How to wash faux suede: is it possible to wash eco-suede items, how to dry clean them, how to dry and iron them?

Suede is a delicate material that requires careful handling. Suede shoes face many difficult challenges: melted snow, puddles, mud, salt from sidewalks, animal urine, dust. To maintain the aesthetic appearance of products, proper regular care is required. The main question that concerns many housewives is whether it is possible to wash suede shoes and how to do it.

Drying and ironing

Proper care of faux suede clothing includes mandatory adherence to recommendations for drying and ironing products:

After washing, the material must not be twisted. Things should be placed above the basin or placed on the bottom of the bathtub, and the water should be allowed to drain freely.
Excess moisture can be blotted with a towel. Another option: lay the clothes horizontally on a terry sheet, roll them, and gently wring them out.
It is better to dry suede in a horizontal position in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area. In a closed bathroom, the material will not dry out and will acquire a musty smell.
Wet clothes should be protected from direct sunlight and radiators, and should not be taken out onto the balcony during frost.
To maintain their shape, hats, gloves, bags, and shoes must be filled with crumpled paper or newspapers during drying, changing them as moisture is absorbed.
Faux suede can only be ironed from the reverse side with a warm iron. To protect the material, it is worth placing a special ironing net or thin cloth.

If there are deep creases or folds, it is better to steam the clothes. After treatment, you need to walk over the entire surface with a dry brush to remove moisture and lift the pile.

Is it possible to wash suede shoes at home?

When a family has a lot of fabric shoes that are subject to various stains, there will definitely be a dirty pair left in the corner. Washing will save you from the problem and return it to an attractive appearance. The prohibition on machine washing applies to the following types:

boots - winter and autumn option;
shoes, boots with a hard last;
shoes decorated with different stones, or having artificial, natural fur as a frame;
damaged or of poor quality with soles secured with glue.

Sneakers, sneakers, moccasins, sandals are suitable for active washing.

It is not advisable to wash natural suede in an automatic mode; manual care is better for it. The artificial variety is unpretentious.

Removing stains

To remove minor stains from clothes or shoes made of artificial suede, you can use folk remedies:

Fat. Fresh drops should be covered with starch, baby powder, and crushed chalk. After 15–30 minutes, brush off the product and carefully wash the damaged area with a cotton pad and soap solution.
Juice, grass, pollen, any stains of organic origin can be wiped off with a cloth moistened with vinegar (9%).
Wine. A fresh stain should be blotted with a dry, clean cloth. To remove dried marks, use a thick soap solution or shaving foam. The product should be applied to the stain, left for half an hour, and the residue removed with a napkin.
Gum. Rub the sticky mass with an ice cube. When the gum hardens, carefully remove it from the fabric.
Dirt. Do not touch wet drops; you must wait until they dry. Then clean the damaged area with a brush.
Glue, varnish, traces of cosmetics . Gently rub the marks with a cloth moistened with nail polish remover without acetone.

A universal safe remedy for any contamination is ordinary laundry soap. By whipping soap shavings into a thick foam, you can treat the greasy area, remove stains, dry clean, wash things by hand or put them in the drum of a washing machine.

To revive shiny areas, you need to:

treat them with a school eraser, a crust of rye bread, a nail file or pumice;
Apply a layer of wet coffee grounds (without sugar, milk, aromatic additives) to brown items, leave for 15 minutes, remove with a brush;
Clean white shoes, gloves or a bag with a sponge and dry tooth powder or baking soda;
extensive damage should be treated with an aqueous solution of ammonia (2:1), then rinsed with running water.

After removing the stain, the material should be dried thoroughly, and then the pile should be lifted with a clothing or toothbrush. If a noticeable mark or stains remain, the clothes will have to be washed completely or taken to the dry cleaner.

Spray paint for suede will help disguise heavily damaged areas. The main thing is to choose the right color.

Dry cleaning

This type of washing is the optimal way to clean suede products. In addition to the fact that this is a noble material and prefers dry cleaning, some products made from it cannot be washed at all. If on the label of the item you find a symbol prohibiting washing, congratulations, you will have to use dry cleaning using the methods outlined below.

Dry cleaning suede

Ethanol

It is good for removing makeup or greasy stains.
Despite the fact that ethyl alcohol is essentially an aggressive substance, it is good for removing such contaminants or, for example, a shiny area. Instructions for use:

wet a piece of clean cloth with alcohol;
treat the stain until it disappears;
let things dry.

Soap solution

Another possibly suitable option. It is unlikely that grease can be removed this way, but simple mud stains can be removed. And this is done like this:

To begin with, you need to use a rubberized or regular brush to remove dirt from the area that needs to be cleaned.
Then, dilute a weak soap solution of laundry or baby soap in a container.
Soak a cloth, rag or sponge in the mixture and apply it to the area to be cleaned.
Then, in the same way, remove any remaining soap (rinse).
Leave to dry.

