clean grease, greasy stains, fuel oil, oil stains, machine oil residues, tar, sprinkle the surface with soda or talcum powder, and then go through with a soapy solution.
4. A vinegar solution will help remove the smell of greasy, cat urine and mold - wipe the dirty surface with it and ventilate.
5. Dried paint, glue and shoe polish can be removed using nail polish remover or acetone, a solvent.
6. Baking soda will help remove traces of blood, juice, soot or champagne - sprinkle it on the surface and clean off the residue.

Dried dirt will be removed by steaming - over steam from a saucepan, kettle or from a special device. After 4-5 minutes of treatment, remove any remaining stains from the boots with wet wipes.

Professional products

In shoe or shoe stores you can find special cleaning agents that are intended for professional use. These are various foams, sprays, deep cleaning shampoos. They must be used strictly according to the instructions. If possible, take your boots to the dry cleaner.

Rice. 3 – Professional suede care products

Chemicals

Spray or foam can effectively remove stains from suede. Spray the aerosol on fresh dirt, and then remove the remaining rubber brush. For a deeper effect, use cleansing foam - leave for half an hour to dry and shake off.

Brush

At home, it is easiest to clean winter or autumn suede boots with it yourself. Use the rubber soft side to remove dust and remaining dirt, the hard side to remove serious dirt. Use the roller wheel to clean seams. Using a good brush, you can keep your suede shoes in their original condition for a long time.

Vinegar

Allows you to easily remove unpleasant odors from shoes and some stains. To remove dirt, use 9% vinegar; to remove dust, use a 3% solution. After use, be sure to air out your pair of shoes.

Water-repellent impregnation

Special products help protect boots from moisture. You can use aerosols, paints, anti-salt shampoos and restorative agents. Apply them according to the instructions - the first time 3 layers after the previous one has dried, every week - 1 layer.

Traditional methods

You can perfectly clean suede boots with a simple crust of bread - work it like an eraser on the plaque. For dark shoes, use rye bread, for white shoes, use loaf crumb. To remove greasy stains, sprinkle them with semolina - it will absorb greasy stains, after which it can be easily removed without a trace.

Rice. 4 – Clean light suede shoes with white bread

Wet cleaning

Only wet treatment helps with severe stains. Dilute a couple of tablespoons of liquid soap, dishwashing detergent or special shampoo for suede in a liter of water. If none of this is available, regular shampoo will help. Treat dirt with soapy water and remove remaining foam with a damp sponge.

Steam cleaning

Steaming will help refresh the color and remove old stains. Boil water in a saucepan or kettle, hold the boots over the steam for 4-5 minutes, carefully - not too much - straighten the pile with a brush and clean off stains with a napkin. You can also use a special steamer for shoes.

Washing powder

It can be used in extreme cases and very carefully - make sure that the composition does not contain bleaching ingredients. Dilute a tablespoon of powder in 5 liters of water to make a soap solution to quickly remove stains, or in a liter to make a thick foam. Apply it to dirt, let dry and remove with a stiff brush.

Dry cleaning

It should be done daily. Take a rubber brush and rub it in a circular motion across the pile several times. This will remove any remaining dust, help wash away dirt and refresh the color so that it becomes the same as it was originally.

Water bath

It will help restore softness to boots if they have become rough. Boil water in a saucepan, place another one on top and keep the products over the steam. After 3 minutes, straighten the pile and turn the other side, repeat the treatment.

Rice. 5 - Pal to give suede softness

Milk cleaning composition

Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of low-fat milk, soak a cloth in the mixture and treat stains on light-colored shoes. After this, wash off the residue with a damp sponge.

Gasoline and talc

Mix them until creamy, apply to stains and wait 10 minutes. Remove any residue with a brush and wash with soapy water. This will help remove greasy, dirty stains. Only purified gasoline should be used.

Chalk and tooth powder

Ideal for removing small grease stains on suede from boots. Sprinkle crushed chalk or tooth powder onto greasy stains on light-colored women's shoes. After 10-15 minutes, remove the residue with a rubber brush.

Starch and ammonia

Mix both ingredients to make a paste. Rub it onto problem areas, leave for half an hour, shake off any remaining residue and wipe with a damp sponge.

Rubber eraser

Use a white rubber band to lift the pile and remove dust and remaining dirt. You can use an eraser to clean suede every day.

Soap solution

Rice. 6 - Grate the soap

Plane laundry or toilet soap, dissolve a tablespoon of shavings in a liter of water. Use a slightly damp cloth soaked in the solution to remove any remaining stains.

Application of impregnation for suede

Of course, you need to remember that before applying the drug, shoes should be cleaned. When applying impregnation, strictly follow the spray manufacturer's instructions on the packaging.

In the fresh air, from a distance of a few centimeters, spray the entire surface of the shoe and let it dry so that the substance is absorbed by the suede. Do not apply too much spray.

