Proper care of suede shoes
For boots to last longer, they need to be carefully looked after. You should start with daily cleaning - purchase a special rubber brush and spray to protect it from moisture. After purchase, comb the lint with the soft side of the brush and apply 3 layers of water-repellent. The film will not be noticeable, but will help protect the pair from dirt and moisture.
Rice. 1 - Caring for suede boots
Useful folk tips for caring for suede boots:
- wear them only in dry weather - rain, snow and dirt can ruin the material;
- Dry your shoes thoroughly before cleaning;
- for drying, use a special pad or stuff the inside with paper (for light-colored boots, only white napkins can be used);
- change the paper as it gets wet;
- After drying, clean the dirt from the boots with a brush, foam, or use rubber bristles.
Give each suede color its own brush. When removing dirt, move it in one direction, and rub it in different directions. To restore color, use spray paint.
Cleaning colored suede
Unlike black, colored suede must be approached more carefully, otherwise the shoes may be completely damaged.
The most common way to clean products made from colored suede material is to use a solution of soap and ammonia.
To clean, simply wipe the stained areas for a few minutes and wait until the shoes are completely dry.
But what to do if the stains are very stubborn and the usual methods do not help? Then you need to use absorbent powders: baby powder, talc, tooth powder or starch.
In order to get rid of stains on colored suede material, choose a product (starch, talc or other) and follow the instructions:
- Place a frying pan on the fire and pour the product onto it;
- Once it has warmed up, gently apply to the problem area;
- Cover with paper on all sides;
- Press down with something and leave the boots in this condition for 2-4 hours;
- After this time, use a stiff brush to remove any remaining residue.
This method is only effective if the stain is fresh. If you notice it after some time, then use another method.
Method 2
Prepare coarse salt or river sand. Place the pot on the fire and heat the substance. After that, wrap it in natural fabric and make something like a bag.
Place it on the problem area. Replace the bag every 30 minutes until the problem is completely resolved.
This method is more effective and will help get rid of even those stains that formed several months ago.
The nuances of cleaning suede of different colors
To refresh the shade of light-colored boots, wipe the surface with a solution of a glass of milk and a teaspoon of soda. Shoes made of artificial, natural suede and nubuck in beige, light gray or white require a special approach to cleaning. To properly remove grease stains, sprinkle them with crushed chalk, starch, tooth powder, soda, talcum powder or fine table salt. Then brush off the residue with a rubber brush. Light-colored shoes with fur can also be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide.
You need to clean burgundy, blue, red, raspberry, pink and other colored boots carefully, avoiding alkalis and acids. It is best to wipe them with an eraser or a crust of bread. Multi-colored shoes should be cleaned of dust daily with a rubber brush. Rub brown and red boots with coffee grounds or ground coffee, and blue and black boots with carbon paper, soapy water and treat with a steamer.
Rice. 2 - Cleaning products for colored suede boots
Folk remedies
You can clean delicate suede at home using folk remedies. The most effective of them are:
- Vinegar solution. This method will help you remove wax stains from shoes made of suede. For this you will need 9% vinegar. It must be dissolved in water in an amount of 1:5. Then take a rag and dampen it a little in the prepared solution. Next, rub it on the areas where dirt is present. Upon completion of the procedure, apply a color restoration substance to the shoes.
- Starch. This is a kind of powder that will help remove greasy stains from suede shoes. To do this, you need to generously sprinkle the soiled areas with starch and leave the boots in this condition for 30-50 minutes, then brush them. The fat will be completely removed and you will be able to continue using your favorite sneakers. In addition to starch, you can use baby powder. It is not inferior in efficiency and is also guaranteed to eliminate contamination.
- Eraser. There is a special eraser for cleaning suede boots from dust and dirt. To do this, you need to rub the area where the dirt is located. You can buy such a device at shoe stores or use a regular school eraser.
Methods for cleaning suede boots
To easily clean a pair of shoes from stubborn dirt and greasy stains, use the following methods:
- A solution of water, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide will help clean your boots from clay, mud from the swamp, as well as from reagents and salt that are sprinkled on roads in winter, and from stains after snow. Rub it onto the stained areas and wash off with a damp sponge after half an hour.
- Freezing in the freezer and chipping off the stains with a knife will help you quickly remove wax or paraffin residue at home.
- To clean grease, greasy stains, fuel oil, oil stains, machine oil residues, tar, sprinkle the surface with soda or talcum powder, and then go through with a soapy solution.
- A vinegar solution will help remove the smell of greasy, cat urine and mold - wipe the dirty surface with it and ventilate.
- Dried paint, glue and shoe polish can be removed using nail polish remover or acetone, a solvent.
