Suede is such a lovely and plush material. It is soft to the touch and easy on the eyes. That is, until it gets dirty or stained. Suede may be one of the trickiest materials to clean thoroughly. The key is to care for it gently and with patience. With that in mind, it is possible to clean your suede jackets and boots.
Things to Avoid
The first thing to do is to not treat suede as any other material, including traditional leather. It is possible to make stains worse by cleaning suede with soap and water, as you might with cotton and synthetics. Never run your suede through your washing machine. And, conventional dry cleaning is not always advisable for cleaning suede either.
Cleaning Suede Jackets
Suede jackets can be quite delicate. They often experience staining from coming in contact with an oily substance or from body sweat. Follow these steps to clean your suede jacket.
Step 1: Using a special suede brush, gently loosen the fibers of the material. It should help to remove surface dirt before tackling any deeper stains.
Step 2: Apply a thin layer of cornflour or finely ground cornmeal directly to any deep stains. It will help to lift and absorb oil or sweat. Leave the flour or meal on the area for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.
Step 3: Use your suede brush to remove the flour or meal. Again, be gentle and take your time so as not to damage the surface.
Step 4: If the first three steps do not remove the stain or discoloration, you can try steam cleaning the fabric. It is best to start by hanging the garment in your bathroom while you take a steamy shower. You can also try a steamer, such as those used for getting wrinkles out of clothing. Be very careful not to saturate the material with water.
Step 5: Let’s say your stain is stubborn. That is when you want to use a dedicated suede cleaning solution. These are often available in spray cans or pump bottles. The trick to these cleaners is to coat the entire jacket lightly because it may cause discoloration. If that happens, you want the whole coat to look uniform. There is nothing wrong with the look of some natural aging in suede or any other leather.
Cleaning Suede Boots
Suede boots are a little different from jackets. Boots naturally come in contact with the earth, which is pretty easy to clean off. However, they are also subject to scuffs and scratches, moisture, and road salt. Try these steps to clean and restore your suede boots.
Step 1: Similar to a jacket, gently brush in the direction of the grain to loosen the fibers. If your boots are scuffed, brush in a vigorous back-and-forth motion to remove loose ones. Do this only at the area of the scuff mark, not all over the surface of the boots.
Step 2: You can clean your boots with water, as they have likely already encountered wet surfaces. When using water, wipe the entire boot clean with a soft cloth or apply the water with the brush evenly so that any discoloration appears less noticeable. Allow it to dry naturally. Do not use a hairdryer.
Step 3: If your boots have trudged through salted sidewalks, you can try a small amount of white vinegar to remove the salt stains. Do this with either a soft cloth or a suede brush.
Step 4: Finally, for stubborn stains, use a dedicated suede cleaning solution. These are often available in spray cans or pump bottles. The trick to these cleaners is to lightly coat the entire boot (both of them) because it may cause discoloration. If that happens, you want them to look uniform.