However, their smooth materials are often susceptible to water spots, salt residue, scuff marks, and general dirt.
How do you clean suede shoes?
If you suffer from the pain of staining your favorite suede shoes, there is no need to fear; We’ve rounded up the best techniques and tools you’ll need to make it look brand new.
Depending on the type of stain you are trying to remove from the shoe, how you clean it will likely vary.
water spots
If you’ve ever had a swing when you stepped halfway into a puddle and ended up with a water streak on your favorite suede shoes, this section is for you.
All you need is:
- lukewarm water spray bottle
- Suede brush (or a toothbrush, if you’re in trouble)
- Tissue paper
- Bonus: Weatherproof Spray
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, removing water stains from suede shoes is actually much easier with more water.
Simply spray on your shoes, then gently rub in the same direction as the suede with the brush.
Finally, wipe the shoes with paper towels and stuff them with paper towels as well to absorb excess water from absorbing into the material.
Let them dry, and repeat if necessary.
Bonus tip: Treat your suede shoes with a waterproofing solution, and reapply whenever you wear them in rainy conditions.
This will prevent you from getting large water spots on your shoes in the future.
dirt and mud
No matter how hard you try, you’ll likely end up with dirt or mud stains on your precious suede shoes at one time or another.
All you need is:
- Suede brush or toothbrush
- nail file
- Suede eraser or clean pencil eraser
- Bonus: a steamer and paper towels
Begin by letting any new clay dry.
Next, you’ll want to brush off any dirt with your toothbrush or suede brush, back and forth with the granules of the material.
If there is still some dirt that has accumulated deeply, grab the eraser and gently go down to the place.
If the dirt doesn’t come out completely, use a nail file and gently scrub the stain.
Bonus tip: If you own a steamer, you can simply steam the area where the dirt is and then wipe it with paper towels.
Let it dry, and repeat if necessary.
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general spots
For general stains, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol can remove the residue on your suede shoes.
All you need is:
- White vinegar or rubbing alcohol
- soft cloth
- dry towel
Pour white vinegar or rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and begin to slowly rub it into the stain.
Allow the fabric to dry and blot the area with a dry towel to completely remove the stain.
To protect your suede belongings from future stains, you can purchase a suede protective spray.
Protective spray can be purchased on Amazon, at your local Walmart or Target store, or at some drugstores such as CVS or Walgreens.