How to make suede soft after washing?

Soft, elastic, velvety to the touch, suede is an excellent basis for creating amazingly beautiful, stylish things.

Clothes, shoes, and accessories made of suede will delight you for many years, provided they are properly cared for.

How to care for suede products, can they be washed in a washing machine? How to soften and restore suede items?

The answers to these questions will help you preserve the original appearance of your favorite things for as long as possible.

How to clean black suede shoes?

Oil stains are clearly visible on black suede shoes. To get rid of such “decoration”, take a little gasoline and wipe off all dirt with a cloth soaked in it. Another option is to sprinkle a couple of pinches of talcum powder on the greasy stain and leave for 3-4 hours. After this, you can easily clean off the dirt with a wire brush.

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Is it worth washing?

Suede is a rather capricious material that requires special care. The thing is that manufacturers very often cover the velvety surface of suede with a special impregnation that preserves the material from excessive moisture absorption.

Violations of washing rules can lead to the material losing its protective layer, and with it its elasticity, softness and natural shine.

Before you start washing, it is very important to carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations indicated on the product tag.

How to soften and restore?

Improper care is the main reason that suede loses its plasticity and velvety surface.

There are several ways to correct the situation, soften and restore suede after washing:

Steaming. A large container is filled with very hot water, over which a suede product is laid out.
Steam from hot water, penetrating through, softens the suede and raises the fibers. To achieve an ideal result, the procedure will have to be repeated at least five to six times.
Glycerin mixture . In order to soften the surface of suede that has lost its elasticity, it is necessary to moisten it with a glycerin mixture (0.5 tsp of glycerin is dissolved in 1 liter of water), wait until the mixture is absorbed, and remove the excess with a soft cloth.
Vinegar. Rinsing in vinegar water will help soften rough suede (3 tablespoons of vinegar are dissolved in 1 liter of water).

Features of washing suede sneakers

To wash suede sneakers at home and not spoil them, you need to first prepare the product for the cleaning process:

Clean off dust and dirt from the surface of the sneakers (even if the dirt is not visually visible). To do this, you can use a dry and fairly stiff brush.
Clean the inside of the shoe, as well as the sole.
Remove the laces and insoles as they are best washed separately.
If you decide to wash it in an automatic machine, then the sneakers must be packed in a washing bag, or (if you don’t have one) placed in a pillowcase and tied with a lace. This will protect sensitive suede from unnecessary contact with the surface of the drum.

What not to do

Do not use aggressive substances, because they can damage the material or ruin its color. You shouldn't get your shoes too wet either. Wetting suede can cause deformation of the product. You can ruin your shoes if you immediately try to stretch the shoes too much.

At the time when attempts are made to make the size larger on your own, you should not go outside, i.e. take long walks. Wet suede material will attract dirt.

Do not dry soft, velvety skin near a radiator or other heater. Even if the shoes were the appropriate size, after this procedure they may become tight.

It is not recommended to entrust the increase by wearing it in to another person whose feet are larger. Such actions may result in the product becoming larger than necessary.

How to dry?

maintain the shape of a suede product after washing :

It is strictly forbidden to wring out suede (deformation of the material is possible). The product is only slightly squeezed with your hands so that all the moisture comes out.
Dry suede items only in a horizontal plane (on a layer, dryer, ironing board). If a wet product is hung out to dry on hangers or a rope, it will lose its shape under the weight of it.
Paper will help speed up the drying process and also maintain the original appearance of the product. It must first be wrinkled and then placed inside a suede product. Periodically, as moisture is absorbed, the paper is changed.

Going to dry cleaning

Dry cleaning professionals will help restore the natural shine and color of suede, remove stubborn, stubborn stains, and correct mistakes in self-washing.

Special equipment, well-chosen detergents and the experience of dry cleaning specialists will quickly return the suede product to its original appearance and extend its service life.

The price of suede dry cleaning is influenced by the speed of cleaning, the type and complexity of tailoring the product, and the degree of contamination. On average, dry cleaning of suede will cost 1500-2000 rubles.

