How to clean suede sneakers

Suede sneakers look attractive and elegant in any situation. But in order to preserve them in their original form, it is necessary to carefully care for the products. Improper cleaning will quickly cause sneakers to become unusable. You should carefully follow all the recommendations indicated by the manufacturer in the product instructions. We must not forget that shoes made of suede are capricious, especially in relation to high humidity. For this reason, it is better to wear sneakers only in dry weather or use specialized water-repellent products.

Products for protecting suede sneakers

Prevention is much simpler than treatment, so it is easier to prevent suede sneakers from coming into contact with water and dust than to deal with negative consequences later. As practice shows, this is not always possible, so along with the purchase of shoes it is worth buying a protective aerosol and a suitable brush. As a rule, sellers remind customers about this useful addition. But you can always ask in more detail about how to properly clean suede sneakers. The range of products designed to care for suede is huge.

Popular protection products for suede

After purchasing shoes, you should bring them home, try them on and carefully inspect them. If dust or dirt is found, the sneakers should be cleaned with a brush with rubber bristles, and then a protective spray should be applied. After the product has completely dried, the procedure is repeated; the products can be processed a third time for maximum reliability.

Thus, you can provide full protection to your brand new sneakers yourself at home. The transparent film formed on the surface of the product prevents getting wet and dirt from penetrating into the deep layers of the material. As a result, cleaning such shoes will be much easier.

Professional ways

Caring for suede products at home is possible, but sometimes professional products should be used. Such compositions are developed specifically for this material. They protect it from rain, the appearance of salt and do not allow it to get wet. There are also professional products that clean suede. These include impregnations, cleaning foams, erasers and paints.

Impregnations

Special water-repellent impregnations not only prevent the material from getting wet, they protect it. These compounds preserve the structure of the fabric, its softness and color.

The best impregnations.

Nikwax;
Salton;
Hatch;
Pregrada;
Collonil;
Twist;
Salamander.

These compounds should not be used too often; this is also harmful to suede.

It is necessary to apply impregnation several times a week, and each time after washing the shoes (namely the material, not the sole). They are applied according to the instructions, but at least once every 14 days.

Foam

Suede cleaning foams are also suitable for nubuck and other textile surfaces. They are used economically.

The best foam cleaners:

Kiwi;
Silver professional;
Solitaire;
Aquastop;
Shampoo-Tarrago.

Before using foams, you need to test their effect on an inconspicuous area of the shoe.

They are sold in cans, so shake them vigorously before using.

The foam is applied to the surface with a sprayer and wiped with a foam sponge.

Its advantage is that it can be used for both external and internal surfaces of suede products.

There is no need to rinse off the foam with water. Just leave your shoes to dry in a well-ventilated room.

Erasers

Knowing how to care for suede sneakers will help you avoid many troubles. Usually, sellers advise you to immediately buy cleaning products, since such material quickly gets dirty and shiny.

For cleaning, it is recommended to buy a special eraser or a regular stationery eraser.

The best:

Collonil;
Duke Velor Cleaner;
Cleaner Block-Tarrago;
ECCO;
Saphir.

There is nothing complicated about using an eraser. It is moistened with water and rubbed on problem areas. And if the gum is crumbled, just brush it off with a suede brush.

Caring for wet sneakers

If you were unable to follow the recommendations exactly, and your suede sneakers got very wet and dirty, you should dry them before cleaning. You should not perform any manipulations with wet shoes, as this will not bring the desired effect or will only lead to the dirt being smeared even more and absorbed into the deep layers of suede. How to dry products correctly?

The best option would be to use lasts, but it is also acceptable to use ordinary paper, which is tightly stuffed into the shoes. Remember that white sneakers are dried only with snow-white paper products.
To make drying faster, it is worth changing the filling a couple of times.
The use of radiators and other heating devices is prohibited. Due to uneven rapid heating, the material will warp and the sneakers will lose their attractive shape.

You can start cleaning only after the products have completely dried.

Let's sum it up

Light-colored (especially white) suede sneakers are much more difficult to clean from dirt, but there are many ways to do it safely and effectively at home. All you need is to determine the nature of the stains and be patient.

However, it is much easier to maintain the original appearance of the shoes. Therefore, it is worth treating it with special water-repellent solutions in a timely manner.

Safely Cleaning Suede Sneakers

Surface dirt and dust marks can be easily removed using a brush, masking tape or a roller with a sticky surface. Before using such products, it is worth testing on a small, inconspicuous area of the shoe. This allows you to eliminate possible unpleasant consequences.

