How to wash suede sneakers: in the machine, by hand, prepare and clean

Suede shoes are practical and comfortable. In addition, the natural material allows air to pass through well and has excellent thermal insulation, making these shoes relevant not only in the warm season. Sneakers made from suede are often subject to dirt and stubborn stains. To give them their original appearance and extend their service life, they need to be washed periodically, adhering to certain rules not only for washing, but also for general care.

Pre-cleaning

Before washing, it is very important to properly prepare your shoes. Otherwise, during the process, the dirt will be absorbed into the structure of the material so much that it will be impossible to remove these stains later. To prevent this from happening, you need to follow simple recommendations:

Remove the insoles and laces - they are washed separately. The laces can be washed in a machine by tying them in a knot, and the insoles can be cleaned by hand and dried naturally away from heating devices.
Shake out any small debris that has accumulated inside.
The surface of the sneakers must be cleaned of dried dirt and invisible dust. To do this, use a stiff brush designed for suede.
Rinse the sole thoroughly. For hard-to-reach places, use a toothpick or an old toothbrush.

Features of the material

Suede shoes not only look great, but they are also comfortable to wear. The products are light, soft and breathable. However, during wear, dust settles on the sneakers and various contaminants appear. Shoes especially suffer in rainy and damp weather. Suede is a very delicate material and does not tolerate excess moisture, so it requires careful care every day. A new pair must be immediately treated with a special spray, which forms a protective film and greatly facilitates further cleaning.

Washing technology for natural suede

Natural suede is a very demanding material. Try to wash it as little as possible, using dry cleaning only. To prevent the rapid appearance of dirt, use special dust- and water-repellent agents in the form of aerosols and impregnations. If dry cleaning was not enough and the sneakers, whatever one may say, will have to be washed, then first prepare the shoes, and only then begin the process.

Manually

Hand washing technology is quite simple:

Prepare a weak soap solution and add a few drops of ammonia to it. It is not recommended to use regular washing powder and products containing bleaches, chlorine, bleach, alkali and solvents. It is best if it is “soft” soap or washing gel.
Using a sponge, apply the solution to the surface of the shoe, making circular movements. Try to wet the material as little as possible, since prolonged interaction with moisture makes suede rough.
Rinse your shoes in cool, clean water and set them to dry.

In the typewriter

If the dirt is so strong that it cannot be removed manually, suede sneakers can be washed in an automatic washing machine:

Use special covers or old pillowcases when washing.
Do not wash several different pairs of shoes at the same time.
To prevent damage to the drum, wash any unnecessary rags or towels along with your shoes.
When washing, use gel products or soap solution.
The water temperature should not exceed 40°C, the mode should be delicate. In this case, it is better to turn off spinning and drying. Some modern models of washing machines contain a “Sport” mode, which is designed for this type of shoe.

Preparing for washing

The main thing is to comply with all the requirements for such a procedure. Before washing suede sneakers, they need to be prepared for this process. To do this, a series of sequential actions are performed:

pull out the lacing and insoles;
clean the adhered dirt with a dry cloth, a special rubber brush or a dry sponge, and also remove dust;
carefully remove all dirt from the sole - you can use water and a toothbrush to remove dirt from the recesses.

This preparatory stage must be followed in any case; shoes can be washed manually or in an automatic machine.

Important! Insoles also require cleaning as they absorb the odor of foot sweat. But they can only be washed by hand. They should only be dried flat out in a dry place, but absolutely not near a radiator or other heating devices.

How to wash faux suede sneakers?

Unlike natural material, artificial suede tolerates wet processing very well. If you carry out the washing procedure correctly, your shoes will last for many years and will retain their attractive appearance.

Hands

When washing by hand, it is important to use “soft” products that do not contain aggressive components. The soap solution is applied to the surface of the sneakers using a sponge or stiff brush. It is very important to process the material in one direction so as not to damage the pile. Wash off any remaining product with clean water using a napkin.

In car

Machine washing faux suede follows the same rules as when washing natural suede. However, in this case, the water temperature should not exceed 30°C, but otherwise the recommendations are the same - delicate mode, gentle products, no spinning and drying, special covers.

When washing natural or artificial suede, you can use special detergents for suede or wool. In addition, if heavily soiled, it is permissible to wash sneakers on the “Wool” mode, while controlling the water temperature and not exceeding the permissible norm.

