How to Clean Suede Shoes

The quality of suede shoes has changed a lot since Elvis sang “you can do anything, but please stay away from my blue suede shoes”. However, today’s suede shoes are still prone to scratches and stains, and they are still very difficult to clean. So anyone who owns a pair of suede shoes can sympathize with the request of the rock king Elvis. Are you spending too much time and effort on your suede shoes? Follow these steps to make them look like new again.

Table of Contents

Clean Dirt and Scratches

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Use a suede brush and keep the shoes dry at all times. Suede has a lot of soft grain, so it’s best to use a brush specifically designed for suede. You can purchase this brush in a suede cleaning kit. If your shoes are branded, use whatever the manufacturer recommends. Suede is also very sensitive to water, so stains and scratches are best addressed while the shoes are still dry.

Brush the shoes lightly to remove dust. Use a suede brush to gently brush away dust and dirt build-up on your shoes. While brushing, be careful not to rub back and forth, brush several times in one direction. Once you remove this layer of dirt, your shoes will look like new.

Brush harder to remove scratches on shoes. When a shoe is scratched, the suede grains can be forced down to one side. Help restore the suede grain to its original state by vigorous back-and-forth brushing in both directions. You should still use a dedicated brush for best results.

For deep scratches that a brush can’t handle, try fixing it by gently scraping the area with a razor.

Use a pencil eraser for stubborn stains. Scratches and stains that are difficult to remove can still be treated with a pencil eraser or a piece of crepe rubber (the wrinkled rubber is often used to make shoe soles). You can also replace it with a suede-specific eraser. You should scrub moderately and vigorously if necessary. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Protect your shoes. When the shoes are new and clean (or you are wearing them for the first time), you should spray a protective layer on the shoes. This helps prevent stains and other marks. Furthermore, do not forget to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Removes Water Stains

Wet the entire outside of the shoe, while also lightly moistening the brush. Water can fade leather, but if done correctly, water can remove stains.

Use a sponge or dry cloth to absorb excess water. Gently rub the entire surface of the leather until the stain is completely removed.

Stuff paper or wooden shoe trees inside your shoes. If you use a lot of water to clean your shoes, put dry paper inside the shoes to absorb the water inside. The shoe tree (or paper ball) will help the shoe keep its original shape. Do not use newspaper as ink may be printed on your shoes. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Let the shoes dry at least overnight. Place them in a dry, well-ventilated place to allow the water to evaporate.

Once dry, use a suede brush to gently brush over your shoes. This will help the skin particles return to their original state.

Remove Special Stains

Remove oil or unknown stains with a nail brush. Use a suede brush to scrub the stain as you would with scratches. Then use a nail brush to scrub the stubborn stains with warm water. Grease stains on suede shoes are difficult to remove, and once dirty, shoes will no longer be beautiful.

You can use cornstarch to absorb grease stains on shoes when the grease has not completely dried. Sprinkle some cornstarch on the stain then leave the shoe overnight. The next day, brush the cornstarch off with a brush and then over the stain with a steam iron. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Let the mud dry completely before cleaning the shoes. Brush off dirt from your shoes, but don’t scrub too hard. Then leave the shoes in a dry and sunny place. Once the mud has dried, you can peel off the pieces by hand. Again, use a specialized brush to scrub the remaining dirt on the shoes.

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For wax and gum stains, put your shoes in the freezer. If your shoes are stained with gum, put them in the freezer for a few hours. The gum will be so hard that you can peel it off. Finally scrub with a brush.

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Remove blood stains with cotton wool and hydrogen peroxide. Gently dab a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide on the shoe until the blood stain dissolves.

Use sandpaper to treat ink stains that have not yet dried. If you accidentally make ink laces on your shoes, grab a paper towel and blot the stain as quickly as possible. If the ink has dried, lightly sand the stain with sandpaper. In the worst case, you can use rubbing alcohol on your shoes to fix it.

Other Methods You Can Do At Home

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Use white vinegar to remove stubborn stains. If conventional methods don’t work at all, put a little vinegar on a rag or soft cloth. Let it dry and then wrap it on the brush. This is also a good method to remove white mold stains on shoes.

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Use iron wool for dry stains. Gently rub iron wool over dry stains. However, be careful with this method as it makes the shoe look coarser even after the stains have been removed.

Use a nail file and steam. If you don’t have a suede brush, you can substitute with a nail file and then steam the shoes with a kettle or iron. The hot steam will open up the pores in the skin and make it easier to clean.

Advice

If you don’t use the shoes for a long time, cover the shoes with tissue paper and put them in a box. Avoid storing shoes in a humid and bright place because the leather can become moldy due to high humidity or discolor due to light.
If the laces are dirty, you can put them in the washing machine, depending on the material of the laces.
Avoid using leather dyes. If you can’t get the stains out of your shoes with the above methods, the success rate with dyes is also very low and can even make your shoes worse.
You can prevent water stains in time by patiently wiping them with tissue as soon as they become soiled.

Warning

Use caution when using suede protective sprays. Make sure the room is well ventilated and follow the directions and warnings on the label as some sprays are highly flammable.
Do not use newspaper instead of wooden shoes because wet newspaper will also stain the shoes.
Avoid dry cleaning solvents. These substances can be very effective, but contain chemical ingredients that have an unpleasant odor and will linger in your home.

Steps