Some experts advise using a rubber brush for cleaning. In this case, the sneakers should be kept above the steam. It is important to be careful with this method so that the products do not get too wet. When the suede is saturated with moisture, you need to stop and dry them a little. After this, the procedure can be continued.

To remove serious contaminants, you need to prepare a soap solution (necessarily warm) and add a few drops of ammonia to it. Only a sponge or brush is immersed in the liquid, but not shoes. After washing the sneakers, rinse them carefully with cold water; try not to soak the items too much. Wipe them with a piece of dry cloth and wait until dry.

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.

Getting rid of fresh stains

If you've just stained your sneakers, it's a good idea to remove any excess dirt from the surface using a paper towel. Be careful not to press too hard or rub the dirt in even deeper.

How to clean suede sneakers from dried stains at home? It is necessary to wet a rag with water and carefully wipe the stain. Once dry, use an eraser and a suede brush.

You should always follow the manufacturers' recommendations, which are contained in the instructions for the shoes. There is a list of suitable care products. Do not let your shoes get too wet, and also use a washing machine for cleaning. This often ends in damage to the material and a change in the shape of the product.

To wash stains left by water, oddly enough, it is worth using water. Previously, paper is placed in the sneakers so that the products do not become deformed. Water is sprayed onto the surface of the shoes, which is then carefully collected. Dry your sneakers at room temperature and then apply a protective compound.

the washing up

It is recommended to wash sneakers as rarely as possible. It is better to use wet or dry methods, but do not wash the shoes.

The soap is strongly absorbed into the material, and the shoes will have to be very wet to rinse out the foam. But it’s harmful for suede sneakers, boots and even shoes.

This option is the most budget-friendly and good, but at the same time it cannot be used often. Cleaning with soapy water should be done once a month.

How to wash:

Plane the laundry soap and dissolve it in water. You can also take liquid soap; dishwashing detergent will do.
Take a sponge and apply the solution to problem areas. It is better to treat the entire surface of the sneakers, otherwise the material will be very different.
Rub the suede with a sponge or a special brush.
Then dip the product in a solution prepared from a liter of water and a small amount of table vinegar. Treat the surface of the shoes with this composition.

A soap solution should be used only in exceptional cases. For example, when the dirt has dried or you need to clean a large area.

Soap is used for white and dark sneakers. It can wash away even stubborn stains.

Now you know how to wash your sneakers correctly so as not to cause damage to them.

How to remove stubborn dirt from sneakers

If your shoes are not damaged by dust, but by absorbed grease and dirt stains, you should use other methods to help clean suede sneakers:

grease marks are removed with a special eraser or a brush with rubber bristles;
talc sprinkled on the stain absorbs grease and is then cleaned with a stiff-bristled brush;
a heavily greasy surface will become velvety again after brushing with a crepe brush.

One of the best shoe care manufacturers.
Time-tested folk recipes that do not cause any special problems when carried out can cope with severe stains. For example, you can use a homemade cleaning product, which is prepared as follows:

Water is poured into a small container, a small amount of liquid soap should be poured into it and 2 tablespoons of ammonia should be added.
All components are thoroughly mixed until foam forms.
To wash your sneakers, you need to dip a soft cloth in the resulting mixture and gently wipe the surface of the shoes, paying special attention to stains.
At the end of the procedure, it is worth rinsing the products with cool water with the addition of a few drops of vinegar.

Light-colored sneakers are cleaned in a similar way. For snow-white suede, the following recipe is suitable: add soda to the milk, and then apply the solution to the shoes using a napkin or soft brush.

How to dry clean correctly

Products for household cleaning of suede without using aqueous solutions:

Copy paper. Helps restore original appearance to areas of dark suede that have faded over time.
Soft brush and washing eraser. Replaces a special double-sided brush for products made of suede and nubuck.
Bread crust. The baked part of black bread works well to remove salt stains on winter sneakers. Then you need to brush off the crumbs with a brush.
Petrol. Helps get rid of grease stains. You need to wipe off the dirt with a cloth soaked in fuel.
Baby powder, talc, starch. An alternative way to remove fat. Sprinkle the powder onto the stains and leave for at least 180 minutes. In the case of starch, the time increases to at least eight hours, after which the material is treated with steam.
Freezer. A few hours in the cold will help remove traces of chewing gum, tar or paraffin from shoes.