- Baking soda will help remove traces of blood, juice, soot or champagne - sprinkle it on the surface and clean off the residue.
Dried dirt will be removed by steaming - over steam from a saucepan, kettle or from a special device. After 4-5 minutes of treatment, remove any remaining stains from the boots with wet wipes.
Professional products
In shoe or shoe stores you can find special cleaning agents that are intended for professional use. These are various foams, sprays, deep cleaning shampoos. They must be used strictly according to the instructions. If possible, take your boots to the dry cleaner.
Rice. 3 – Professional suede care products
Chemicals
Spray or foam can effectively remove stains from suede. Spray the aerosol on fresh dirt, and then remove the remaining rubber brush. For a deeper effect, use cleansing foam - leave for half an hour to dry and shake off.
Brush
At home, it is easiest to clean winter or autumn suede boots with it yourself. Use the rubber soft side to remove dust and remaining dirt, the hard side to remove serious dirt. Use the roller wheel to clean seams. Using a good brush, you can keep your suede shoes in their original condition for a long time.
Vinegar
Allows you to easily remove unpleasant odors from shoes and some stains. To remove dirt, use 9% vinegar; to remove dust, use a 3% solution. After use, be sure to air out your pair of shoes.
Water-repellent impregnation
Special products help protect boots from moisture. You can use aerosols, paints, anti-salt shampoos and restorative agents. Apply them according to the instructions - the first time 3 layers after the previous one has dried, every week - 1 layer.
Traditional methods
You can perfectly clean suede boots with a simple crust of bread - work it like an eraser on the plaque. For dark shoes, use rye bread, for white shoes, use loaf crumb. To remove greasy stains, sprinkle them with semolina - it will absorb greasy stains, after which it can be easily removed without a trace.
Rice. 4 – Clean light suede shoes with white bread
Wet cleaning
Only wet treatment helps with severe stains. Dilute a couple of tablespoons of liquid soap, dishwashing detergent or special shampoo for suede in a liter of water. If none of this is available, regular shampoo will help. Treat dirt with soapy water and remove remaining foam with a damp sponge.
Steam cleaning
Steaming will help refresh the color and remove old stains. Boil water in a saucepan or kettle, hold the boots over the steam for 4-5 minutes, carefully - not too much - straighten the pile with a brush and clean off stains with a napkin. You can also use a special steamer for shoes.
Washing powder
It can be used in extreme cases and very carefully - make sure that the composition does not contain bleaching ingredients. Dilute a tablespoon of powder in 5 liters of water to make a soap solution to quickly remove stains, or in a liter to make a thick foam. Apply it to dirt, let dry and remove with a stiff brush.
Dry cleaning
It should be done daily. Take a rubber brush and rub it in a circular motion across the pile several times. This will remove any remaining dust, help wash away dirt and refresh the color so that it becomes the same as it was originally.
Water bath
It will help restore softness to boots if they have become rough. Boil water in a saucepan, place another one on top and keep the products over the steam. After 3 minutes, straighten the pile and turn the other side, repeat the treatment.
Rice. 5 - Pal to give suede softness
Milk cleaning composition
Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of low-fat milk, soak a cloth in the mixture and treat stains on light-colored shoes. After this, wash off the residue with a damp sponge.
Gasoline and talc
Mix them until creamy, apply to stains and wait 10 minutes. Remove any residue with a brush and wash with soapy water. This will help remove greasy, dirty stains. Only purified gasoline should be used.
Chalk and tooth powder
Ideal for removing small grease stains on suede from boots. Sprinkle crushed chalk or tooth powder onto greasy stains on light-colored women's shoes. After 10-15 minutes, remove the residue with a rubber brush.
Starch and ammonia
Mix both ingredients to make a paste. Rub it onto problem areas, leave for half an hour, shake off any remaining residue and wipe with a damp sponge.
Rubber eraser
Use a white rubber band to lift the pile and remove dust and remaining dirt. You can use an eraser to clean suede every day.
Soap solution
Rice. 6 - Grate the soap
Plane laundry or toilet soap, dissolve a tablespoon of shavings in a liter of water. Use a slightly damp cloth soaked in the solution to remove any remaining stains.
Salt removal
In winter, utility services treat roads and sidewalks with a special saline solution and reagents to make it more comfortable for pedestrians to move on ice. Such mixtures negatively affect the external condition and internal structure of shoes made of suede materials.
Gasoline and talc versus salt
You can deal with stains and stubborn stains using purified gasoline and talc.
