10 ways to clean suede shoes of different shades 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.

Nuances of cleaning suede

When cleaning shoes made of suede material, you must adhere to certain rules.

Before you start cleaning, you should dry your boots thoroughly. Most often, special devices are used for this, for example, dryers with UV radiation.

If it is not possible to use them, then you can put newspaper in your shoes and put them in a well-ventilated room.

Important! Do not dry your shoes near a radiator or other heating devices, otherwise they may become deformed and lose their shape.

To clean, you need to use a special brush, on one side of which there are rubber bristles, and on the other side there are hard bristles and wire.

Rubber bristles are used to clean boots from dirt and dust, a stiff brush and wire are used to restore shiny areas on the suede material.

When cleaning, use additional care products for such material. They can be purchased at a market that sells household chemicals or you can prepare these substances yourself.

Chemicals for cleaning suede

There are a sufficient number of chemical products on the market that will simplify the care of shoes made from suede fabric. Of these, it is worth noting:

Water repellent spray. Restores the protective function against moisture. You can find such a product in any household chemical store;
Spray paint. It will return the original color and soften rough areas on shoes, boots or sneakers. If you want to restore the brightness of the product, then purchase a cream and aerosol that matches the color of your boots. You can find a similar product in many shoe stores;
Special deodorant for suede. It will give freshness and make the couple more attractive.

If you are unable to return your shoes to their original appearance using special chemicals, then contact a dry cleaner, where a master is guaranteed to return your boots to their “original shape.”

Color restoration

If your black suede shoes have faded, copy paper will help bring them back to their former brightness. Brown suede can be treated with coffee grounds. It is advisable to take shoes of other colors to the workshop.

Light suede requires special care when caring.
To clean such shoes, it is advisable to create a solution consisting of water, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
Such shoes should be stored in a special place; you need to prepare a separate brush and sponge for them.

Such a capricious material as suede should be handled as carefully as possible. Under no circumstances should you apply the same products to it as to regular skin.

It is strictly forbidden to wash it in a machine or soak it in water. Avoid harsh metal brushes and aggressive chemical cleaning agents.

Folk remedies

You can clean delicate suede at home using folk remedies. The most effective of them are:

Vinegar solution. This method will help you remove wax stains from shoes made of suede. For this you will need 9% vinegar. It must be dissolved in water in an amount of 1:5. Then take a rag and dampen it a little in the prepared solution. Next, rub it on the areas where dirt is present. Upon completion of the procedure, apply a color restoration substance to the shoes.
Starch. This is a kind of powder that will help remove greasy stains from suede shoes. To do this, you need to generously sprinkle the soiled areas with starch and leave the boots in this condition for 30-50 minutes, then brush them. The fat will be completely removed and you will be able to continue using your favorite sneakers. In addition to starch, you can use baby powder. It is not inferior in efficiency and is also guaranteed to eliminate contamination.
Eraser. There is a special eraser for cleaning suede boots from dust and dirt. To do this, you need to rub the area where the dirt is located. You can buy such a device at shoe stores or use a regular school eraser.

Features of using dry cleaning services

Household services use special technologies. With their help, scratches are eliminated, minor deformations are corrected, the color of the pile is restored, and foreign particles are removed from it. Dry cleaning is carried out using modern equipment using organic reagents.

Household service performs:

restoration of the shape of shoes lost during wear;
restoration of suede shades by dyeing;
treating velvet leather with a water-repellent compound that is invisible to the eye;
elimination of unpleasant odors through disinfection;
recovery (restoration) of the fatty base of natural leather.

The quality of professional cleaning of suede shoes is superior to that of self-removal of defects. Efficiency is achieved through the use of modern materials and technologies, and highly qualified specialists.

Suede boots

How to wash suede shoes from salt stains

In order to clean suede shoes from salt and get rid of stains, you will need to perform the following steps in sequence:

Dry wet boots. To do this, use a special dryer or simply stuff newspapers into your shoes;
Treat salt stains. To do this, use a wire brush. Rub the dirt with large salt crystals until the stains are completely removed. It's worth noting that don't try too hard, otherwise you might ruin the pair;
After large salt crystals have been removed from the shoes, they need to be steamed. Place the kettle on the fire and wait until the water boils. Bring your shoes to the spout of the kettle and hold them for a while so that they are steamed;
Prepare a warm soapy solution. Take a sponge, dip it in the solution and wipe it over the areas where there was dirt. Remove the foam that remains on the shoes with a regular rag;
Now put the shoes back to dry. Under no circumstances should you place it near a radiator or other heating devices;
Using a special brush for suede material, comb the sneakers;
If the stains are deeply ingrained, the procedure will need to be performed several times;
Boots can be tinted with a special spray.

How to remove a grease stain from suede shoes

You can get rid of greasy stains on suede material using starch or baby food.

Sprinkle generously on the stained area and leave the shoes in this condition for several hours. Then go over these areas with a brush with rubber bristles. Then use a suede dye spray.

You need to paint in a well-ventilated area or outside.

You can remove a greasy stain from suede shoes that is deeply ingrained by using a special foam for cleaning suede material.

Preparing for cleaning

If your shoes get wet after coming in from the street, the first thing you need to do is dry them. Shoe lasts are used for drying, helping the shoes maintain their shape. After walking on suede, wrinkles form, which are smoothed out with the help of these devices.

