How to clean suede shoes at home

How to Clean Suede Shoes: Pexels How to clean suede shoes is an important question for anyone who has nice boots or shoes made of soft suede. Despite their presentable appearance and comfort, suede shoes quickly get dirty. But this is not a reason to refuse to buy a stylish pair. Taking the advice of experts, return your favorite boots to their former luster.

Material characteristics

Natural suede is made from the skins of sheep, wild goats or deer by fat or formaldehyde-fat tanning.

Positive qualities of suede products:

softness,
velvety surface,
resistance to high temperatures,
wear resistance and durability,
presentableness.

Suede products look presentable, expensive and elegant. If you think that suede shoes are not practical, then this is not so. Suede shoes can be worn for up to 10 years, the main thing is to properly care for the material, use high-quality cleaning products and protect it from water.

Should you buy suede shoes?

Despite some troublesome care, suede products are very popular. They are very comfortable to wear, durable and indicate that their owner is not devoid of refined taste.

If you properly care for suede boots, sneakers, boots, they will look great and last for more than one season. Arm yourself with brushes and protective equipment, do not be lazy to clean the suede from dust, dirt, whitish stains of salt and reagents. If you are not ready to do this yourself, then any dry cleaner will get your boots in order.

Cleaning tools and products

Suede shoes must be cleaned daily from dust and dirt with a special brush with a rubberized part or a cloth. Remember that daily care will help preserve your shoes for several years, while carelessness in care can lead to shoes deteriorating after 1-2 seasons.

Tools and products for cleaning suede shoes:

special brush,
water-repellent spray for suede,
suede leather restorer,
erasers (you can use a stationery eraser or buy a special one, like a shoe eraser),
shampoos and cleaning foams.

Preventative care for suede shoes is a necessity. Dirt and slush must not be allowed to spoil the pile of boots or sneakers, which will subsequently lose their appearance and properties.

Photo from the site sodasan.su

How to prevent stains

It is almost impossible to prevent stains on suede. Water-repellent aerosols create only a temporary barrier that must be renewed periodically. Impregnation must be applied before going outside for the first time.

The basic rule is to carefully consider the weather conditions and wear boots only in dry weather.

If the owner provides proper care for the suede, the shoes will delight his eye for a long time. You only have to spend once on high-quality care products so that you don’t have to buy a new pair of products next season.

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Basic rules for cleaning suede

Use your own brushes for different shades of suede.
Clean against the lint.
Remove splashes of dirt from the material only after drying.
Do not wash under running water.
Do not soak.
Use liquid-based products.

I would like to dwell on each point in more detail, but we have separated this into a separate part only for those who are interested in the reasons. The main thing is to know the basic cleaning rules.

So, on point 1 - different shades of suede can transfer “color” to the brush, so there is a high probability of ruining both products if you use one brush. Cleaning against the lint will help straighten and lift it, while cleaning along the lint will, on the contrary, lower and crumple the lint. Regarding point 3, it is worth noting that splashes, if you immediately try to wipe them off, can penetrate even deeper into the material. So much so that only a touch-up can save your shoes. Contact with water is detrimental to suede, as well as to other types of leather, so washing and soaking is only suitable for synthetic materials. The same applies to detergents; for suede I use special foams or foam-like products.

What to look for when purchasing

How to distinguish natural suede from artificial one? Use a few rules.

Natural suede has a pleasant leather smell, while its substitute will smell like glue, chemicals, or paint.
Suede, by definition, cannot be cheap.
The shoes may get wet on top, but moisture will never penetrate inside; the surface swells and becomes impenetrable.
If you run your finger over the suede, the color changes, the fibers tilt at a certain angle and refract the light.
The leather is velvety on both sides, a fabric base is unacceptable.
The edges of the finished products are not folded, and the cut can be used to identify genuine leather; the edges of artificial suede are processed so that they do not fray.
Suede never has an even and smooth surface; its structure is porous, has scratches and small defects. The coloring is heterogeneous.
Things made from natural suede are very warm and at the same time “breathe”, allowing air to circulate freely without collecting condensation.
Place your hand on the surface, the natural material will immediately warm up.

Methods for cleaning suede depending on the type and contamination

How to clean suede shoes from dirt and dust

Before we deal with the question of what and how to properly clean suede shoes, let's talk about preventive measures. And the first thing you need to do immediately after purchasing a pair of suede is to carry out prevention. Shoe manufacturers recommend special sprays and aerosols as preventative measures.

Fluorocarbon resins and polymers play a key role in the composition of protective sprays. They work as fat- and dirt-repellent components.

Sprays from German brands Duke of Dubbin, Collonil and Salamander Professional protect delicate suede well. A very decent aerosol is produced by the French manufacturer Saphir. To protect your new shoes from deep dirt:

Apply the spray to clean, dry suede from a distance of 15-20 cm.
Wait until the surface becomes dry,
Repeat the procedure until the inner layer of skin becomes slightly damp.
Leave the shoes to dry completely.
Go over the material several times with a suede brush. The pile should look slightly tousled.

Preventive impregnation will help suede shoes look clean and tidy for at least one season. But if you do get caught in the rain, get splashed with mud, or get a greasy stain on your shoes, you need heavy artillery.

