Suede shoes look very beautiful and expensive, but require careful care and careful wearing. Shoe repair shops offer shoe polishing using a variety of oils and lubricants. This procedure is called arbitration and costs a lot of money. But you can also restore suede shoes at home using special products. Before you start working on improving the appearance of your shoes, you should know how to do it correctly to get the desired effect.
How to update your shoes?
Many lovers of suede shoes have to give them up, because ladies often do not know the simple rules of care. The main requirement is that you should not wear shoes made of delicate material in bad weather, as it is necessary to limit contact with water as much as possible.
The remaining rules are divided into three subgroups: drying, storage and care products. It is important to correctly follow each rule, then you will not have problems with your favorite shoes or sneakers. It is recommended to arrange your shoes regularly to avoid problems later. If the matter has already started, then the cleaning will take place in several stages.
Adviсe
The recommendations are as follows:
Suede washes very quickly. Prolonged soaking, washing and rinsing can completely ruin the product.- Dry the suede product outdoors in a cool place. High temperatures, direct sunlight, and open fire destroy the softness and elasticity of the material.
- Warm milk (one glass is enough), in which one or two tablespoons of soda are first diluted, will help you quickly clean shiny areas.
- Blood, egg or milk stains on suede should be washed off with clean, plain water immediately after they appear. Once the stain dries, it will be almost impossible to get rid of.
If you are interested in how to wash suede shoes, read this article. Read about washing suede sneakers here.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
Care tools
To restore suede and return it to its previous appearance, you can use the following available means: An elastic band can be office or special for suede; it lifts the pile and promotes better color rendition. Special sprays are available in two versions: for painting and for protection. The first helps return the boots to their original appearance by painting them in the desired color. The most popular is black, but shades of blue and brown are also available. The protectant acts as a water-repellent agent; the colorless spray creates an invisible thin layer on the surface that prevents the penetration of moisture.
Brushes vary in material and hair type. They can be metal, rubber or polymer. The first one copes well with old, worn-out shoes. The second two are intended for resuscitation of new shoes. All brushes lift the print, giving it a fresher look, while also cleaning it of all types of dirt.
For DIY enthusiasts, suede shoes may require gradual restoration, and other items may also be required. For example, baby soap, baking soda, milk fat, semolina, ethyl alcohol, ammonia, baby powder, a piece of soft cloth, a sponge, magnesium and turpentine. All of the above products help solve one problem or another.
Removing stains
Depending on the nature of the stain, various methods of removing stains are used:
Talc and starch will help remove grease stains. It is enough to pour absorbent powder onto the stain and wait twenty to thirty minutes, after which the stain is carefully cleaned with a brush.- Food stains should be washed off as quickly as possible with clean running water, and then treated with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water.
- Hair shampoo will help remove traces of alcoholic drinks (wine, champagne). Initially, the stain is blotted with a paper napkin, after which the mark on the suede is treated with foam of whipped hair shampoo.
- A vinegar solution will help clean suede from white salt stains (a pressing problem for owners of suede shoes). To do this, moisten a sponge with vinegar and wipe the contaminated area. Afterwards, the still damp suede is wiped with a clean cloth and left to dry at room temperature.
- A crust of black bread will help clean the suede from dirty stains. It is enough to sprinkle the crust of bread with salt and gently rub the dirty area on the suede product.
Step-by-step cleansing
Resuscitation of suede takes place in several stages. If all the rules are followed correctly, your shoes will look as if they have been dry cleaned.
The first thing to do is clean the surface of the shoe by removing dust with a soft cloth or sponge. You can also use a soft brush or school eraser to clean. If the shoes are in absolutely terrible condition, wash them with soap. Rub the sponge with laundry or baby soap, rinse lightly with water and rinse well. It is the foam that will help get rid of dirt under the pile. The surface should be carefully wiped with a sponge and then wiped with a rubber brush. It is important that the suede does not get too wet, otherwise the whole process will be in vain. If you don't have soap at home, you can replace it with shower gel or detergent.
Steaming will help soften the product.
