How to clean and maintain your suede shoes?

Whether it's a handbag, a pair of boots or sneakers, you inevitably have one or more suede pieces in your wardrobe. Yes, but here it is, stains do not come off so easily on nubuck leather. We give you some tips and tricks that should help you!

Suede leather, also called nubuck or suede leather, is leather whose surface has been sanded to give it that velvety feel. Fall / Winter, suede shoes could not be more trendy and need extra care as they are more difficult to maintain than smooth leather or canvas shoes. Suede is indeed an extremely fragile material and requires special maintenance and adequate cleaning to withstand time. Whether it's a handbag, a pair of boots or sneakers, here are some tips for taking care of suede properly at home, without having to go to the shoemaker!

Before moving on to cleaning suede shoes

Before cleaning your suede shoes, remember to dust them first. No need to remove the laces from the shoes for this step! To remove dust, gently rub the suede with a brush, cloth or scraper. This is a half-soft, half-strong bristle brush that will be perfect for baring the suede of your shoes. This step is essential because it removes the veil of dust that covers your boots or your nubuck sneakers. You can also use a wrung out toothbrush for this task.

Once dusted, your shoes should be delustered. Buffing is an important step in cleaning suede shoes. Over time, suede tends to smooth out and settle down due to friction. For this step, you need a crepe brush with which you will rub your shoes in both directions. This allows the hair of the suede to be rubbed without damaging them. Be careful, we rub gently so as not to leave any traces or stains on the material.

How to clean your suede shoes?

Dust and delustered, your shoes are now ready to go for cleaning! For this step, several possibilities are available to you.

  • Cleaning with white vinegar

As with laundry, white vinegar will be perfect for deep cleaning your shoes. And that's good, we all have at least one bottle at home! Manual :
– Mix 2/3 lukewarm water, 1/3 white vinegar and a little dishwashing liquid
– Scrub the shoes with a brush soaked in the mixture
– Wash with a wrung out sponge
– Dry with a clean cloth

  • Sponge cleaning

Magic Sponge Eraser is very effective in removing stains without using chemicals that can damage the material and color of your shoes. To use it, nothing could be simpler:
– Wipe a dry cloth over the stain [s] to be removed
– Run the sponge eraser under water and wring it out well
– Rub gently in a circular motion
– Dry in the open air
– Use a crêpe brush to smooth out the suede

  • Cleaning with cleaning spray

If you don't have the time to get started with a "homemade" cleaning, you will find many suede cleaning products in supermarkets. Usually, this is a cleaning product in the form of a spray. Here's how to use it:
– Spray the product at about thirty centimeters, in an even layer
– Brush carefully with a brush or a scraper, until the stains disappear

If a stain persists on the suede leather, you can gently rub your shoes with a cloth impregnated with a little white spirit or ammonia water.

How to properly maintain your suede shoes?

Caring for suede leather is just as important as cleaning it! Here are some tips for keeping and maintaining a quality shoe.

  • We waterproof the shoe

The rain damages the leathers which are not smooth. Suede being an extremely fragile material, it is important to protect your sneakers, boots and other suede leather shoes against water. There are brands like Famaco that offer quality waterproofers. These are generally sprays which are applied directly to the shoe and whose composition is water resistant.

  • We magnify the suede with talc

Talc not only detaches but also and above all enhances the texture and color of the suede. It could not be easier ! Sprinkle talcum powder in an even layer on your shoes and let sit overnight for the leather to soak up. The next day, rub gently with a brush to remove the talcum powder. Your suede is once again clean, shiny and supple. Good to know: baking soda, pencil eraser or sandpaper are also effective!

  • We regularly brush the nubuck

Suede remains the most fragile and complicated material to maintain, so we take care of it on a daily basis! Remember to brush your shoes regularly with a suitable brush or eraser. Also offer them a cleaning from time to time and voila! Finally, avoid waxing, which could damage and color the shoe. This is more suitable for smooth leathers.

The care products you need for your suede shoes

  • A soft cleansing brush

> Suede shoe brush, € 8.99 at Amazon

  • A suede shoe scraper

> Scrubber, € 6.99 on Amazon

> Famaco waterproofing, € 17.95 on Amazon

  • A special suede cleaner

> Suede cleaner, € 17.86 on Amazon

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Video by Clemence Chevallet