How to Restore Suede

Co-authored by Mallika Sharma

Suede is a type of beautiful, soft leather that's often used to make things like shoes, furniture, or clothing items. If you have a suede item that needs a little fixing up, a suede cleaning brush is a great tool to get rid of most dirt. There are other tools you can use to restore your suede, like a suede eraser or cornstarch. After just a few minutes of cleaning, your suede will look much better.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Brushing the Nap

1
Remove the laces and insert shoe trees if you're brushing suede shoes. Taking the shoe laces out of your suede shoes will make it easier for you to brush them thoroughly. Either place a shoe tree in each shoe before you brush it, or stuff the shoes with newspaper so they keep their shape.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- You can find shoe trees at your local big box store or online.
- Re-lace the shoes once you're completely finished brushing them.
2
Select a suede brush with soft bristles to get rid of light dirt. Purchase a special cleaning brush designed specifically for suede. These brushes have soft bristles that will clean the suede without damaging it and are perfect for this type of leather.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This is ideal if you need to clean dry dirt or dust off of the suede.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mallika Sharma
  Certified Leather Care Technician
  Expert Interview. 14 December 2020.}
- Purchase a large suede cleaning brush if you're brushing something like a suede sofa, while a smaller cleaning brush will work well on things like shoes or purses.
- A soft-bristled toothbrush will work too.
Advertisement
3
Brush the suede material using gentle back and forth motions. Stroke the suede with the cleaning brush using gentle sweeping motions many times, covering the entire surface evenly. This will brush off any dust or dirt that's on the suede without causing damage.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Make sure your suede is completely dry before you brush it.
4
Give the suede a final swipe so the fibers are going the same direction. Once you're satisfied with how clean your suede is, use the suede cleaning brush to brush the fibers once so they're all laying the same way. This gives your suede a clean, uniform look.^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Brush your suede using soft bristles weekly to give it a fresh look. Purchase a brush made just for suede or use a soft-bristled toothbrush to bring your suede item back to life and clean it after it's gone through a lot of wear. Use back and forth motions as you brush the suede and be extra gentle so the suede isn’t damaged.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Only brush suede material that’s completely dry.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Scuffs and Stains

1
Absorb liquid stains right after they happen, if possible. If you spill something on your suede or it somehow gets wet, use a paper towel or clean cloth to blot up the moisture as soon as possible. This will help prevent the wet stain from setting in and drying on your suede, which would make it harder to get out.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- For example, if you spill water on the suede, blot it up with a dry towel to absorb as much of the water as possible. The suede will likely dry perfectly fine after that.
2
Dab white vinegar on dirt stains with a cloth to clean them. Dampen a clean cloth with white vinegar and gently dab the dirt stains with it. Saturate the area where the stain is and then let the white vinegar dry completely. Once it’s dry, rub the dirt stain off with a suede brush or soft-bristled toothbrush so the dirt is all gone.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If you’re cleaning suede shoes, put shoe trees or pieces of newspaper in the shoes to help them keep their shape.
3
Purchase a suede eraser to rub off tricky dirt spots. Suede erasers are designed specifically for suede materials and can help get rid of many types of stains. Rub the eraser on the suede stain using circular motions until the stain disappears, leaving you with clean suede.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Sometimes a regular pencil eraser will get rid of the stains too.
- Brush off the eraser hairs or use a vacuum to pick them up if there are a lot.
4
Sand your suede using 1200-grit sandpaper to get rid of stubborn stains. Use a piece of 1200-grit sandpaper on the suede so it’s not too abrasive. Rub the sandpaper against the stain gently to scrape it off, moving the sandpaper over the dirt patch evenly for a uniform look.
- Sanding your suede aggressively can damage it, so work slowly and carefully.
- Brush the dirt off using a suede brush once you’re finished sanding.
5
Cover the suede in a thin layer of clean water to fix water stains. If you have a water stain on your suede, the best way to get rid of it is to dampen the rest of the suede with water (not saturate it!) to even it out. Dampen a towel with water and dab the water onto your suede, covering all of it evenly. Once this layer of water dries, the stain shouldn’t be visible anymore.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- If you think you might have applied too much water, use a dry cloth to absorb some of the excess moisture.
- Let the suede dry naturally and avoid putting it near a heat source.
- If you’re fixing suede shoes, put a shoe tree or piece of newspaper in the shoe so it keeps its shape.
6
Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder over grease stains to fix them. Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder onto the grease or other tricky wet stain to cover the entire stained area. Let the cornstarch or powder sit overnight and vacuum it up the next day to reveal clean suede.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Using your hands to pat the cornstarch or talcum powder into the stain may help it work better.
- Use a thick layer of the cornstarch or talcum powder to be sure it absorbs as much as possible.
7
Treat suede with a spray so it repels dirt, water, and other stains. Purchase a suede protectant spray that will make it easier to keep your suede material clean. Hold the spray bottle 3–5 in (7.6–12.7 cm) from the suede and apply it evenly to the fabric. Cover the suede in 2-3 coats to be sure it’s protected well, letting each coat dry before adding another one.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Test a small area of the suede before you cover all of it with the suede protectant to be sure it works.
- These suede sprays are often silicone-based and come in a clear color so they’re not visible on your suede.
- Once you treat the suede once, you shouldn't need to again unless it's receiving a lot of wear and tear.
8
Bring your suede to a leather cleaner if you can’t get the stain out. Sometimes your suede may be too stained for you to restore it yourself. If you've tried to clean the stain and it wouldn't come out, take your suede item to a professional cleaner and ask them if they can get it out. This is also a good thing to do if you're worried about damaging the suede by trying to clean it yourself.^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Expert Interview. 14 December 2020.}
- This works well if you have a small suede item like a shoe, purse, or item of clothing.

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

How do you clean dust off of suede?

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.

Mallika Sharma

Certified Leather Care Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

A soft bristle suede brush is the best way to get rid of dust. Gently brush your suede to get the dust off.
Question

Is there any way to clean suede?

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.

Mallika Sharma

Certified Leather Care Technician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Use a suede brush to clean dry dirt and dust off of suede. For harsher stains, colour restoration by a professional is the only solution.

Things You'll Need

Brushing the Nap

Shoe trees (optional)
Newspaper (optional)
Paper towel or clean cloth (optional)
Suede cleaning brush

Removing Scuffs and Stains

White vinegar (optional)
Clean cloth
Shoe trees (optional)
Newspaper (optional)
Suede eraser (optional)
1200-grit sandpaper (optional)
Suede cleaning brush (optional)
Cornstarch or talcum powder (optional)
Suede protectant

Warnings

Keep suede away from water or heavy rain to protect it.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Avoid using conditioners or polishes on your suede because they can cause damage.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0