How-To Steps for Cleaning Suede

Suede is considered a beautiful material by many and is used to create many items including clothing, shoes, boots, couches, pillows and even comforters. What many people do not realize, however, when they purchase an item made of suede, is that it can be very difficult to get stains and dirt out of it. The best option, of course, is prevention. If you purchase a suede couch, have a suede protection treatment sprayed on it. If you purchase a suede purse, shoes, boots, or jacket, also purchase a high quality suede protector at the same time. You want to protect these items from the get-go. If, however, you already own a suede item and it has a stain or scuff on it, the following tips can be useful for removing the blemish, in many situations. Remember, though, that the most important thing when owning suede is to pre-treat it for protection. The second most important thing is to get those stains out that do occur, immediately. The longer they settle, the harder they will be to get out, if they come out at all.

First, the couch; If you have a couch covered with suede upholstery, and you have a stain, mark, or wet spot on it, you can try one of two options before resorting to a professional cleaning (which may or may not help).

One: You can take dip a dry towel in a bit of white vinegar (or a mixture of white vinegar and water, if you prefer) and rub directly on the stain. Vinegar, or vinegar and water, is probably the best home remedy for cleaning suede. It is imperative, however, that you test this solution on a part of the couch that will never be visible before you use it, say on the back or on the cushions. Wait for the product to dry and if the stain or mark is still visible, try once more. If after the second attempt the stain is still there, this solution is probably not going to work. Be careful not to rub too hard when doing this, you do not want to rip or wrinkle your suede.

Two: You can purchase a little tool called a suede eraser that is meant to get dirt and scuffs out of suede by pushing the blemish to the surface from underneath. You then wipe it clean with a dry towel. It sounds easy, and it is, but it can also be very effective. Again, be careful with how much pressure you use when rubbing, as you do not want to irreparably damage the material.

Second, shoes or boots; To clean scuffs, salt, or dirt marks off of suede shoes or boots, you can try one of the following two methods.

One: Gather your supplies. You will need a suede eraser, a dry towel, and a wire suede brush. The first thing you want to do is rub the eraser across the stain or mark on the shoes or boots. Go in the same direction with each stroke; you do not want to scrub in a back and forth motion. Do not be alarmed when the eraser begins to crumble, that is what it is supposed to do. Once you have brought the dirt to the surface that has been hiding underneath the suede, take a dry towel and scrub the crumbled bits from the eraser off of your footwear. Many times this will do the trick. Now you want to use the wire brush made specifically for suede, to brush the item. This will bring the nap back to the desired look.

Two: This step you want to do in an inconspicuous spot to begin with, and then repeat on the stain if it does not harm the material. Dip a cloth in white vinegar and rub the shoe gently. Allow it to air dry and then use the wire brush to bring the nap back to pristine condition. This is a great tip if your shoes or boots have salt stains on them that come with walking about in the winter weather.

Now the jacket or coat. The first thing you want to do is rub a spot on outwear garments with a dry towel. Many times this alone will do the trick. If it does not work, proceed with the following.

If the stain is a grease or wet mark, pour just enough cornstarch on the stain to cover it and allow it to sit for an hour or two. Then take a soft, dry cloth and rub the cornstarch away. If you catch such a stain very early on, this method may well work to get it out.

If the stain is a mark, dirt, or scuff, try the suede eraser mentioned in the shoe cleaning directions. Rub the eraser across the stain, moving it in one direction until crumbly. Then you want to take a soft, dry towel and remove the crumblings from the eraser. Once dry, use the wire brush to restore the nap.

The same methods can be used for a suede purse.

For your suede comforter or duvet, keep a quilt stand close to the bed and remove the cover or duvet when you know you will be sleeping on it. Sweat, saliva, and the like can leave nasty little marks on your cover that are hard to remove. If you do get a stain, scuff, or mar on the cover, try to rub it first with a dry towel. If that does not work, test a little white vinegar and water in a spot that is well hidden. If the treatment does not damage the surface of the suede, proceed to treating the stain. Brush back to a consistent nap when finished with a wire suede brush. You may have to take the cover to a professional leather cleaner if the towel or vinegar and towel treatment are ineffective.

Words to the wise: Keep ink away from suede. It stains it and is very difficult to remove.

In closing, remember that the very best way to protect suede is to treat it from the beginning with a stain and water repellant protector. Make sure the protector is of high quality. This is one area in which you do not want to skimp in order to save a few pennies. Suede can be a very lovely material, but it is volatile and easily scratched, marred, or stained. You must exhibit care when owning these items if you expect them to remain in pristine condition. Accidents, however, do happen. So if you spot or stain a suede item, just remember to treat it immediately for the best chance of removing the blemish.