Basic method for cleaning suede

The main method of cleaning suede shoes is simply brushing. Remember to choose a brush that matches your shoe type. The most effective way to clean suede material is to use a brush designed only for suede.

It has natural soft bristles that are ideal for cleaning the fine fibers of suede leather. Such a brush can be purchased in shoe stores, online sales or from a shoemaker.

Salt removal

In winter, utility services treat roads and sidewalks with a special saline solution and reagents to make it more comfortable for pedestrians to move on ice. Such mixtures negatively affect the external condition and internal structure of shoes made of suede materials.

Gasoline and talc versus salt

You can deal with stains and stubborn stains using purified gasoline and talc.
At the first stage, the boots are treated with gasoline using a soft foam sponge. After treatment, the wet surface is covered with talcum powder. The powder should be kept on the shoes for at least 60 minutes. After time, the surface is cleaned of powder using a special brush. The final stage is drying: the boots should dry on their own at room temperature.

Vinegar

The second popular and truly effective method is to use 9% vinegar essence. Vinegar dissolves salt, which helps remove stubborn stains and stains. Using a rubber brush or sponge, the surface of the product is treated with vinegar. Once the salt solutions have been removed, the boots should be wiped with a damp, soft cloth. Finally, dry at room temperature.

Ammonia with starch

To remove old stains, a mixture of ammonia and potato starch is useful. Both components must be mixed until a homogeneous paste is formed. The resulting mixture is applied to the contaminated areas and left until completely dry. The process takes a few minutes. After drying, the pulp must be removed using a brush.

Attention! Cleaning processes must be carried out with rubber gloves.

Cleaning suede shoes

Suede shoes are always cleaned against the grain. Clean with spheres to smoothly move from one surface to another. "Rotate" cleaning, that is, cleaning entire shoes in several series, is not a recommended method and is not a good answer to the problem of how to clean suede shoes.

For more stubborn stains and dirt, special suede rubber bands are the solution. They are very effective at removing dirt, but not in all cases.

Proper care of suede shoes

For boots to last longer, they need to be carefully looked after.
You should start with daily cleaning - purchase a special rubber brush and spray to protect it from moisture. After purchase, comb the lint with the soft side of the brush and apply 3 layers of water-repellent. The film will not be noticeable, but will help protect the pair from dirt and moisture. Rice. 1 - Caring for suede boots

Useful folk tips for caring for suede boots:

• wear them only in dry weather - rain, snow and dirt can ruin the material;
• Dry your shoes thoroughly before cleaning;
• for drying, use a special pad or stuff the inside with paper (for light-colored boots, only white napkins can be used);
• change the paper as it gets wet;
• After drying, clean the dirt from the boots with a brush, foam, or use rubber bristles.

Give each suede color its own brush. When removing dirt, move it in one direction, and rub it in different directions. To restore color, use spray paint.

How to wash suede shoes

As already mentioned, we dry clean suede shoes. However, there is an exception to this rule, namely a situation in which we must consider not just how to “clean”, but how to wash suede shoes?

This procedure may be necessary in a situation where the suede is deeply penetrated by moisture. Then cleaning with a brush or even suede rubber will not work. You will need a special shampoo for your skin.

But how can you determine whether suede shoes need to be washed? The easiest way is to clean them thoroughly and repair them with suede rubber.

• If after thorough cleaning there is still dirt on the shoes, it is likely that dirt has entered the deeper layers of the leather along with moisture.
• Fortunately, this in no way means that the shoes can be thrown away.
• The solution would be the already mentioned shampoos, for example, from the manufacturers Famaco or Burgol.
• In addition, manufacturers always provide accurate information on how to safely wash suede shoes with their products.

How to clean light suede boots

With light boots the situation is somewhat more complicated. The surface of light-colored material begins to shine and fade faster; stains on such shoes are more noticeable than on black shades. When cleaning, you can use the methods described above.

Steam cleaning

In extreme situations, steam treatment can help.
A small saucepan placed in a water bath may be useful for cleaning. The boots should be held over steam for several minutes. Then use a paper towel or foam sponge to remove all dirt. After steam treatment they are removed very easily. At the end of the process, it is recommended to straighten the pile with a special brush for caring for suede shoes.

If one session was not enough, the procedure must be repeated.

This method can be useful when caring for suede shoes of any color. However, for light shades, steam treatment is absolutely necessary.

Ammonia

Ammonia will also help in cleaning light-colored suede. It dissolves and removes dirt, making it easy to remove them from the surface of the boots.
An ammonia solution is diluted in warm water. As an additive, a detergent is suitable: dishwashing liquid or your favorite liquid soap.

Treat the boots with the resulting mixture using a soft sponge or a napkin made of dense soft fabric. After removing dirt, the surface must be wiped with a dry paper towel or flannel cloth.

Homemade ways to clean suede boots

Home methods for cleaning suede shoes replace professional products. Many people wonder how to clean suede shoes with home remedies and whether it is safe.

