Cleaning suede shoes: Grandma's home remedies work wonders

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Suede shoes are once again one of the most important fashion trends this season. They look great, no question. Unfortunately, shoes made of suede, whether boots, lace-ups or boots, are real sensitive things and real stain magnets.

They are particularly sensitive to wetness and unfortunately there is plenty of that in autumn and winter. Rain, snow and mud quickly cause unsightly stains or edges on the suede.

But don't worry: suede shoes can be cleaned with the right home remedies and products. Read here which tricks you can use to get rid of stains on suede shoes in no time.

Clean suede shoes with home remedies

There are a number of home remedies that are suitable for cleaning suede shoes. Which one is right depends on the type of stains on the suede.

The bad news first: Special cleaning products for suede are usually more effective than home remedies when it comes to stubborn stains. Light dirt can usually be easily removed from suede using home remedies.

Important for all home remedies and cleaning products for suede shoes: First test them on an inconspicuous, small area. If you notice that the suede is losing its color or the material is damaged, you should entrust the cleaning to professional hands. In many large cities there are special shoe care services, similar to dry cleaners.

Remove water stains from suede shoes

Water leaves unsightly stains on suede shoes. Depending on the type and condition of the water stain, different cleaning methods are suitable:

Fresh water stainsshould be dabbed as quickly as possible with a dry, clean cloth (or kitchen paper can also be used) to remove excess moisture from the leather.

Dried water edgesyou can tackle it with even more water. Yes, you heard that right. If you carefully rub the entire material in circular movements with a damp, clean cloth, the original water marks will usually disappear.

Important:To prevent suede shoes from becoming deformed when cleaning with water, you should stuff the shoes with kitchen paper or insert a shoe tree. It's better not to use newspaper as the printer's ink can rub off.

Also make sure that you do not place the suede shoes in the sun or near a radiator after cleaning them. UV radiation and dry heating air can make the suede brittle and cause it to fade.

When the suede is completely dry, you should roughen it evenly with a soft brush.

Clean suede shoes with onion

If your suede shoes have snow and salt on the edges, you should use grandma's secret trick: a raw onion.

Cut an onion in half and gently rub the affected areas. Then with clear water and perhaps something mildfollow-up treatment. Finally, let the suede dry thoroughly.

If the salt marks on the suede shoes are stubborn, then I recommend using a suede eraser instead of the onion.

You can order a well-rated suede eraser from Amazon here*

Suede shoes can be easily cleaned with special erasers.

Remove grease stains from suede shoes

If something greasy lands on your suede shoes, you should immediately put a paper towel on them. The paper absorbs the excess fat.

If the grease stain has already dried, cornstarch and baking powder can help. Dust the affected area with the starch or baking soda and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Then carefully brush off the home remedy. If the grease stain has not completely disappeared, you can repeat the process again.

By the way:Dry shampoo is also a great home remedy for removing grease stains from suede. If the suede is dark, you should use dry shampoo for dark hair. If you have light spots, use the product for blonde hair.

Reading tips:

Clean suede shoes with vinegar

Vinegar is a real all-round home remedy and is also suitable for cleaning suede shoes.

For example, is tea, juice orlanded on your suede shoes, then you should use vinegar: put a little vinegar on a soft cotton cloth and carefully rub the stain. Then treat the wet area with a clean, dry cotton cloth, let everything dry thoroughly and then work on the suede with a brush.

Quick reminder: Before you clean your suede shoes with vinegar, you should test the home remedy on an inconspicuous area. Dark suede can fade from vinegar.

Clean suede shoes with mild detergent

If the home remedies don't help and the stains are really stubborn, then liquid mild detergent can be the solution.

Simply add some mild detergent to lukewarm water and carefully rub the material with a clean, soft sponge and soapy water. Then wipe again with clear water.

Be careful with sandpaper

A common tip for cleaning suede shoes is to use sandpaper. The sandpaper acts like a kind of peeling. It removes the top layer of the leather and with it the surface stains.

The problem is that sandpaper can damage the leather if you rub hard and if the sandpaper is too coarse. Grab a fine-grit sandpaper and rub the area very gently.

Or use a special suede eraser directly. It is gentler on the suede shoes.

Clean suede shoes with eraser

If your shoes look battered and you're dealing with stubborn stains, then you need tougher guns. There are many special products on the market to professionally clean suede shoes.

Instead of buying the products individually, I recommend a cleaning set. This contains all the tools you need to clean suede shoes and then roughen the leather. This is the only way it looks nice and even in the end.

For example, the nubuck set from Solitare is very well rated on Amazon. It is suitable for suede shoes as well as leather jackets or bags and also contains a waterproofing spray that you should apply to the shoes after cleaning.

You can buy a practical cleaning kit for suede shoes on Amazon here*

If you like wearing suede shoes, you should have these products at home.Credit:Amazon

Can I clean suede in the washing machine?

In some cases, suede shoes are actually allowed in thebe cleaned. For example, simple. Very important: Only use the cold hand wash cycle. This is the gentlest washing program that not only protects the suede on the outside but also the lambskin inside the shoes.

After washing, the suede shoes must be dried slowly and gently. To do this, stuff them with kitchen paper or towels. This is how they keep their shape.

If the suede shoes are elaborately crafted, it is better not to clean them in the washing machine, but only by hand.

Cleaning suede shoes: 5 take-aways

1.Before cleaning suede shoes, they should be stuffed from the inside with paper or paper towels or provided with shoe trees to maintain their shape.

2.Now brush off any coarse dirt with a suede brush (alternatively an old toothbrush). If possible, work in the direction of travel and apply little pressure.

3.Suede erasers should only be used on dry leather and on dried stains.

4.When cleaning with water, always treat the entire shoe to avoid unsightly water marks. If you like, you can also use leather soap (here from Amazon*) grab. This ensures that the suede is greased again after cleaning.

5.After cleaning, allow suede shoes to dry thoroughly at room temperature. Never place on, under or directly next to a radiator and avoid direct sunlight.

Waterproofing suede shoes

You can no longer hear the sentence: “Do you need anything else to waterproof?” in the shoe store? Me neither. But the sellers are still right. Suede shoes in particular should definitely be waterproofed before wearing them for the first time.

The treatment makes the material less susceptible to water and stains, saving you a lot of time.

Make sure that the waterproofing spray is suitable for suede. It's best to use a colorless spray. By the way, you can use this to treat not only your suede shoes, but also other items of clothing or accessories such as bags or jackets.

In principle, suede should be re-impregnated after each cleaning to maintain protection.

I hope that my tips will help you clean your beloved suede shoes and I hope you enjoy them!

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