Dry cleaning

Following all the rules and recommendations, you can wash the following at home:

any accessories,
dresses,
skirts,
trousers.

It is better to dry-clean jackets, outerwear, and hats. It is very difficult to remove stains or dirt from them on your own.

There is a high probability of product deformation. In addition, it is almost impossible to properly dry and steam a suede coat at home .

The cost of dry cleaning will start from 500 rubles and can reach 2-3 thousand rubles.

Features of care

The most vulnerable places of suede dresses are the collar, cuffs, folds on the sleeves, elbows, pockets and armpits, and the back panel if you have to sit for a long time. In these places, the matter darkens and absorbs sweat and dust. And due to contamination, the pile loses its delicate velvety quality, sticks together and becomes shiny.

What does the label say?

Before washing, you need to carefully examine the brand label on the product. From the information on the label it will be clear how to wash suede:

Is machine washing and drying acceptable?
what is the maximum temperature of water when washing, iron when ironing;
what household chemicals can and cannot be used when washing the product.

Selection of detergents

The right detergent is a guarantee that the fabric will not become stained, stained, rough or calloused.

From the “store” ones, it is better to choose liquid detergents and gels for “capricious” fabrics - wool, silk, suede, kid leather (for example, “Greenpin” , “SA8 Delicate” , “Soft” , special shampoos “Golf” , Biker ).
As for washing powders, powders marked “bio” or preparations for children’s clothes may be suitable.
Hair shampoo without conditioner is suitable.
You can prepare a weak solution of soapy water. You need to choose soft, non-caustic soap, preferably children's or cosmetic soap.
A soap solution can be prepared with the addition of liquid soap or a minimally aggressive liquid gel, such as “Delicate” .

The following are absolutely not suitable for washing suede:

Powders containing chlorine, bleaches.
Shampoos and detergents with conditioners.
Regular cheap washing powder.

Adviсe

If there is heavy contamination, faux suede items can be cleaned in any way if you follow simple recommendations:

Do not ignore the manufacturer's care instructions on the label.
Choose cleaning products from the professional series marked “For suede” (shampoos, foams).
Use gel or soft foaming formulations.
Wash clothes in warm water (heat should not exceed 30–40 degrees).
Do not twist, rub, or squeeze. Act as carefully as possible, trying not to stretch or deform the material.
Pay special attention to rinsing.
Pre-remove stains and clean greasy areas.
Wash items completely. Washed areas will be noticeable, streaks will appear, and the structure of the material will not be uniform.
Regularly treat the material with water-repellent impregnations.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.

Machine washable

If you decide to wash suede items in the washing machine, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some rules that will help you avoid damaging the product. Let's list the main ones.

Use special cleaning compounds . For example, a mild skin product, shampoo or liquid soap. Choose a delicate wash cycle, with a temperature no higher than 35 °C. Turn on the minimum spin speed or abandon it altogether. Do not use automatic drying.

It is important to remember that suede does not like to be in water for a long time. To wash problem areas such as collars, cuffs, areas around pockets, zippers and buttons, rub them with laundry soap before putting them in the machine.

Removing greasy

To remove greasy areas, you can use the following methods:

Steam treatment. Allows you to remove grease, and also effectively removes creases, folds, and abrasions by raising the pile.
Eraser. Even the most ordinary one will do. First, the suede is steamed a little.
Table vinegar. Dissolve 15 ml of product in a liter of warm water. Soak a cotton pad or napkin in the solution and wipe the problem area. Spray the remaining product onto the suede to make it softer.

For the most problematic areas in terms of grease - sleeves, collar, elbows - use talc. The sebaceous area is covered with it and cleaned off after an hour.

You can use fresh orange peels to clean dark-colored suede hats and gloves. They simply wipe the surface of the product.

Material properties

Suede is very sensitive to water

Suede is not a universal material. It is great for a warm, dry day, but does not tolerate excessive humidity. In rain and slush, it is better to leave it at home. It collects dust well and absorbs dirt, so you have to clean it often.

Water-repellent agents will protect you from excess dirt. But this will not save you from all the troubles. It is better to wipe suede products when they are dry. For cleaning, use a special eraser or brush with rubber and metal tips. Individual stains are removed by sprinkling them with talcum powder, soaking them in coffee grounds or warm milk and soda (for light-colored items).

How to wash suede

Before washing the sheepskin coat, the lining is slightly stripped from the bottom and on the sleeves. Things made from this material are washed quickly, do not soak and do not rub for a long time. Sleeves and collar can be brushed.

Dry the product at room temperature, in some cases in air. Do not dry near radiators or heaters, or in direct sunlight.

It's not always easy to care for suede items. With some effort, you can enjoy it for many years to come.