Of course, the home remedies suggested below are effective and safe. These methods are proven and very easy to use.

Here are the most effective home methods for cleaning suede shoes:

• Using bread crust: Suede shoes can be cleaned with bread crust. This method allows you to remove small and dry dirt. When using bread crust, you don't have to worry about damaging the material. When you're done cleaning your suede shoes, simply remove any remaining leather and you're done.
• Cleaning with an eraser: Suede shoes can be cleaned with a dry eraser. It can replace professional suede rubber. Use an eraser to wipe dirty or worn areas. After cleaning, remove any remaining rubbed eraser.
• Using a toothbrush: Use this method when your shoes get wet and dirty. First you need to dry the shoes, and then use a toothbrush to carefully wipe the suede shoes in the direction of the grain.
• Cleaning shoes with baking soda: Baking soda has many uses, one of which is cleaning suede shoes. First, we need to prepare a mixture of milk and soda in the proportion: one tablespoon of soda per glass of milk (200 ml). Gently rub the mixture into the stained area with a rag. After applying the mixture, let the shoes dry, and then brush off any remaining baking soda with a dry brush.
• Using water and vinegar: This method is used to remove grease stains from suede shoes. Mix a stopper of vinegar with a stopper of water (about 10 ml each). Then we apply this mixture to the shoes. The next step is to wipe the shoes with water only. After these two applications, we leave the suede shoes to dry.
• Using Wet Wipes: This product is used for cleaning infants, but they can also be effective in cleaning suede shoes. This method is very simple. Simply wipe off any dirt or grease stains with a tissue and let the shoes dry.
• Cleaning with Talcum Powder: Another way to clean suede shoes is to use talcum powder. This method is effective when suede shoes are wet and dirty. In this case, the shoes should be coated with talcum powder and lightly patted on the material. Then let the shoes dry. The next step is to remove any remaining talcum powder from the dried shoes. You can use a dry toothbrush.

1. This method is for those wondering how to remove road salt from suede shoes.
2. To get rid of salt from shoes, we need: two folded pieces of toilet paper, water and a dish sponge.
3. We begin cleaning suede shoes by applying toilet paper to the salted area and wetting it with water using a sponge.
4. The next step is to let the paper dry completely. The paper will become saturated with water and harden.
5. Then just remove the paper and the problem of salt on shoes is solved.

The nuances of cleaning suede of different colors

To refresh the shade of light-colored boots, wipe the surface with a solution of a glass of milk and a teaspoon of soda. Shoes made of artificial, natural suede and nubuck in beige, light gray or white require a special approach to cleaning. To properly remove grease stains, sprinkle them with crushed chalk, starch, tooth powder, soda, talcum powder or fine table salt. Then brush off the residue with a rubber brush. Light-colored shoes with fur can also be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide.

You need to clean burgundy, blue, red, raspberry, pink and other colored boots carefully, avoiding alkalis and acids. It is best to wipe them with an eraser or a crust of bread. Multi-colored shoes should be cleaned of dust daily with a rubber brush. Rub brown and red boots with coffee grounds or ground coffee, and blue and black boots with carbon paper, soapy water and treat with a steamer.

Rice. 2 - Cleaning products for colored suede boots

Three rules for caring for suede shoes

Before using any care product (either homemade or store-bought), make sure that it will not damage your suede shoes in any way. Try a little of the product on an invisible area of ​​suede and make sure that after drying there are no visible marks left on it.

Suede boots or shoes should be stored in breathable bags or cardboard boxes to allow free air circulation. It is important to note that before you put your shoes in the box, you should first clean and soak them - this treatment will extend the life of your shoes.

Try not to let your suede shoes get too wet. Water can deform leather and its color may fade after contact with water. Dry wet shoes not with a dryer or heater, but naturally.

To quickly get rid of moisture, you can put paper balls inside to absorb excess water. It is important that your shoes contain clean paper and not colored newspapers.

Tips for caring for suede boots

A few additional recommendations will help each user in properly caring for their shoes and maintaining their attractive appearance.

• Before each use, suede boots or boots must be treated with a special water-repellent protective spray. It will help preserve the structure of the shoe and protect the material from aggressive environmental influences.
• The cleaning procedure should be carried out after each use of shoes. This will help avoid dried and stubborn stains.
• If damage occurs, you should avoid using regular shoe paint: it is not suitable for suede material. Specialized stores offer a wide selection of concealers (spray or foam) that will help cover up damage.
• Boots should dry naturally, without exposure to thermal effects. Especially after wet processing.
• To cleanse greasy stains, a powder made from talc and chalk is suitable.
• When cleaning with milk, it is recommended to stick to low-fat products.

Boots made from suede materials are especially attractive and chic. These shoes will become a harmonious and versatile addition to every woman’s wardrobe. Using several methods and recommendations, products can be easily cleaned from dirt, streaks and stains. With proper care, suede boots will serve their owner for a long time.

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