Ways to clean suede shoes at home

Suede is a delicate material. It is necessary to take care of shoes made from such raw materials carefully and regularly. This will preserve the appearance and quality of the product for a long time. Therefore, it is worth figuring out how to clean suede shoes yourself, and what must be taken into account in the process.

Can suede shoes be washed?

Suede material does not tolerate moisture well. Therefore, it is recommended to exclude frequent contact of the product with water. But in some cases, washing is indispensable. Contamination can be so severe that a standard brush alone cannot handle it. Washing can be done by hand or in a washing machine. Products made of artificial material are not too whimsical, so a delicate mode in a typewriter is suitable for them. It is better not to wash shoes made of natural suede on the automatic mode.

But unless absolutely necessary, you should not use a wash or a large amount of water for suede.

Cleaners for suede (artificial and natural)

There are many ways to clean your suede shoes at home. They are divided into specialized and folk. The choice of a suitable product depends on the nature of the dirt and the condition of the shoe in general.

Foam cleaner

The foam cleaner is suitable not only for natural materials, but also for artificial ones. It not only allows you to cope with difficult stains, but also to restore the color of the product, to raise the pile. When using, you need to take a bottle of cleaner and shake it. Then the product is evenly applied to the surface of the shoe and left for a few minutes. Remove the remaining cleaner with a brush. These simple steps are enough to give your shoes a presentable look.

Note! Foam cleaners are expensive. But their consumption is economical. Therefore, one bottle will last for a long time.

The advantages of the product are the ability to remove stubborn traces of dirt, remove unpleasant odors, gently acting on the pile, without harming it. If the desired result was not obtained for the first time, the procedure is repeated. It is important to carefully follow the instructions for use. If you leave the foam on the surface for half an hour, it will simply dry out and there will be more problems with the shoes.

Folk remedies

Various tools at hand can help deal with dirt. Among the popular ones, it is worth highlighting the following:

1. Vinegar. The tool copes well with wax marks on the pile. Vinegar 9% will do. It is combined with water in a 1: 5 ratio. After mixing in the resulting solution, moisten a clean rag and treat problem areas with it;
2. Starch.Suitable for removing greasy marks on the surface. Starch is poured onto problem areas of the shoe and left for an hour. Remove powder with a brush. Starch can be replaced with baby powder;
3. Eraser. This is a special tool that allows you to literally wipe away traces of dirt from the surface. You can buy a similar product at a shoe store.

Other chemical

Stores offer a wide range of different shoe care formulations. The main thing is to choose the right product correctly. It is not recommended to save a lot on such products. Alcohol and acetone can easily cope with dirt, but they easily damage the surface of the product. Shoes after such a procedure become unusable.

Before using the selected composition, it is important to carefully study the manufacturer's instructions and act strictly according to it.

Note! Don't use fabric stain remover. These products are not suitable for suede fabrics.

Cleaning brushes

The key difference between suede brushes is the material they are made from. They can be divided into the following types:

1. Crepe. Consists of steel fibers on the bottom and rubber strips on the top. The bottom part allows you to get rid of stains and dust. The upper, softer part removes abrasions. Also, the brush has a nylon insert necessary for aligning the villi;
2. Double metal. Quite rough and often used to get rid of earth from the surface of the product;
3. Universal. The product can have natural or artificial bristles. Allows you to remove dirt, even if the stains are serious;
4. Combined. Has several work surfaces. In addition to suede, it is suitable for cleaning nubuck or velor;
5. Triangular. The sides are made of rubber, the main surface is made of nylon pile. The back is made of rubber. Allows you to get rid of heavy stains, dust and earth residues;
6. Eraser. It has already been noted that such a brush is made in the form of an eraser and allows you to erase dirt;
7. Sponge. Allows you not only to get rid of dirt, but it is convenient for it to remove the remnants of cleaning agents from the surface, apply paint.

The quality of cleaning depends not only on the correct type of brush, but also on its skillful use. You should adhere to these recommendations:

1. The chamois and brush must be dry;
2. A rubber brush with rubberized inserts copes well with dirt;
3. If the contamination is not completely removed by the soft part, it is worth treating the area with the hard side of the brush;
4. A stiff brush should be used as carefully as possible. The surface should be carried out carefully, without damaging the suede;
5. For areas where the seam is located, it is recommended to use a special roller brush.