How to clean suede from stains

It is quite difficult to clean stubborn stains from suede, but you can use the following methods to achieve the desired result.

Try scrubbing the stain with fine-grit sandpaper. 800 grit or higher is better. Do not apply strong force, just wipe the stained area with ease.
Prepare a solution of 1/2 cup milk (100 ml), 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and teaspoon ammonia. The solution is applied to the stain with a cotton pad, and then thoroughly washed with a barely damp sponge. The sponge must be thoroughly rinsed in water and wrung out as much as possible so that as little moisture as possible remains in it.
Ammonia and water can also clean dark suede shoes. You need to make a solution of 1 to 4, that is, 1 part ammonia to 4 parts water. For example, for 400 ml of ammonia you will need 1.6 liters of water, etc. The resulting solution is used to wash the area of contamination.
Hydrogen peroxide with water. Mix and wipe the stain with the resulting solution.

How to clean shoes and boots

There are 2 options for how to clean suede shoes quickly and effortlessly:

give it to a shoe shop,
tidy up at home.

In shoe cleaning and restoration workshops, shoes will be cleaned with professional products to remove dirt, restore and raise lint, and renew color. They will be like new! This type of dry cleaning is not cheap, but it is probably worth it if you are caught in a downpour, for example, while wearing Hugo Boss suede shoes.

Folk methods and means for cleaning suede

In 90% of cases, a solution of 10% ammonia with soapy water in a ratio of 1:4 can completely clean suede shoes from dirt.

Dissolve ammonia in warm water.
Clean the contaminated area.
Wipe the area with clean water.
Dry your shoes naturally.

There is another option for cleaning suede and shoes made from dirt, but it is suitable for dark shoes. All you need is natural ground coffee:

Apply the still-wet coffee grounds to your shoes.
Using light circular motions, spread over the dirty stain.
Leave the shoes to dry completely.
Gently brush away the dried coffee grounds.
Carefully go over the suede with a brush.

To clean light suede shoes from dirt at home, use a mixture of soda and milk in a 1:2 ratio. The solution should be applied to contaminated light suede shoes and wait until they dry. Then carefully remove the excess and straighten the fibers with a brush. How to properly clean suede shoes from grease Almost any absorbents (chalk, talc, potato starch) can remove grease from suede. Sprinkle the stain with any of these substances, and after 1.5-2 hours, carefully remove the remaining absorbent with a brush.

Please note that this method is not suitable for dark suede. This way you can only clean light suede shoes. Talc, starch and chalk will leave visible white marks on dark suede.

To clean dark suede shoes at home, use good old vinegar:

Dilute 0.5 teaspoons of table 9-vinegar in 0.5 liters of water.
Rub the greasy stain with this mixture.
Wait until the shoes are completely dry and carefully brush the suede with a brush.

The best ready-made cleaning products

Cleaning products for suede shoes are quite expensive, but they last a very long time. Moreover, ready-made products will help deal with dirt and stains as effectively as traditional methods. These products are used in professional workshops, so you can confidently trust their quality.

Tarrago sponges and napkins. The ready-made set is inexpensive and is perfect for daily care of suede shoes.
SoleMate Cleaners. Innovative formulas help tackle even the most stubborn stains. You can purchase it in the Ozone and Wildberries online stores.
Saphir shampoos. Cleaners from this brand are great for suede shoes, but are quite expensive. Shampoo can cost 800-1000 rubles.
Salton spray. Another very well-known manufacturer of care products for suede sneakers. Sprays from this brand do an excellent job of removing dirt and helping to keep your boots clean.
Shoe foam cleaners Sole White. Sold both in sets with brushes and as stand-alone items. Works great on fresh stains on suede and nubuck, and is also suitable for other leather products.
Antiliq sprays and products. They have proven themselves well in the shoe cosmetics market. They are sold as a set, which costs up to 1000 rubles, but the funds will definitely be enough for several months of care. Removes stains, streaks, water and dirt marks.
Cleaning foam Salamander Combi Cleaner. The innovative formula with lime oil has a delicate effect on the material, removing stains, stains, and water marks. Suitable not only for suede, but also for nubuck and other types of leather.
Valvi cleaners. Excellent cleaners for white suede shoes. The kit usually contains a cleaning foam and a special sponge. Copes with serious stains and has a shelf life of 5 years.
Dividic foam shoe cleaner. A well-known brand that has proven itself well in the Russian market. Removes dirt and dust, refreshes the color of shoes, significantly improving their appearance. The specially selected spray head provides a more focused spray, reducing the likelihood of contact with floors and furniture. It has a pleasant and light lime scent.
Cleaning foam ShoeExpert. Designed for cleaning dirt, old layers of creams and paints, removing stains and updating the appearance of shoes and products made of all types of materials: leather, suede, nubuck, textiles. The foam cleaner does an excellent job not only of surface contaminants, but also pushes them out from inside the materials.

There are a lot of products for cleaning suede shoes on the market and you can independently find the right product that you will like both in quality and price.

We recommend the following brands of shoe cosmetics: Tarrago, Dividic, Saphir, Salamander - as the most famous in the shoe community.