Getting rid of hard heels

An ordinary paraffin candle or laundry soap will help soften the backdrops a little. Rub one of these products on the inside of the heel of your shoe and try walking. You can also soften the backdrop with vinegar, generously moistening the skin in the problem area.

Alcohol diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio will help make artificial shoe materials soft. Moisten the backdrop with it and “break” it with your hands. Before the procedure, make sure that there is no cardboard insert in the heels; if it gets wet, it will get wet and the shoes will lose their shape.

Softening the back of boots with a hammer - video

If your favorite shoes or new sneakers rub your skin, don’t worry. You can soften them at home. When choosing softening products, pay attention to the material from which the shoes are made. Choose the method that suits you and enjoy walking in your favorite shoes or sneakers!

How can you wash a suede dress? Products made from suede are far from new these days. It can be natural and artificial. This material is used to make jackets and shoes, trousers and other items of our everyday wardrobe. Things made from this material are strong and durable, although they require special care. Features of washing in a washing machine and by hand.

Machine washable suede items

So, for SMA washing, you need to remember to be gentle with your suede fabric. First of all, carefully examine the label for symbols prohibiting machine washing. If there are none, then we can continue.

Washing suede in the machine

What is necessary:

If the item is without lining, turn it inside out; if with it, there is no need to turn it inside out.
If there are any stains on the fabric, rub them with laundry soap or gentle bleach, scrub a little with a brush.

Now put your things in the machine.
It is advisable to choose a washing program “silk” or “delicate”.
Temperature is not higher than 300.
The number of revolutions during spinning is no more than 300.

At the end of washing, remove the item from the machine and dry it. If you need to treat suede shoes, then you should put them in a bag and wash them along with your old clothes. This is done in order to protect the drum of the machine from damage. You should not wash more than one pair of shoes at a time.

Why does the heel rub?

There are several reasons:

Wrong size selected. Tight shoes or boots squeeze the foot, and too loose ones rub the skin. Because of this, irritation is noted and calluses appear.
Rough material. A hard heel will inevitably rub your heel.
The model is not chosen for the leg. Everyone's feet are different - narrow or wide, and not every option may be suitable.
Swelling of the legs. Changes in foot size throughout the day due to swelling cause calluses to appear on the feet.
Sewing defects, for example, rough seams on the back.
Individual characteristics. Often the problem occurs after a heel fracture or other injury.

On a note

Each stage of cleaning should be accompanied by complete drying of the shoes.
Suede is afraid of moisture, and it takes an average of 20 hours to dry completely, so it is not recommended to wear suede shoes every day.
You can polish suede using a lint-free, dry cloth.
In order to restore heavily worn suede, you need to use dry cleaning services.

All you need to live gracefully and comfortably is a pair of suede shoes... Three pairs.

Mother of two children. I have been housekeeping for more than 7 years - this is my main job. I like to experiment, I constantly try different means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, more fulfilling. I love my family.

What affects our mood? There may be a thousand answers to this question, but comfortable shoes will probably be in the top ten. After all, if your shoes rub, no amount of joy in life can distract you from the pain. The reason for such discomfort is very often the rigidity of the material from which the pair is made. But you shouldn’t despair - there are several options to turn the situation in your favor. That is, you can’t rub your feet and show off your beautiful shoes. Let's look at the most effective means of softening shoes.

Faux suede

Faux suede is a much more durable material. It is not at all malleable, which is why not all of the above methods are suitable here. You should not resort to mechanical influences, as this can be fraught with the appearance of micro-cracks and tears.

It is best to place damp newspapers inside the problem shoes and leave them there for several days. Of course, the newspaper needs to be moistened regularly.

If you are forced to walk in narrow shoes made of artificial suede, because you don’t have time to wait, use thin nylon socks.

This is interesting: Time-tested shoe care products: Salamander, Sapphire, Ecco, Riker or prefer new items

Before each wear, you need to wet them and walk until they dry.