The steaming method will help quickly restore velvety and softness to suede, and remove stubborn stains.
Algorithm of actions:
- Bring the water in a saucepan or kettle to a boil.
- The suede product is kept over steam for at least two to three minutes.
- Suede that is damp after steam is carefully cleaned with a special brush (movements in one direction only).
- Already clean suede is carefully blotted with a towel, removing excess moisture.
To avoid getting burned by the steam, the suede product can be held with tongs or on a stick.
7 easy ways to restore suede at home
“And they are still fighting for the honorary title of the House of High Culture and Life!” - Anton Semenovich Shpak said to the police dog in the immortal comedy “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession.”
This article won't tell you what to do if your suede jacket is stolen. However, you can learn how to make your suede shoes look fresh again! Let's find out how!
Suede is a very thin and delicate velvety leather that absolutely cannot withstand walking through dirt, dust or rain. At the same time, the dazzling summer sun doesn’t suit him either! So how do you take care of such painstaking material?
5 steps to care for suede:
- after each exit, clean your shoes with a special brush;
- if the brush does not help, use a special eraser;
- Remove stubborn dirt using special foam for suede;
- use special gels and sprays to protect against contamination;
- The color will be restored by suede paint.
Dry cleaning
The dry cleaning method will help quickly remove minor dirt and dust.
Algorithm of actions:
- The suede product is carefully cleaned of dust with a special brush;
- traces of bruises and creases are additionally treated with a brush along the fibers;
- stains of dried dirt are carefully removed with a soft foam sponge.
You can quickly remove a dry stain of dirt with a regular office eraser. It is enough to run an eraser over the stain and there will be no trace left of it.
How to renew suede at home?
If the suede feels unkempt when worn and you don’t want to spend the money on refinishing it at the dry cleaners, then you can use at-home methods for updating suede. What will you need? The following countermeasures are required:
- cheap laundry soap;
- baking soda;
- full fat milk;
- semolina;
- ethanol (you can use kerosene);
- ammonia solution;
- wire brush;
- suede care products;
- dry rag;
- talc or baby powder;
- sponge;
- magnesia;
- turpentine.
Step 1. Make your shoes clean again
Remove dust and dirt from suede with a dry sponge or a special brush for suede (you can also use a branded eraser or a regular school eraser for suede).
If your shoes are in poor condition, clean them with soap and water. To do this, wipe the sponge with laundry soap, slightly moisten it and lather thoroughly. In this case, the cleaning agent is foam. Apply it to the suede and scrub with a brush. Avoid getting the material excessively wet!
Or you can use laundry detergent or other detergent instead of soap.
Step 2: Remove stains
Semolina can help remove stubborn debris. To do this, sprinkle the stain with semolina, and then gently scrub with a wire brush.
Tip: the easiest way is to “steam” suede over a boiling kettle (near the spout). A saucepan cannot be used because the total water surface of the steam is too large. You might get burned!
Step 3. Fat stains
To remove greasy streaks, sprinkle the stained area with talcum powder and leave for a quarter of an hour. Shake the remaining talcum powder. Dampen a dry cloth with alcohol or kerosene, and then wipe the dirty area (above the talcum powder). The procedure should end with standard shoe cleaning with a suede brush.
Tip: Greasy streaks can be easily removed with dish soap. Apply to the stain, leave for a quarter of an hour and rinse with a damp cloth.
Step 4. Bald patches
Method 1: Suede can get rid of corns! To do this, mix soda and milk (1 teaspoon and 3 tablespoons, respectively). The resulting solution should be absorbed with a soft, dry cloth and the chest should be treated. After 5 minutes, repeat the procedure, then leave the shoes for 30 minutes.
After the time has passed, the shoes must be combed with a rubber brush.
Method 2. Ammonia and warm water will help restore the structure of suede at home. The components should be mixed in a ratio of 1: 4, and then treat the surface of the shoe. This method works well for removing old stains from suede.
Step 5. Drying
After the procedures, shoes should be thoroughly dried. To do this, fill them with unnecessary paper and let them dry naturally.
Tip: Do not use newsprint as filler as the ink may leave marks.