Dry cleaning method for suede products

It is important to dry your shoes thoroughly before cleaning. You can clean sneakers from stubborn dirt and greasy stains using the following available tools and devices:

The powder will do a great job with greasy stains.

Soft brush with rubber bristles.
Treat the stain with talcum powder or baby powder. After the fat has been completely absorbed, remove any remaining product with a brush.
Sandpaper or an eraser will help restore the velvety feel.
Bald patches and greasy places are cleaned with a dried crust of rye bread.
Coffee grounds applied to the product will help restore the original appearance of brown suede shoes.
A mixture of milk and vinegar will clean dirt from light-colored sneakers.
The earthen dirt from the suede is cleaned with a matchbox. Shoes should be rubbed with the side where the sulfur is located, and then treated with a sponge.

How to get rid of stains?

If after washing there are still stubborn stains on the surface of your suede shoes, you can try to remove them using the following methods:

Using a steam cleaner, if available. You can also generate steam yourself by heating water in a saucepan until it boils and holding your shoes above the water. This way, the material will be moistened from the inside and stains can be cleaned with a clean brush or napkin. For greater effectiveness, you can add a small amount of ammonia to the water.
Use a special aerosol dry cleaning product. It is enough to apply it to the problem area, wait a certain time and remove the residue along with the stains.

Tips and tricks

Be sure to read all the tips on how to care for suede sneakers, because they are expensive, and doing the wrong thing can significantly shorten the life of your favorite shoes.

Do not store suede products in plastic bags to avoid the appearance of fungus or mold; use shoe boxes or a special shoe cabinet.

Place moth repellent nearby.

Try to wear suede shoes in dry weather, they do not like adverse weather conditions: snow, rain, mud.
Do not use products designed to care for smooth skin.
Carry out all manipulations with suede only after it has completely dried. To speed up drying, stuff the inside of the shoes with crumpled newspaper and dry only in natural conditions.
Avoid sunlight, shoes will fade and lose color.
If you don’t have a special brush for suede at home, then use folk methods: remove dirt with a crust of rye bread, and for a velvety feel, hold your shoes over hot steam and brush them with a regular clothes brush.
Do not make circular movements with the brush, this will damage the material. Cleaning should be done using movements in one direction.
To remove salt stains, use glycerin. It does not damage the fabric and removes stains perfectly.
For white shoes, you can use regular toothpaste. It will perfectly remove stains from suede.
Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide will help restore the snow-white appearance: add a spoonful to a glass of water and treat the surface. Do not overdo it with ammonia, otherwise you risk leaving a scorched spot on your shoes.
At least once a week, apply a protective water-repellent spray to your sneakers.
Under no circumstances should you wash off the dirt with water; it will make the suede dull and the stains will still not disappear.

How to dry it properly?

Proper drying is the key to maintaining the shape of your shoes. After washing, stuff your shoes tightly with white paper. It is not recommended to use newspaper or magazine sheets as the printing ink is likely to leave marks. Suede sneakers should be dried in a well-ventilated area, away from heating devices, and the paper should be replaced from time to time, as it will absorb moisture. You can use special shoe dryers, which have been on sale for a long time. They don't get very hot, but are ideal for drying shoes.

As you can see, there is nothing wrong with washing suede sneakers if you follow three recommendations - carefully prepare, wash properly, and dry properly. By following them, you will not only extend the life of your shoes, but also maintain their attractive appearance for a long time.

Drying suede sneakers

It is important to properly dry your shoes after any type of cleaning. The further appearance of the sneakers depends on how the drying proceeds. First of all, you will need to stuff the product with paper. It is better to use white material, as colored material may leave stains. The paper layer will need to be replaced 2-3 times as it gets wet. Then leave the shoes in a ventilated area out of direct sunlight. A terry towel will help you quickly dry your sneakers by thoroughly blotting your shoes. It is also permissible to use a special electric dryer.

Manually

Sneakers made from natural suede will have to be cleaned by hand. First you need to carry out preliminary cleaning using the method described above. After this, you can proceed directly to hand washing.

Procedure steps:

pour water into the washing basin;
add a little washing powder there and stir thoroughly so that all the granules dissolve in the water;
dip suede shoes into the resulting solution;
leave for 10 minutes;
rinse in clean water;
then wipe the sneakers with a damp soft cloth;
blot the products with a dry cloth and dry in a well-ventilated area.

Do not apply washing powder directly to shoes, as the abrasive particles it contains can damage the suede.