Useful tips

Important tips will help you properly clean suede sneakers from dirt and prolong their use:

Separate brushes are used for different colors of material. Light-colored suede requires special attention; it can be additionally stained by dirty accessories.
When cleaning, make all movements only in one direction, to get rid of scuffs - in different directions.
Restoring the color of the material is possible with the help of special creams and paints intended for suede products.
It is recommended to carry out any manipulations with sneakers in advance, and not before going outside. This will actually form a protective layer on the surface of the shoe.

To maximize the life of suede sneakers, you should avoid walking through puddles and protect the products from moisture.

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Preventive measures

First, let's discuss how to care for suede Adidas or Nike sneakers so as not to spend a huge amount of time on washing in the future! Agree, following simple recommendations will help save a lot of effort and extend the life of your favorite pair of sneakers:

Do not wear shoes in rainy weather, avoid contact with water;
At least 1-2 hours before going out, apply a special moisture-proof composition to the surface;
Avoid products designed to protect leather products;
Carry paper napkins with you to quickly blot up moisture or dirt;
Clean your shoes from dust every day with a special brush;
Be sure to store the pair in a fabric bag, in a ventilated box - choose a dry, warm place;
Never dry the product near a heating source;
Before starting care procedures, dry the item completely to avoid damage to the material.

We've sorted out the basic rules - now we can talk about how to wash suede sneakers at home!

Steam cleaning

You can clean suede sneakers at home using hot steam - it softens the lint, improves the appearance of the shoe, and allows you to remove creases. We recommend the following actions:

Boil a kettle or pan of water or use a steam generator;
Hold the product over the steam jet for 10-15 seconds;
Gently comb the pile with a special suede brush to remove dirt;
Wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

Here is a general article on how to clean suede shoes, check out these methods as well.

You can buy a special brush at a shoe store!

Ammonia

Ammonia will help you clean sneakers made of natural suede from dirt or oil traces at home! Remember the rules for preparing the solution:

Mix ammonia with water in a ratio of one to four;
Soak a cotton or gauze swab in the liquid;
Gently wipe the damaged area and leave the steam to dry.

Learn how to properly wash sneakers in a washing machine here.

Ammonia can be replaced with regular alcohol - these products are used if it is necessary to remove complex stains.

Petrol

You can clean suede sneakers at home using gasoline - don’t be afraid of such radical measures! Ideal for getting rid of old stains of any origin:

Soak a cotton pad in gasoline;
Gently, without pressing, wipe the surface area;
Sprinkle the wet area with talcum powder and leave for 10-15 minutes;
Brush off any remaining powder with a dry brush.

Instead of talc, you can use baby powder or starch. How to properly clean salt or dirt stains on suede shoes at home? There are several options!

Coffee grounds

The grounds from a cup of coffee will help you clean suede sneakers from dirt at home - the drink can be not only tasty, but also healthy! The algorithm of actions is as simple as possible:

Apply a little thickener to a sponge;
Clean the stained area;
Rinse off any remaining product with a slightly damp soft cloth.

An important point is that the coffee must be drunk recently; you won’t be able to clean suede sneakers with old grounds.

Laundry soap

You can wash suede sneakers at home with laundry soap - this proven product does an excellent job of removing stubborn stains:

Rub the desired area with a bar of soap;
Remove the remaining soap with a regular eraser so that there are no streaks left.

The second answer to the question of how to wash suede sneakers with laundry soap at home is to make a strong soap solution and wash off the dirt with a soft sponge. The remaining product should dry, then you can clean it off with a brush.

We discussed methods that are ideal for owners of dark-colored crosses. It's time to talk about how and with what to clean light suede sneakers!

How to clean from dirt, dust and grass?

Rice. 2 – Steps to cleaning sneakers

Very dirty sneakers are cleaned in 3 stages:

Remove dust and dirt with a rubber brush.
Carry out wet cleaning - dissolve a little soap in warm water and add ammonia, wet the brush and walk over the shoes in a circular motion. If there is no dirt, wipe the pair with a damp cloth.
Dry your sneakers and apply a water-repellent treatment. It is optimal to apply it in 3 layers - each on top of the dried previous one.

To refresh the color, use aerosol paint or colorless cream. Use them after each pair of shoes.

Warnings

Manufacturers of shoes and shoe care products also warn about some safety rules and nuances that you need to know.

Aerosol protectors are most often flammable. Therefore, before use, you should read the instructions on the package, and it is better to use the protector in a well-ventilated area.
Crumpled newspaper is not the best option for shaping your sneakers. If there is moisture, the newspaper will absorb it, but wet ink can leave smudges.
It is not recommended to use solvents for dry cleaning. Yes, they will definitely help in cleaning your sneakers, but they contain harsh, volatile chemicals that will stay around for a long time.