How to clean suede shoes at home

Cleaning methods may vary depending on the color of the suede and the nature of the dirt. Therefore, it is worth understanding all the nuances of the procedure.

Light suede

Light-colored shoes suffer more from dirt on the street. Therefore, it is recommended to first remove all traces of dirt that have dried up. Then add a few drops of ammonia and a teaspoon of soda to a glass of skim milk. After thoroughly mixing, the composition is applied with a sponge to the contaminated areas. After wiping everything, remove the remnants of the product. Leave the shoes to dry and lift the pile with a brush. It is recommended to first test the resulting composition on a small area of ​​suede.

Sneakers

Shoes can be easily cleaned from dirt using specialized products and shampoos. But if such compositions were not at hand, you can use a folk recipe. It is enough to combine ammonia with a soap solution in a ratio of 1: 4. After mixing, the resulting solution is treated with stains on suede sneakers. Then gently wipe the area with clean water. Be sure to dry your sneakers. This should be done in a natural way, suede does not tolerate high temperatures and sunlight. The above recipe works great for light-colored suede.

Boots

If your boots are heavily soiled, you should entrust the cleaning process to professionals. Such dry cleaning is able to restore the presentable look of the boots. But you can try to cope on your own. The above recipes work well for suede. You can also use a brush to brush the entire surface of your boots.

Shoes

If your suede shoes get dirty, it is recommended to dry the shoes first. Then try to remove any traces of dirt with a suitable brush. It is recommended to move in the direction of the natural position of the pile to keep it smooth. Then you can use one of the folk recipes. In addition to dissolving ammonia in soapy water, you can add it to dishwashing detergent.

After mixing, foam forms, which is applied to problem areas. After removal, wipe the surface with a dry cloth. Then a teaspoon of vinegar is added to a liter of water and the surface of the shoes is treated with the resulting solution using a rag. The prepared composition makes the damaged parts smoother. At the end of the procedure, the shoes are dried.

How to remove white stains

Often white stains can be seen on suede shoes. This problem is especially relevant for dark colors, in which such a nuisance manifests itself more strongly. Among the effective remedies against white stains, it is worth noting:

1. Eraser. The special eraser brush removes streaks. First, the surface is treated with the smooth side of the brush. Then use a soft part, which allows you to sand the dirt, removing streaks. If you don't have a shoe eraser on hand, you can try replacing it with a school eraser. Better to choose a light one. You need to rub the product with it, and then hold the shoes for a few minutes over hot steam. Do not lower the product too low. Hot steam will lift the pile;
2. Rye bread. First, it is dried in the oven and the resulting product is treated with shoes. Finally, the product is brushed to remove bread crumbs.

The vinegar and ammonia recipes described above also help you get rid of light streaks.

How to remove salt

In winter, suede shoes are often affected by salt. You can remove traces of it with a brush. But if this does not help, it is recommended to hold the shoes for a few minutes over hot steam, avoiding strong soaking. Then the suede is wiped with a dry cloth. Using a brush, the pile is lifted. Then the sponge is moistened in vinegar and the surface is wiped. At the end, the product is dried.

You can also get rid of traces of salt with a special eraser. It is enough to treat the surface with it and remove its remnants. This will remove traces of salt from the surface.

How to properly care for suede shoes

To make it easier to get rid of dirty marks, shoes must be carefully and regularly looked after. This will help prevent stubborn, tough stains from forming. Before storing the product for storage until next season, it must be dried and all stains removed. Then, special protective agents are applied to the surface. If there are scuffs, they are painted over. To maintain the shape of the shoe, pads are placed inside. Don't put your shoes in a plastic bag. It is better to choose a fabric one.

Special protective impregnation can be used not only when the shoes are put away for storage. The composition will not be able to completely protect the surface from contamination, but it will prevent serious contamination. It is recommended to apply the product before leaving the house.

It is important that there is no complete protection of suede from dirt. However, steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of a serious degradation in product quality. It is also recommended that you purchase a small brush and carry it with you. If a stain is found, you can gently clean it so that the dirt is not absorbed into the deep layers of the fabric. Regular and thorough care of suede products will extend their service life while maintaining quality and attractive appearance.

VIDEO: Cleaning suede shoes and proper care.