Features of cleaning white and colored suede

Blue, black and any dark sneakers can be cleaned with ground coffee or coffee grounds, an eraser or carbon paper. Red, pink and bright items are cleaned with hydrogen peroxide and bread crumbs.

Rice. 1 – Cleaning light suede shoes

Beige, white, gray and other light-colored sneakers need to be cleaned especially carefully, otherwise there is a risk of discolouration. Dry wet shoes on a towel, remove dirt and stains with a mixture of milk and soda with ammonia (100 ml of milk, ½ tsp of soda and 10 ml of ammonia). Complete the cleaning process by blotting with a damp sponge or vinegar solution. Old stains are removed with a mixture of turpentine, talc and magnesia in equal proportions, and they are pre-treated with warm milk. Dry cleaning of light-colored shoes is carried out using talc, starch, tooth powder, starch or chalk.

Wet cleaning methods

Just because you can't clean wet suede doesn't mean you can't use moisture.

Above the Ferry

The shoes are held over a pan of boiling water or over a kettle. When steam hits the suede, it softens it and the dirt. After this, the material is cleaned with a brush and left until completely dry.

The important thing here is not to wet your shoes, but only to soften the dirt, so it is not recommended to hover for too long. Usually 10-15 seconds are enough to remove medium dirt.

Ammonia

Ammonia is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:4. The solution is soaked into a cloth, which is used to thoroughly wipe the suede.

Vinegar

Vinegar removes salt stains from suede, which especially often appear on shoes in winter.

Water and vinegar are diluted in a 1:1 ratio. Next, moisten a cotton swab with the solution and use it to treat the suede. A cloth soaked in water removes dirt particles and salt stains from shoes.

It is recommended to treat light-colored sneakers to remove salt at the end of the winter season, even if the stains are not visible.

Milk

For cleaning, you need to choose milk with the lowest fat content. Add 1 tsp of soda to a glass of this milk. It should dissolve completely.

Next, a rough cloth is soaked in milk, which is used to wipe the light-colored sneakers. If there is a lot of dirt, then the fabric must be washed or changed from time to time.

Washing powder

It is diluted in water, it should turn out to be a wet paste. Rub the mixture onto white sneakers, after which it is washed with a clean cloth.

In the washing machine

If the shoes are made of artificial suede and there are no holes or cracks on them, then you can prepare them for washing using the method described above.

Then you should wash your suede sneakers in the machine, but before that you should familiarize yourself with the important rules for such washing:

It is recommended to use liquid detergent rather than regular laundry detergent. Do not add bleaching powders, which can leave residue and stains on the suede.
It is necessary to set the delicate washing mode without spinning and drying and set the temperature to no higher than 30 degrees.
You can only wash one pair of shoes at a time.
Sneakers must be placed in a special shoe bag before washing. If you don’t have it on hand, you can use an unnecessary pillowcase.
To avoid damaging the washing machine drum, you should put a few old towels along with your shoes.

It is not advisable to machine wash suede boots, boots and shoes with various fasteners and other decorative elements, as the decorations may fly off during the washing process.

Protection

After deep wet or dry cleaning, it is necessary to apply protection to the shoes. Primary protective treatment must be carried out at least 3 times.

For example, water-repellent impregnation Tarrago Nano Protector (250/400 ml), the best product for caring for such shoes. It protects the suede from becoming saturated with moisture. When it rains, the water takes the form of pearls and rolls off the surface.

In addition, this product allows the skin to breathe. It creates a breathable coating and does not allow moisture to penetrate inside. Tarrago Nano Protector must be applied until the impregnation stops being absorbed.

When should you go to dry cleaning?

Natural suede shoes are expensive. If your sneakers are new but very dirty, you can take them to the dry cleaner. Specialists will expose the pair to professional detergents, thoroughly remove all stains and dry it thoroughly.

Criteria for quality work:

no stains;
softness and even color of suede, without scuffs;
removal of unpleasant odor.

For classic cleaning of sneakers you will have to pay about 1,500 rubles. For this price the client will be provided with the following range of services:

removal of stubborn dirt, salt deposits, oil stains, dust and dirt;
washing insoles and laces;
removal of pellets;
shoe deodorization;
combing suede and covering it with special compounds;
restoration of the shape of sneakers.

You can also use the shoe restoration service at the dry cleaner . Its cost starts from 2500 rubles.

The craftsmen will not only remove stubborn dirt, but also paint the pair in any color, restore damaged elements and carry out other work.