How do I clean my suede shoes? Cleaning methods for suede shoes

Suede shoes look very elegant and expensive. Therefore, every fashionista must have in her wardrobe and shoes, and suede boots, sometimes, and more than one pair. Men also often choose shoes made from this material. However, in order for such products to retain their attractive appearance for a long time, they need to be well and properly looked after. And first of all, you need to know how to clean suede shoes.

Natural or Artificial?

Before thinking about caring for a particular shoe, you need to find out what material it is made of. And it's not difficult. Just put a drop of water on your shoes and see what happens. If the moisture is absorbed, it means that the suede is natural, if it rolls down, it is artificial.

Natural materials require gentle care. Suede is prone to deformation, as it tends to stretch. The moisture absorbed is also not good for her. Drying, the skin loses its elegant appearance.

As for the faux suede, it is not so finicky. Therefore, it is durable and practical, not to mention its low cost.

And yet, the disadvantages of the first are overridden by its merits. In shoes made of natural suede, the feet breathe and do not sweat even in the heat, because this material is easily breathable.

How to clean suede shoes

First of all, you need to remember that only dry suede should be cleaned. This means that after you come from the street, you need to dry your shoes or boots. But not on a battery, but simply at room temperature, putting paper inside, or using a special device.

Owners of such shoes should definitely have a double-sided suede brush in their arsenal. One side of it is covered with rubber teeth, and on the other there are hard metal bristles. The rubber side will help you cope with dirt and dust, but the tough side is to restore the glazed suede.

In most cases, using a single brush, you will not be able to clean the dirt from suede shoes and immediately restore them to a decent look. You also need to use special tools that you can buy in a store or prepare yourself.

There are several ways to clean suede shoes. Let's consider the most effective ones.

Your helpers are ammonia and milk

The most elementary thing is to wash the shoes with soapy water, or rather, do not wash, but wipe the dirty places with a sponge. When they are dry, the pile must be lifted with a brush and leveled over the entire surface.

If the stains on suede shoes are significant, you should use ammonia to remove them. It can be diluted in both regular water and milk. In the first case, the ratio will be 1: 5. After moistening a stiff brush in the resulting solution, brush the pile thoroughly in all directions. Then wipe it with vinegar diluted with water, finally dry it with a cloth.

How to clean suede shoes with milk? Very simple. Take half a glass of skim milk, add one teaspoon of soda and two drops of ammonia. Wipe dirty areas with a piece of rough cloth soaked in solution. Then we wipe the boots over the entire surface with a clean, damp sponge.

How to clean light-colored suede shoes

For these purposes, the above methods using ammonia and milk are also suitable. You can also use talcum powder. After sprinkling the stain liberally with the substance mentioned, you must leave it for at least three to four hours. Then remove the talcum powder and treat the stain with a rubber brush.

Just like talcum powder, it degreases gasoline stains on suede. Moisten a cloth or sponge in it, treat the problem area well, and then, to remove the remaining gasoline, wipe this area with a damp sponge.

Since light-colored suede shoes are not easy to clean, many people choose to re-paint them. In the store, try to find a paint that matches the color of your shoes (boots, sandals, etc.). Before you start painting, wash your shoes with the same soapy solution, and then dry them. Now you can start the renovation process by first testing the paint color on the wrong side of the suede.

Another tip on how to clean your white suede shoes. Mix crushed chalk with tooth powder in a 1: 1 ratio. Sprinkle this mixture over dirty places and leave for several hours. Then scrub them well with a suede shoe brush.

Getting rid of salt stains

White stains from salt that appear on shoes in winter look ugly on any surface. However, they are easy to remove from smooth skin. But what can you do to clean your suede shoes?

First of all, it must be covered with a special impregnation, preferably in at least three layers. Each layer must dry. The suede should be impregnated the night before, and not at the moment when you are going to go out.

Salt can be removed from suede shoes with ammonia or soap solution. It is easier to remove salt stains without waiting for them to dry completely. If this happens, then you need to take a crust of rye bread and rub the dried spots with it. Then brush off the crumbs with a brush.

If, nevertheless, small stains from salt remain on the shoes, you can eliminate them by painting over with special paint. It is produced in the form of a spray. So how do you fix the situation? Everything is extremely simple: sprinkled, dried, combed the pile with a stiff brush.

Unpretentious improvised means

In the fight against dirt, a regular eraser or a piece of soft foam will help.

If the boots are brown, you can use coffee grounds to clean them.

A water bath is also a wonderful remedy. Boots or shoes should be held for a few minutes over boiling water, then wiped well and allowed to dry.

A crust of old bread will save you from shiny places.

Prohibited

Do not soak suede shoes or wash them under running water.

Do not use one brush for cleaning light and dark suede shoes.

Do not fold over suede boots and especially store them like this.

Liquid paints and creams, which are used for smooth natural materials, are contraindicated in suede leather.

What if you did something wrong and the products lost their attractive appearance? Where can I clean my suede shoes? The answer in this case is one: in dry cleaning. There, with the help of professional products, all dirt will be removed.