Suede shoes should be dried at room temperature. Do not use a hair dryer, radiator, heater or other artificial heat sources for drying. They make suede dry and brittle.

How to clean light suede shoes

You can clean light or fresh stains that resemble wax or paraffin from light suede with a regular brush.

But what to do if the stains are ingrained and cannot be removed using standard methods? There are two ways to clean white suede shoes and guarantee to return them to their original appearance:

With milk

Milk perfectly removes stains from light suede material. It can be used to clean: clothes, gloves, bags, shoes and so on.

To remove stains with milk, follow these recommendations:

Pour 100 milliliters of milk into any container and add a spoonful of baking soda to it;
Dip a little cotton wool into the prepared solution;
Using cotton wool, treat areas where stains are present;
Pour some warm water into another container;
Soak a rag in it and wipe the boots;
Take a dry cloth and remove any remaining moisture;
Leave the product for 2-3 hours until it dries;
Afterwards, use a special brush and comb your boots.

Using ammonia

Ammonia also does an excellent job of removing stains on items made from light suede material. To do this you will need:

Prepare 100% ammonia and 1 liter of filtered water. Mix in proportions 1 to 4;
Soak cotton wool in the prepared solution;
Using little pressure, gently rub the stained areas;
Then treat the entire surface, replacing the cotton as it gets dirty.

After completing the procedure, wipe the product with a sponge, and then with a weak solution of vinegar and a dry cloth. When the shoes are completely dry, you can use them.

Recommendations for wearing moccasins

This was the name of Indian shoes, which have recently come back into fashion. Moccasins are light and soft suede shoes for women and men for everyday wear.

A characteristic feature of wearing this type of footwear is that moccasins are worn on bare feet. This circumstance obliges fashionistas to take special care of them.

To prevent the inside of shoes, the following means are used:

a worn toothbrush with soft bristles and a small amount of washing powder in water – clean the surface from the inside;

low concentration ammonia – wipe the insoles and sides;

foam for cleaning the inside of shoes is sold with instructions for use.

The easiest way is to purchase replacement insoles. They are easy to wash and dry quickly.

In conclusion, some useful tips for owners of suede shoes. Daily care will prevent dust from accumulating and turning into dirt. Do not let the suede get wet, first dry it naturally, then clean it.

When using hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, you need to remember their ability to discolor fabrics. Following all recommendations will ensure a long service life for fashionable shoes.

Cleaning colored suede

Unlike black, colored suede must be approached more carefully, otherwise the shoes may be completely damaged.

The most common way to clean products made from colored suede material is to use a solution of soap and ammonia.

To clean, simply wipe the stained areas for a few minutes and wait until the shoes are completely dry.

But what to do if the stains are very stubborn and the usual methods do not help? Then you need to use absorbent powders: baby powder, talc, tooth powder or starch.

In order to get rid of stains on colored suede material, choose a product (starch, talc or other) and follow the instructions:

Place a frying pan on the fire and pour the product onto it;
Once it has warmed up, gently apply to the problem area;
Cover with paper on all sides;
Press down with something and leave the boots in this condition for 2-4 hours;
After this time, use a stiff brush to remove any remaining residue.

This method is only effective if the stain is fresh. If you notice it after some time, then use another method.

Method 2

Prepare coarse salt or river sand. Place the pot on the fire and heat the substance. After that, wrap it in natural fabric and make something like a bag.

Place it on the problem area. Replace the bag every 30 minutes until the problem is completely resolved.

This method is more effective and will help get rid of even those stains that formed several months ago.

Useful tips

Suede products require careful and regular care. The following tips will help you keep them tidy and clean:

If the product has lost its original appearance, has become worn and shiny, its surface can be wiped with an aqueous solution of ammonia (a quarter cup of alcohol per half a glass of water). After the procedure, shoes should be cleaned with a rubber brush. Sandpaper also helps effectively with this problem. Another way to restore your shoes to their former attractiveness is to hold them over a container filled with hot water. The steam straightens the fibers and places them in one direction. After this, you need to go over the product with a brush.
An ordinary matchbox helps get rid of the shine on the surface of the pair. Use its side to gently rub the problem area of the shoe.
It is best to clean your shoes and apply cosmetics to them a few hours before going out.
Shoes should be stored in a dark, dry and cool place in a box. You should not use a plastic bag for storage - this may cause the item to acquire an unpleasant odor.
You should not clean suede material too often - this will cause bald spots on the thin material. It is better, if possible, not to allow dust to accumulate on the surface of the shoes and not to wear them in wet weather.
To prevent rain from catching your shoes by surprise, before leaving the house you should definitely treat them with a water-repellent agent that protects them from the effects of slush and reagents. A solution of half a teaspoon of glycerin and a liter of water is also suitable for impregnation.

Following the rules for caring for suede products is the key to long service life of your favorite things. Thanks to careful and competent cleaning, your shoes will regain their original shine and elegance.

Fighting scuffs

Almost all suede shoes become scuffed over time and become unattractive. You can get rid of scuff marks yourself at home. To do this you need:

Buy a coloring spray at a household chemical store;
Put your shoes on;
Lay a newspaper and stand on it;
Spray the spray on shoes from all sides;
Leave it in a well-ventilated area or outside until it dries.

Note! You can paint sneakers only indoors with good ventilation or outdoors. By not following these rules, you risk your health.

This method is guaranteed to remove scuffs from your favorite boots or shoes, and you can continue to use them.