You need to repeat the procedure regularly, since this will not only allow you to break in the shoes much faster, but will also make the process of wearing them much easier.

Features of cleaning artificial material

If the manufacturer does not prohibit machine washing (you must carefully study the product tag), then cleaning proceeds according to the following algorithm:

Set the permissible water temperature (no more than 30C), wash mode - delicate or manual, turn off the spin function.
Liquid detergent for wool or suede is poured into a special compartment.
Having previously placed the suede product in a special bag, load the washing machine drum.
After washing, take out the item and, without twisting it, lay it out on a horizontal surface to dry.

Faux suede should be washed as quickly as possible. Prolonged contact with water may cause deformation of the product.

Hand washing will gently and delicately clean suede. Algorithm of actions:

Take warm water into a large basin (temperature no more than 35C), add suede detergent and beat it to a thick foam;
Using a soft sponge, soap foam is first applied to particularly contaminated areas, after which the suede product is completely treated with a soap solution;
The already clean product is wiped with a soft, clean, damp cloth and laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.

How to wash?

The choice of washing method is determined by several factors:

manufacturer's recommendations;
degree of contamination (hand washing only helps to refresh the item);
suede type (synthetic material is less resistant to moisture, so it is better to use the hand washing method for it).

Hands

Strict adherence to certain hand washing rules will help clean items while maintaining their shape and color.

Algorithm of actions:

A bathtub or large basin is filled with warm water (temperature no more than 35C).
Add a certain amount of liquid detergent for wool or suede to the water (the exact dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging).
The suede product is carefully immersed in a soap solution for five minutes, after which the velvety surface is wiped with a soft sponge.
Rinse the washed item thoroughly under running water (using a shower head will help prevent streaks).
Avoiding aggressive twisting and push-ups, the product is laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.

In the washing machine

Machine washing greatly facilitates the care of suede products (the main thing is that such actions are permitted by the manufacturer).

Algorithm of actions:

Set the water temperature to no higher than 35, wash mode – delicate or manual, and turn off the spin function.
Liquid detergent is poured into a special compartment.
The washing process is started, after which the product is immediately removed from the drum and laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.

To wash suede products, do not use products containing chlorine, bleaches, or stain removers.

Before loading the product into the washing machine drum, rub particularly dirty areas with laundry soap.

Useful tips on how to soften suede

The suede is steamed over steam. The process itself requires scrupulousness and accuracy. Under no circumstances should the item fall into boiling water. Otherwise, the product will deteriorate (the suede will shrink). As a washing option, leave suede items in the bathroom with a hot shower on for half an hour, no more. Suede softened in this way is thoroughly dried naturally, without resorting to any heating devices. The dried item is steamed again. To achieve the desired softness, the softening procedure is repeated at least five times. Suede will indeed become a soft material.

It is recommended to press softened shoes tightly with paper. This is done so that the soft material does not shrink when drying.
Suede can be softened with a vinegar solution. You should prepare it yourself by dissolving one teaspoon of vinegar essence in one liter of water. If you have 5% or 9% vinegar, you should take one tablespoon. The hardened suede fabric is wiped several times with a soft sponge soaked in the resulting solution. Ammonia is also used with the same effect.
If after the manipulations the softness of the product is not restored, you should resort to the following method. You need to prepare a glycerin mixture. Its composition is obtained by mixing half a teaspoon of glycerin with a liter of water. Once pre-shaken, moisten a soft cloth and apply it to the suede, allowing the solution to be absorbed. Excess should be wiped off with a dry cloth.
You can use an iron with a steam function. The suede item should be hung on hangers and the sole should be passed over the surface of the suede at a distance of two centimeters. The procedure is not quick to achieve the desired result.

The main recommendation for owners of suede products is to regularly care for things made from such a delicate material, not to allow it to change too much, when even with all your efforts it will not be possible to return it to its original condition. You can extend the service life of suede items by using protective products for this material.