Suede shoes: recommendations for care and how to clean them from dirt

Suede is a soft and pleasant to the touch material, characterized by excellent insulating properties. It is used for shoes, outerwear and accessories. Suede products look stylish and elegant, are well-worn and have a high comfort level. However, they need to be properly cared for.

How to clean suede shoes

Some women refuse to wear suede shoes, boots, and boots because they think they require daily care. In fact, to keep them in order is not difficult. It is enough to perform the following procedures:

• Initial treatment of the product. Before you put on a new pair of shoes, treat them with a moisture-repellent or dust-repellent spray (such compounds are sold in shoe stores);
• Dry cleaning. It involves the use of a special brush or sponge, allows you to get rid of dust and dirt. After dry cleaning, the material should be steamed so that it acquires a homogeneous shade;
• Wet cleaning. For heavy soiling, use a neutral soap solution, a soft sponge, and a piece of lint-free cloth. Wash the shoes or boots with a sponge, then wipe with a cloth and dry at room temperature.

Suede may be slightly shiny after wet cleaning. To solve this problem, brush or steam clean it.

Ways to remove tough dirt

Sometimes suede shoes get so dirty that normal cleaning methods don't work. If they have salt stains, use the following recipe. Take 10% ammonia and mix it with water in the ratio of 1:4. Then thoroughly treat the place of contamination and dry the shoes.

If there is a grease stain on the surface of the suede, you can remove it with starch or talcum powder. Sprinkle a little of one of these powders on the soiled area and wait two to three hours. Then gently brush the talc or starch off the shoe and clean it with a dry brush. The powder will absorb the oil and the suede will not be stained.

Sometimes the owner of a shoe, boot or boot can't identify the origin of the dirt. In this case, you can use a mixture of ammonia alcohol and starch or chalk to clean the stain. Mix these substances and apply the resulting paste to the stain. Wait two hours, and then clean the shoes in the usual way.

Restoring the color of products

Sometimes suede shoes lose their color during use. To restore it, you can use a special spray-paint, bought in a shoe store. Spray such products are allowed only in well-ventilated rooms, away from heating devices. Hold the spray can with paint at a distance of 20 cm from the shoes and be sure to cover the surface, on which you are working, with newspapers.

You can also use folk remedies to restore the color of suede. For black shoes or boots suit the usual carbon paper, for brown - ground coffee, for light - a solution of water, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in a ratio of 1:1:1. But if you have colored shoes, to restore their shade it is better to contact professionals. Also, regardless of the type of suede you wear, never wash or treat it with smooth leather products.

How to care for light-colored suede shoes

White, light gray, and beige suede requires special care. We recommend cleaning it with rubber brushes or brushes with natural bristles. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a carpet nozzle, light abrasive sandpaper, white eraser.

To remove black stains from suede, a soapy solution with a few drops of ammonia is suitable. Soak a sponge in it, wring it out thoroughly and treat the stained area. At the same time, make sure that the material does not soak through.

Light-colored suede can also be cleaned from dirt with semolina. Moisten the grits in water, rub them on the shoes and leave them for a few hours. Then gently brush the material. Also, do not forget to regularly treat the suede with a water-repellent agent, and steam it if the nap is caked. This way, your shoes, boots or boots will always look attractive.

The subtleties of storing winter shoes

For winter boots and boots to last a long time and not lose their aesthetics, it is important to store them properly. Follow these guidelines:

• Wash the soles thoroughly before storing your shoes;
• Clean the chamois coat with a dry brush;
• Dry your shoes and insoles;
• Treat the suede with a water-repellent spray on the outside and a special deodorant on the inside;
• Place crumpled paper or special plastic pads in each boot or shoe;
• Store shoes in their original packaging, pre-treated with a moth repellent;
• Place the package in a dark, dry place where it will not be affected by heat sources.

Before you put your shoes out of storage, you should show them to a craftsman. He will check the condition of the seams, soles, footbeds, conduct the necessary repairs, advise how to take care of your shoes.