How to Clean Suede Shoes Easily from Stains [2023 Updated]

What is suede?

Suede is a leather fabric with a napped finish that makes it feel velvety to the touch. Because of its softness and flexibility, it is frequently used in clothing and footwear. While suede is delicate, it can clean at home with the right supplies and techniques.

How to clean suede shoes?

Method One

Dry any potential wetness on your shoes. Use either a suede brush or a towel made of thin cloth to rub the surface of your shoes. Using either a typical pencil eraser or a suede rubber, remove the more noticeable scuffs or stains.

For those stubborn stains, you’ll use another soft cloth and some white vinegar to scrub them out. Invest in some leather degreaser that is intended for stains if you still have some stubborn oil stains.

Give the shoes one last brushing once they are dry, going with the grain, and finish it off with the application of a suede protector.

Method Two

Pour baking soda on the affected areas on your shoes. Use either a brush that was provided in your suede kit or, if you don’t have a suede kit on hand, you can use a soft toothbrush to rub it in.

Allow the rubbed-in baking soda to sit for 15 minutes before brushing it away. When you rid the shoes of baking soda, prepare for magical results as the oil and dirt that used to cover your shoes fall away.

Once again, finish out the process with a suede protector.

Method Three – Removing water stains

Gently apply a coat of water across the entire shoe. Then, you’ll use either a cloth or a sponge to absorb excess water. The goal here is to have the shoe evenly wet throughout.

Then, you’ll want to stick paper in your shoe to help absorb the water and maintain the shape.

Allow your shoes to air dry in a well-ventilated spot. Once they are completely dry, brush lightly with a suede brush.

Method Four – Oil Stains

Using a nail brush, you can scrub a stain away, using warm water for the more stubborn stains. If the oil has yet to dry, you can sprinkle some cornstarch on the stain and allow it to sit overnight.

Method Five – Mud Stains

It’s important to allow the mud to dry, but in the meantime, gently wipe away the excess mud. Refrain from using too much pressure as this can damage your shoes.

Once the mud has dried and hardened on your shoes, it should be easier to break off larger pieces by hand. As for the mud that remains, use a suede brush to break it up and brush it away.

Now that we’ve covered what you can do to return your shoes to their former glory, let’s go over some frequently asked questions.

What is the best suede cleaning kit?

When it comes to suede shoes, you want to make sure you’re taking proper care of them. You don’t want to damage the delicate fabric. So, how should you clean your suede shoes?

You’ll need a few things to properly clean your suede shoes. To begin, you’ll need a soft brush. This will aid in the removal of any dirt or debris from the shoe’s surface. Then you’ll need a suede-specific cleaning solution. Finally, you’ll need a cloth to wipe away the cleaner when you finish. You don’t want to use any old cleaner because it could harm the material. With these three items, you can begin cleaning your suede shoes.

What will ruin suede?

Suede is a type of leather derived from the underside of an animal’s skin. It is softer and finer than other types of leather. Water, dirt, and stains can all ruin suede.

Water causes the suede to shrink and harden. Dirt will discolor and dull the suede. Stains will penetrate and be difficult to remove from suede.

Also, you must avoid any vigorous rubbing, or the soft hairs can become brittle and rip from the shoe. So, don’t put suede shoes into washing machine! It is important to know what kind of shoes can be used washing machine.

To remove dirt and debris, use a soft brush. If your shoes get wet, place them in a cool, dry place to dry.

How to Clean Suede Shoes FAQs

1. Does water ruin suede?

This is a little bit of a double-edged sword. Typically, water does not ruin suede, but this is only true if you truly care for your suede properly. Fortunately, the proper way to dry suede shoes is rather simple if you’re willing to set aside some time.

First, it’s important to allow your shoes to dry out in the open air rather than relying on sunlight or a direct heat source to speed up the process. It will take time, be patient.

If your shoes happen to get soaking wet, you may want to stuff your shoes with newspaper or something similar that will mimic the general shape of your foot. The risk that comes with using newspaper is that the ink may bleed depending on how wet your shoes are. Odds are that any potential stains will stay on the inside of the shoe, but it is something to be aware of.

Gently brush away loose mud or dirt but prevent scrubbing your shoes before they are completely dry as this can damage the shoe.

Once the shoes are dry, use a suede brush to bring the original soft texture back. What happens if you get suede shoes wet? If suede shoes are not properly taken care of after they get wet, there’s a chance that they will be irreversibly damaged.

2. What can you not do with suede shoes?

You must avoid any vigorous rubbing, or the soft hairs can become brittle and rip from the shoe. So, don’t put suede shoes into washing machine! It is important to know what kind of shoes can be used washing machine.

3. How do you protect suede shoes from rain?

On top of the previously mentioned steps to care for shoes that have gotten wet, you can also go the extra mile by purchasing a suede protective spray.

4. How do you store suede shoes?

Keep the shoes somewhere where they will not be exposed to direct sunlight as they could fade. So long as they’re dry and away from any heaters, they can simply be stored in quality shoe bags.

Now you know how to clean suede shoes, and we prepare some ways for you to clean your white shoes too! To Try your best to keep your shoes great, you can also check how to fix the shoe creases.