How to Remove Stains From Suede Shoes at Home? (DIY Solution)

Owning a pair of suede shoes is a must, whether you are into fashion or comfort. They are always in trend, look chic, and are quite comfortable too. So it is a win-win situation from every aspect, except when you wear them out, and the whole city’s dirt decides to reside in your shoes. You can find a detailed review on the best waterproofing sprays for suede so you can get the guide about protecting suede.

Suede shoes look stunning, but they get dirty easily and are a bit tricky to clean. If you have worn the pair many times, then it is easier to just part ways. However, if you have only worn the pair a few times, you will find it hard to throw it out. Cleaning suede shoes is a good option, but it can be an ordeal if you do not know what you are doing. In this article, I will share a couple of tips and tricks to help you clean your suede shoes without creating an even bigger mess.

How To Remove Stains From Suede Shoes

Tools Needed For Cleaning Suede Shoes

You can not treat suede shoes like every other pair of shoes that is present in your closet. In order to clean suede shoes without inflicting any further damage upon them, there are a couple of tools and equipment you are going to need first.

An Old Toothbrush

The first thing you will need is a brush with soft bristles that will do the cleaning job without ruining the beauty of suede. You can find special suede brushes on Amazon, but if you do not want to invest your money in that, then you can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

A Rubber

The second piece of equipment that you will need for a flawless cleaning job is a suede rubber. Suede rubbers can be found on Amazon or at local stores as well. They do not cost much but if you do not want to spend extra money on that, just use any rubber lying around your desk. If you go out frequently, here are the best waterproofing sprays you can use on your shoes to make them waterproof.

How To Remove The Stains

Now that you have found and gathered the equipment needed for a good cleaning job of your suede shoes, it is time to start the task. With the help of these easy steps given below, your dull shoes will be brought back to life. I found these steps very easy to perform, and the results were immaculate too.

Put Rolled Paper Or Cotton Inside

Before you get to the brushing and scrubbing part, take a few pieces of paper and roll them up. Put these rolled-up papers inside the shoes. This will help in maintaining the shape of the suede shoes when you are cleaning them. It will also help in cleaning the shoes a bit more easily.

Get The Stain Out With Brush And Rubber

Once there is enough crumpled paper inside the shoes, take the brush and gently start brushing the top of your shoes. Make sure you are brushing in the direction of the fibers and not going back and forth. Another thing to keep in mind is ensuring that both the brush and the shoes are completely dry. This step will help in getting rid of all the dirt that has been residing in your shoes. You can also use rubber in place of a brush if there is a stain on the shoes. Gently rub the stained area with a rubber. It will take time, but this will help in getting rid of stains.

Vinegar Solution

If you are dealing with tough stains that did not get out with a brush or rubber, it is time to take out the big guns. Take a soft towel, and pour a small amount of white vinegar on the towel, and wipe the stained area with it. Make sure that you are doing this process with a gentle hand and not rubbing it. Another way is to put a few drops of vinegar on the stained area and let it sit. Once it is dry, then get rid of the stains with a brush.

Use A Razor

This step is not compulsory. You only need to do this if the suede is getting a bit straggly and strings are coming out. Once you have gotten all the stains out of your shoes and you see small thread poking out, use a small razor and gently shave those protruding threads from your shoes. This step helps in restoring the original texture of the suede. Make sure you are doing this step with extreme care, or you will end up ruining the shoes.

Apply A Protectant Spray

When you are done with the cleaning and the shaving job, your shoes will look as good as new. To ensure that you do not end up doing this whole procedure again after two days, use a suede protectant spray on your shoes. This will help in keeping the dirt off your shoes, and it will also help in cleaning the shoes more effortlessly in the future.

Different Types Of Stains

Water Stains

Water stains are the enemy of suede shoes. They not only ruin the beauty of the shoes by making them look dull but can often be annoying to get rid of. To deal with water stains, dampen the brush a little and then use it on the stained area. Let the shoes dry overnight, don’t expose them to sunlight as that will do more damage than good.

Oil Stains

Oil stains do not only ruin the look of the shoes, but they can also be quite stubborn. To get rid of an oil stain, you will need to use cornstarch. Cornstarch helps in cleaning the shoes by absorbing the oil from them. Put a small amount of cornstarch over the stained area and then use a brush after a couple of hours to get rid of the stain.

Mud, Wax Or Gum Stains

If you are dealing with mud, wax, or gum stains on your suede shoes, put them in a cold place to harden the wax or gum. After it is hard, break it off from your shoes into smaller pieces and then use a brush to smoothen the shoes out. For mud, you can wait a couple of hours for it to dry and then break it off from your shoes.

Blood Or Ink Stains

Bloodstains can be dealt with through a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and a small piece of cotton. Put the solution on cotton and dab the affected area with it until the stain disappears. For ink stains, use a towel if the ink is wet. If it has dried, you can either get it out through rubber or use a rubbing alcohol solution on a towel or cotton piece for more stubborn stains.

Conclusion

Suede shoes are always in trend because they look beautiful whether you wear them with a flowy dress or casual jeans. However, stains get formed on suede very easily and ruin the beauty of the shoes. The methods shared in the article are the ones that I found helpful in getting rid of stains from my suede shoes. I hope these methods help you get rid of stains from your shoes. Also, you can protect your shoes from crease formation by buying one of these best crease protectors.