When we see them in the store window, we fall in love with them. They look so new, with that velvety skin! However, many times we end up leaving suede shoes stored in the closet because by not knowing how to maintain them properly, they end up losing their original appearance. Needless to say when they get stained by a downpour or because a drop of oil has fallen on them.
On many occasions, we leave them because we don’t know how to clean them, or on others, we dare to wash them with soap and water and we ruin them. Don’t fall for these mistakes. Suede, suede, or unbuckle shoes, as they are also often called, can be kept and cleaned, but you must know the correct way so that they always remain as new.
We give you some tips to clean suede shoes and make them look like new, as well as some tips for their care. All these tricks are also valid for cleaning and caring for bags, gloves, and other suede accessories, take note!
Daily care of suede shoes that you should take into account
The first thing you should know is that suede is a type of porous leather. It is made with the inner part of the skin of animals (although sometimes this skin is synthetic). And this makes it much more delicate than common tanned leather, as well as an enemy of humidity. Therefore, you should take into account some recommendations for the daily care of your footwear:
- It is not recommended to wear suede shoes on rainy days. Water is the enemy of suede, but don’t panic either, if a downpour falls on your prized suede shoes, they can be cleaned to make them look like new (we’ll show you how later).
- It is advisable to clean it after each use with a slightly damp cotton cloth. Dusting the suede is essential so that it does not end up looking worn and old.
- They should be brushed from time to time with a special suede brush. You find it in shoe stores, shoe repair businesses, or supermarkets. You must brush the suede in the direction of its hair and gently and constantly so that it does not get damaged. In the case of not having a special brush, you can use one with soft bristles that you no longer use. You should always brush your shoe completely dry, so when you brush it, wipe it with a slightly damp cloth afterward.
- It is suggested to use a protective and waterproofing spray for suede from time to time, as long as they are clean and dry. This helps keep the shoe much more careful.
- If you regularly maintain this care in suede shoes, we assure you that they will look like new for a long time. Now, if you have unbuckled shoes that you haven’t taken care of, you still have time to improve their appearance with the advice that we give you below. Also, if for any reason they get dirty or wet, don’t be alarmed. Before you throw in the towel and think about getting rid of them, try our tricks. You will see that they work!
Accumulated dust or scratches on suede shoes: how to clean them?
- If you have not given them daily maintenance, they may have accumulated dust and this has become embedded in the fibers, giving a sensation of dirt that is not recommended. Generally, dust causes the skin to lose its natural glow and fresh look. In this case, the best thing to do is a good brush with a special brush and at the end, wipe with a well-wrung, damp cotton cloth.
- On the other hand, suede is a fairly delicate skin, so it may happen that when rubbed you see a slight stain. In these cases, try to remove it with an eraser. Use a basic white rubber (never colors that can stain the suede). Finish with brushing and a damp cloth to remove traces of rubber and dust.
My suede shoes have gotten wet: what can I do?
- It is usually one of the most common problems with suede shoes. Perhaps you wore them to leave the house in the morning because it was a very sunny day, but suddenly a downpour fell on you. Your feet didn’t get wet, but your shoes look like they’ve been ruined, right? Don’t worry; water spots on suede are a fairly easy problem to fix. The important thing is not to make certain mistakes.
- If only a few drops of water have gotten on your shoes, simply wipe them with a dry cloth to remove as much moisture as possible. Let them dry at room temperature.
- In the case of a downpour, and your shoes have been completely or partly wet, follow the same procedure. Dry them as much as possible with a dry cloth. Also, insert newspaper or absorbent kitchen paper inside, to remove as much moisture as possible so that the shoe does not deform.
- On these occasions, if it is not cleaned correctly, there may be a water stain that dries on the chamois. In these cases, wet all the skin again with a spray and clean it completely in the same way as in the previous case.
- One of the worst mistakes you can make when a suede shoe gets wet is to dry it in the sun or near a heat source. If you do this, the shoe will be completely ruined. Ideally, they should be dried in a ventilated and as dry place as possible, away from direct sunlight. If you live in a very humid climate, try to insert a moisture-proof bag and let them dry in the driest place in the house.
Tips to remove different stains from your suede shoes
We have seen that your suede shoes can get wet or dusty, but what if you spilled some oil or paint on them? What if you have mud stains? Don’t worry! We tell you how to remove each type of stain from your footwear:
Mud stains on suede shoes
- They are the most common. You may have put on your suede boots without intending to stain them, but for various reasons, they may have ended up in the mud. If this has happened to you, you should leave them in a dry place away from the sun so that the mud dries completely. Never clean them with wet mud, as it could then soak into the leather and ruin the shoe.
- When it dries completely, brush it as if you were dusting it. If there is a mud stain that is too resistant, try scraping it off with a nail file or fine sandpaper, always very soft, patiently, and little by little. To finish, you know, clean with a damp cloth, but only when you make sure that there are no mud stains left.
Moisture stains on your shoes: ways to remove them
- Wet environments are fatal to suede. If you live in a humid area and you have stored your shoes incorrectly near a source of moisture, probably when you are going to use them you will find yourself surprised by shoes full of strange stains that seem to have no solution.
- First of all, to avoid this, remember to always store your shoes in dry places and if it is going to be a long time before you put them on, we recommend you put an anti-humidity bag inside them.
- Now, if the humidity is already a fact in your shoes, the golden trick is the soda. Yes, you read it right. You need a basic soda (in some areas it is called a tonic, it is the soft drink with which gin and tonic are prepared). Apply a little soda to a clean, dry cloth and carefully rub it into any damp spots. You will see that little by little they are coming out. When you’re done, dry it with a cotton cloth to remove as much moisture as possible and let it air dry (you know, away from the sun and heat sources).
Tricks to remove oil stains from your shoes
- If grease or oil has fallen on your suede shoes, the first thing to do is to stay calm, everything has a solution! If you think the stain is too deep or your shoes are of very good quality and you don’t dare try to clean them so as not to damage them, we recommend that you take them to a dry cleaner. However, different tricks can work for you. Take note!
- If you have a chance to clean them when your shoes are stained, immediately add cornstarch (or cornmeal) to the stained area to absorb the grease. When completely dry, remove by brushing over the surface of the skin.
- In the case of longer grease stains, one of the most used tricks is ammonia. Use a very small part of ammonia to a large part of water, dip the brush in this solution, wring out well before brushing over the stain, and gently rub into the stain in the direction of the chaos’s hair.
- You can also try using a degreaser on a cloth dampened with water. Rub the stain little by little until it is gone.
Ways to remove paint stains from suede shoes
- Although it may seem incredible, some suede shoes with paint stains can be saved. It all depends on how much paint has been absorbed by the skin and how long it takes to clean it up. Also, if you tend to take good care of your shoes and even use the waterproofing product regularly, it may be easier to remove the paint.
- If your shoe has been stained with nail polish, ink, paint, or even plaster, you should ideally follow the same procedure as with a mud stain in the first place. That is, let it dry and remove it with a special brush. If the stain is completely gone, then you should just finish with a basic cleaning with a slightly damp cloth.
- However, some paints are oil-based, so after finishing cleaning, some kind of grease stain may remain. In this case, first, repeat the above procedure; keep brushing trying to make the stain disappear. If you can’t, you can use a little bit of acetone soaked in cotton and pat it gently to absorb the paint. In heavily encrusted paint stains, this procedure also works.
- What do you think of all these tips for cleaning suede shoes? In any case, if the stain does not disappear, before throwing in the towel and discarding the shoe, we recommend taking it to a dry cleaner or shoemaker. They may be able to work miracles with your shoe and don’t lose it. Luck!