At the first stage, the boots are treated with gasoline using a soft foam sponge. After treatment, the wet surface is covered with talcum powder. The powder should be kept on the shoes for at least 60 minutes. After time, the surface is cleaned of powder using a special brush. The final stage is drying: the boots should dry on their own at room temperature.
Vinegar
The second popular and truly effective method is to use 9% vinegar essence. Vinegar dissolves salt, which helps remove stubborn stains and stains. Using a rubber brush or sponge, the surface of the product is treated with vinegar. Once the salt solutions have been removed, the boots should be wiped with a damp, soft cloth. Finally, dry at room temperature.
Ammonia with starch
To remove old stains, a mixture of ammonia and potato starch is useful. Both components must be mixed until a homogeneous paste is formed. The resulting mixture is applied to the contaminated areas and left until completely dry. The process takes a few minutes. After drying, the pulp must be removed using a brush.
Attention! Cleaning processes must be carried out with rubber gloves.
Basic care recommendations
So, we found out how to wash suede boots. But how to protect shoes from premature failure? To do this, you need to understand that suede shoes require special care, starting from the first days of wear:
- Before going outside, be sure to apply a water-repellent agent to your boots in wet weather and a caring aerosol spray against salt stains in the winter. The purchase of funds will be much cheaper than purchasing a new pair of shoes. They cover the surface with a protective layer and prevent dirt from penetrating into the material.
- In specialized stores you can purchase a suede eraser, which you can use to remove dirt from the material, and then simply brush over your shoes. But you can also use a regular office eraser for these purposes, only it is better that it is perfectly white and clean.
- Cleaning suede should be done only after the shoes have completely dried under natural conditions. To do this, you just need to stuff the shoes with newspaper and let them dry.
- Exposure to heating devices can damage the material - the boots will wrinkle and become rough.
Important! When using a new product on your boots, try it on a small area first. If no negative changes have occurred, then you can use the product on the entire shoe.
A little about suede things
Many will agree that suede is not only a very beautiful material, but also adds luxury and nobility to the image. If you compare a certain item made from suede and genuine leather, then to the naked eye it will become clear that a suede item is much more original and beautiful.
Suede can be divided into two types, namely artificial and natural. At first glance, it is difficult to find the main differences and understand what type of suede it is. The main difference is the level of strength of the material. Depending on what type of material it is, subsequent care conditions will be determined.
The best ready-made cleaning products
Cleaning products for suede shoes are quite expensive, but they last a very long time. Moreover, ready-made products will help deal with dirt and stains as effectively as traditional methods. These products are used in professional workshops, so you can confidently trust their quality.
- Tarrago sponges and napkins. The ready-made set is inexpensive and is perfect for daily care of suede shoes.
- SoleMate Cleaners. Innovative formulas help tackle even the most stubborn stains. You can purchase it in the Ozone and Wildberries online stores.
- Saphir shampoos. Cleaners from this brand are great for suede shoes, but are quite expensive. Shampoo can cost 800-1000 rubles.
- Salton spray. Another very well-known manufacturer of care products for suede sneakers. Sprays from this brand do an excellent job of removing dirt and helping to keep your boots clean.
- Shoe foam cleaners Sole White. Sold both in sets with brushes and as stand-alone items. Works great on fresh stains on suede and nubuck, and is also suitable for other leather products.
- Antiliq sprays and products. They have proven themselves well in the shoe cosmetics market. They are sold as a set, which costs up to 1000 rubles, but the funds will definitely be enough for several months of care. Removes stains, streaks, water and dirt marks.
- Cleaning foam Salamander Combi Cleaner. The innovative formula with lime oil has a delicate effect on the material, removing stains, stains, and water marks. Suitable not only for suede, but also for nubuck and other types of leather.
- Valvi cleaners. Excellent cleaners for white suede shoes. The kit usually contains a cleaning foam and a special sponge. Copes with serious stains and has a shelf life of 5 years.
- Dividic foam shoe cleaner. A well-known brand that has proven itself well in the Russian market. Removes dirt and dust, refreshes the color of shoes, significantly improving their appearance. The specially selected spray head provides a more focused spray, reducing the likelihood of contact with floors and furniture. It has a pleasant and light lime scent.
- Cleaning foam ShoeExpert. Designed for cleaning dirt, old layers of creams and paints, removing stains and updating the appearance of shoes and products made of all types of materials: leather, suede, nubuck, textiles. The foam cleaner does an excellent job not only of surface contaminants, but also pushes them out from inside the materials.
There are a lot of products for cleaning suede shoes on the market and you can independently find the right product that you will like both in quality and price.
We recommend the following brands of shoe cosmetics: Tarrago, Dividic, Saphir, Salamander - as the most famous in the shoe community.
