Suede shoes give a classic and elegant look to the looks and would be perfect if it weren't for one detail: cleanliness.
To always remain beautiful, suede shoes need to be properly treated and that means, above all, keeping them away from water and moisture.
But how? Cleaning without water? Yes! There are several ways to clean a suede shoe using as little moisture as possible. Want to know how? So keep following this post with us. You will see that with the right tips, your shoes will always be clean and fresh again.
But before going to the step by step, let's understand better what suede is, check it out:
What is suede?
Suede is a type of leather treated to look comfortable. Like nubuck, suede is made from original leather, what changes is the process applied to the final finish.
Suede is very delicate and is usually extracted from the skin of the goats, more precisely from the inside of the leather, which guarantee this soft texture to the fabric. Dyeing is performed with anilines and it is perfect for classic or rustic options, serving almost all types of styles and occasions. In some cases, the suede fabric can be mistaken for suede, as the finish is very similar, but the suede is completely synthetic.
Suede makes any piece more elegant and sophisticated, but it is the darling of winter. Not that you shouldn't wear suede pieces in the summer, but in the winter, in addition to getting warmer and more comfortable, you'll be guaranteed a more elegant look.
There are different types of shoes made of suede, from boots and sneakers to sneakers, pumps, sneakers and open sandals, where, in this case, suede is applied in the final finishing of the pieces.
How to clean stains on suede shoes
No matter how careful you are with your shoes, at one time or another it will surprise you with some stains. It turns out that, depending on what caused the stain, the cleaning process will be completely different. Here are the most common types of stains and how to light them:
Dry spots: to remove stains that are already dry – especially when it takes a long time to clean – the use of school rubbers is recommended. That's right! Now, if the stains are spread, you can use conditioner diluted in water or vinegar. When using vinegar do not forget to rub lightly, spreading all over the shoes.
Oily stains: if your shoes come into contact with any oily substance, use talcum powder or cornmeal to clean it. Talc and cornmeal help to suck up oil. Leave a small amount on the affected area for a few hours or, if possible, until the next day. Then just take it off with a slightly damp cloth or a wire brush.
Mold stains: use a toothbrush with soft bristles, moistened with white vinegar. After rubbing gently on the stains, use a damp cloth to clean and finish with conditioning. Remove the excess and let it dry in a dry and ventilated place.
Drink stains: remove with shampoo and conditioner diluted in warm water, rubbing lightly.
Fat spots: in the case of fat stains, warm water also helps a lot. You can choose a neutral shampoo or a liquid glycerin soap and finish with a conditioner. The conditioner guarantees the natural soft look of the suede.
There are also some homemade tricks that can help a lot when cleaning suede shoes, check out some of them:
Homemade tricks for cleaning suede shoes
Nail file: the nail file can remove stains and spots of thicker dirt without damaging the chamois like sponges and loofahs usually do. After “sanding” the stained area, wipe with a damp cloth to remove excess dust from the shoe and dry it in a well-ventilated place.
Steam: it seems a lie, but this homemade recipe always works! Put some water on to boil and bring the suede shoes close to the steam that the boiling water is releasing. The trick here is in the process of steam that softens the dirt trapped in the chamois particles. Ideally, the shoe should be in contact with the steam for about five minutes. Finally, you can use a dry cloth to remove the rest of the dirt or, if you prefer, use the neutral shampoo and conditioner again.
Steel sponge: we already said that sponges are not good options for cleaning stains on suede shoes, but the main problem is the amount of liquid absorbed by the sponge and that will be passed on to the shoes, damaging the suede. In the case of the steel sponge, you must use a new and dry piece, brushing your shoes always in the same direction. Then, with a dry cloth, wipe away the traces of the steel sponge and dirt.
Sodium bicarbonate: the tip here is to make a kind of thick and very pasty cream with water and baking soda. You will need one tablespoon of baking soda for three of water. With a toothbrush, lightly rub the cream over the shoes and remove the excess with a damp cloth.
* Important tip: if the shoe is very valuable to you – financially or emotionally – and the stain is very large and worries you a lot, be sure to take the shoes to a specialized company for an evaluation.
To clean your suede shoes inside, there is a great vinegar recipe to eliminate everything from odors to bacteria that are very common in hot shoes. To do this, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar to five tablespoons of water. With a soft bristle toothbrush, apply this mixture on the insoles and on the inside and all the shoes. Then place in a cool, airy place to dry.
Have any questions? No problem! We have separated some videos with step by step for you to clean your suede shoes at home. See below:
Three ways to clean suede
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-r-XW-O3Is [/ embed]
How to clean suede shoes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BidLq6ZsiBw [/ embed]
How to wash suede sneakers at home?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im7f5kiKc7I [/ embed]
How to clean suede without secrets!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXEEosc-FHk [/ embed]
How to maintain and care for suede shoes
Now that you know how to clean a suede shoe, it's time to get to know some tips that will help you both keep cleaning longer, and make your shoe last longer. See below:
Never leave your suede shoes wet for a long time. If you get rain on the way from work to home, put your shoes on to dry immediately.
Products like apple cider vinegar, powdered coloring and alcohol also help to clean and preserve suede shoes. In the case of dye, just choose a shade close to the color of the shoe and dilute it in water.
Avoid wearing suede shoes in damp and wet places, such as near swimming pools, for example. If you can, also avoid using your suede shoe on rainy days.
Balls of paper or newspaper can be used inside suede shoes to suck up moisture, especially when used for long periods.
Suede shoes cannot dry in the sun and must be stored in a dry and airy place.
Fabric softener, as well as conditioning, works very well to clean and preserve the softness of the suede in the shoes. Here, it is important to always finish with a damp cloth, removing all excess product and letting them dry well. If any product remains on the shoe, new stains may appear.
Many people do not know, but hairspray spray helps to preserve the appearance of suede. Using the product once a week you will notice that the color of the suede and the softness will be preserved.
When cleaning your suede shoes, don't even think about moving back and forth, either with toothbrushes, with a steel brush or with a damp cloth. The movement must always be in the same direction.
Never use a hair dryer to speed up the drying of suede shoes, in addition to the hot air being harmful added to the chemical cleaning process, moisture can spread through the shoes and even make stains worse;
Never use plastic bags to store your suede shoes, even when traveling. Suede is a fabric that perspires and water is the main enemy of this material. Just keeping the chamois in can signal the appearance of some stains.
Now that you have all these tips in hand, you have no excuse to stop taking care of your suede shoes, right ?!