Step 6. Restore color
The ideal way to restore the color of suede is to use a special paint. If you don't have it in your house, you can try: coffee grounds (helps bring back the dark color); a mixture of magnesia, talc, turpentine and full-fat milk in equal proportions.
These measures should be applied to the entire surface of the shoe and left for some time. For coffee grounds it is 12 hours or a day. The milk mixture should be stored for no more than an hour. Then brush the suede with a brush and dry thoroughly.
Step 7: Post Processing
Dried shoes should be brushed again and protected with hydrophobic impregnation.
All you need is a pair of suede shoes... Three pairs.
Restoring color
In order to restore the attractiveness of suede items, as well as update the color, you need to mix the following ingredients:
- You will need half of 1 tbsp. l. milk (it’s better to take low-fat milk), as well as half of 1 tsp. soda (you need to take soda ash).
- Mix the resulting solution and wipe problem areas with it using cotton swabs. If stains or contaminants become embedded, the process should be repeated.
In addition, color restoration can be done independently using another method:
- Prepare a mixture of 1 tsp. ammonia and 4 tsp. water at room temperature.
- You should clean the desired area with the mixture, and then wipe it with plain water and let it dry.
How to restore worn suede shoes
The modern market offers a wide selection of shoes. Today you can choose models from various materials to suit every taste.
Many people are attracted to suede products, but buyers are hesitant to make such a purchase, fearing difficulties in care. Dust, dirt and wet weather can take a toll on the appearance of once beautiful shoes.
The ability to clean suede shoes allows you to preserve their beauty for a long time. The main rule for caring for suede shoes and boots is timely cleaning of the surface from stains and dirt.
Before you begin repairing your suede shoes, you need to get rid of any debris. For this reason, any scuffs should be treated after all dirt and dust have been removed from the surface of the shoe, and all types of dirt, such as grease and dirt, should be removed only after it has dried.
Well, you've removed all the dirt and stains. But what to do next? How to restore suede leather to its original appearance and appearance after drying?
Is it possible to return the form?
In order not to have to look for ways to restore the shape of suede shoes, you need to try not to bring them to this state. To do this, it is advisable to store it in a box with holes. It is necessary to place special pads inside. If, nevertheless, the shoes become wet and deformed, they need to be cleaned, pushed newspapers inside and wait until they dry completely.
Suede boots are stylish and impressive shoes, but sometimes you have to fight for their beauty, which is due to a certain capriciousness of suede. And then the question may arise about how to return the shoes to their original appearance, which is quite possible to do at home. Before restoring suede boots, they must be thoroughly cleaned, after which you can begin other resuscitation measures.
Which brush should I use to lift suede hair?
Choose the right brush. To avoid damaging your suede, clean it only with a natural hog bristle brush, such as the Solemate Brush Premium. Iron, crepe and other rough brushes will not work. And you can “comb” suede only with a rubber brush with teeth.
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How to seal it
Owners of suede shoes know that suede is a rather delicate material. If you don't take care of it, it can burst, crack, and tear. In this case, the defect can be eliminated using glue, but not all types of glue are suitable.
The most common mistake made by those who decide to glue suede shoes on their own is the use of PVA glue. Excellent at gluing paper, it is completely unsuitable for shoe repair because it has too weak a concentration. In addition, PVA is made on a water basis, so during the first walk the part glued with it will fall off under the influence of moisture.
The same recommendations apply to Moment glue. It is good if you need to glue some hard parts (for example, metal, wood or glass) during construction work. However, it has a destructive effect on suede. The fact is that when it hardens, it becomes very hard. For example, the toe of a boot glued in this way will soon begin to burst.
Ultimately, you have to go to a shoemaker and pay extra money to restore the shoes, since repairing them after such repairs will require much more effort.
This is interesting: How to treat the inside of shoes to remove the smell of sweat
Therefore, if you decide to glue sneakers, shoes or other shoes at home yourself, it is better not to save money by using improvised means, but to purchase special shoe glue.
A small tube will be enough for you, since the need to glue something on your shoes does not arise very often.
