Own a pair of suede shoes and you know the love/hate thing about suede shoes. They are luxurious, soft to the touch and can elevate practically anything, however, on the downside, they also tend to stain, scuff and absorb water quicker than one can utter the phrase, suede. And this is the sensitive part: wrongfully cleaned, it can completely ruin the texture and the color.
Hence, it is necessary to learn the basic skills on how to clean suede shoes without damaging it, especially when it comes to sneaker enthusiasts who value their pair of converses in suede. Here are the tools you need to keep your suede looking new season after season, with a few minutes of patience.
Step 1: Know Your Suede
It will help you know what you are dealing with before you go about scrubbing. Suede is developed using the underside of the skin of any animal, thereby giving it the velvety touch. It is more sensitive than full-grain leather, hence is liable to picking up moisture and also dirt.
Due to its porousness, it is impossible to treat suede in the same way as canvas or regular leather. Rough scrubbing, excess water or even harsh cleaning solutions have the capability to flatten the nap and subsequent appearance to your brushes as patchy. The product description or care label is the place to check to see if it is the real suede or the synthetic alternative to those sneakers. You could use Converse material guide to find it out.
Step 2: Gather the Right Tools
It does not require a full cleaning workshop, but some simple tools give you an advantage:
- Suede brush: for lifting dirt and restoring the nap.
- Suede eraser: for spot-treating scuffs and marks.
- Clean, dry cloth: for gentle buffing.
- White vinegar or rubbing alcohol: for stubborn stains.
- Waterproofing spray: to protect after cleaning.
Steer clear of multi-surface brushes or anything with bristles as stiff as a wire, they’ll shred the wee fibers inside. Suede cleaning kits can be found from quality sources at shoe care retailers or else online here.
Step 3: Dry Clean Before Wet Clean
The golden rule here about how to clean suede shoes is to start dry. To clean the surface dirt and dust, use suede brush to sweep the brush in one direction only otherwise it can ruin the nap.
In case you have a persisting scuff, go on to the suede eraser. Gently rub back and forth over the mark going with the direction of the line until the mark is removed. This should suffice most of the minor maintenance and you can halt it at this stage in case your shoes only require a cleaning. Get more frequent care guides in our Converse cleaning archive.
Step 4: Tackle Stains with Care
In case of deeper stains, then you bring in a liquid cleaner at a sparse amount. Lightly swab the stain with a white vinegar or rubbing alcohol saturated cloth (do not pour) and repeat until the stain is removed. These liquids dry easily and so there is less chance of water damage.
Leave the area to dry, and then again run your suede brush over it in order to raise the fuzz. In case the stain remains visible do the process again. Cleaners containing soap are not to be used since they may deposit a residual film and change the color of the shoe.
Step 5: Handle Water Marks Properly
Suede stains with water are very tricky as they tend to be darker in comparison to the background. More water, applied evenly is by far the best way to fix them, ironically. Mist-spray the whole shoe lightly and then fill it up with paper (not newspaper, the ink will transfer). Allow air-drying of it in the open without the direct heat of the sun.
The shoe should be dried brushed back to a texture. This trick applies during rain spots and water marks which are not even. More of seasonal shoe care advice concerns looking after suede in wet weather.
Step 6: Oil and Grease Stain Removal
One of the most difficult problems of suede is oil stains. When cleaning suede shoes, the trick is to be quick. Put cornstarch or talcum powder over that affected region and allow it to remain overnight. The oil is absorbed on these powders without causing any damage to the material.
Use your suede brush the following day to brush off the residue. This might require you to repeat this work on heavy stains. Such gentleness is also recommended by the external sources such as The Spruce cleaning suede guide.
Step 7: Keep the Shape
Cleaning should be done in a way that you do not damage the structure of your shoe. This can be resolved by stuffing them with paper or putting a shoe tree inside (the suede now has a less likelihood of wrinkling or warping when it dries).
High-top sneakers in particular need it, since the ankle area is affected when it is not reinforced. In high-top care guide explains how to maintain structure when cleaning.
Step 8: Finish with Protection
When your suede is dry and clean, add a waterproofing spray which is made specifically on suede. This develops a cushion of exposure to guard future stains and water damage.
Repeat the spray after several weeks, depending on how many times you wear your shoes, particularly, in rainy weather. Waterproofing suede does not render it invulnerable, although it does give time to clean spillages before they get hard.
Step 9: Seasonal Suede Care
As you change your wardrobe to correspond to the seasons, change your suede care as well. During summer, concentrate on performing dust and light dirt cleaning. During fall and winter season, waterproofing and a swift reaction to water or salt residue should be in focus.
In case you have more than one pair of suede, you can alternate that way allowing each footwear to breathe and rest before the next wear.
Step 10: Know When to Seek Professional Help
Certain stains should be left to professionals, particularly those that are deep oil stains, dye transfer, or extreme water stains. A shoe repair person with an experience in suede can usually salvage a pair that otherwise may be considered hopeless.
Although it is more expensive to hire a professional to clean your sneakers than it is to do it yourself, it is worth it when it comes to rare or unique limited-edition sneakers. Consider it an investment in the future of a collection that is in tiptop condition.
Conclusion
The art learning how to clean suede shoes consists of applied patience, the correct equipment, and tender treatment. Begin by dusting first, then proceed to dry cleaning to raise surface dirt, a little water to deal with deeper stains and in all cases, apply brushing to revive the nap. Take care of the water marks, oil stains and keep the shoe in shape and prevent the hard work by regularly waterproofing.
Your favorite Converse high-top suede sneakers or highly sought-after release have a lifetime of wear provided you clean them of course. And keep in mind sometimes the best way to clean is preventing. Handle them properly and they will be ready to do the same to you as you tie them up.
