The ShoesRx Scoop

Cleaning suede shoes

Suede is a type of leather with a velvety raised surface called a "nap". This nap causes suede to spoil and show signs of wear more easily than normal leather, so special care needs to be taken to extend the life of your suede shoes and keep them looking great. The steps below will show you how to care for suede without causing shrinkage or further damage to the material.

To properly clean suede shoes, you will need the following supplies.

• Suede protector spray - This should be used on shoes to waterproof them and to offer some protection from stains. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions on the side of the can.
• Suede cleaning brush - Used to remove dirt and bring the nap of the suede back up.
• Small knife- If the suede is very worn, the knife can be used to carefully scrape the nap back up in shiny worn areas.
• Nail brush - The nail brush's stiff bristles can be used to remove dried, caked on mud from suede.
• Sponge - The sponge is needed if you have to try to repair water damaged suede.
• Pencil eraser - An eraser can help to remove dirt marks on suede.

To clean your suede shoes you would start by using a suede cleaning brush to remove any dust and to bring the nap back up. If there are areas that are worn and appear shiny, focus on them, brushing in the same direction with each stroke. If the areas are extremely worn, you can use a small knife to carefully scrape the nap back up and then continue with the suede cleaning brush.

If your shoes have dirt spots, you can use a pencil eraser to remove the spot from the suede. Rub the eraser across the spot in the same direction, the dirt spot will transfer from the shoe to the eraser. Brush any eraser remnants off the shoe.

If there is caked-on mud on the suede shoes, wait until the mud has completely dried and use a stiff bristled brush, such as a nail brush to remove all mud from the shoes. Pay special attention to the seams and any areas that may be hard to reach.

If your suede shoes become wet, they may show spotting or discoloration in relation to the dry areas. To remedy this, wet the shoes all over and remove excess water with a sponge. Use a shoe tree or stuff the toes with white unprinted paper to keep the shape of the shoe. Allow the shoe to dry overnight and then brush with a suede brush to restore the nap.

Stains on suede can be difficult to remove. Attempt to remove with a suede brush, if necessary, a bit of water may help lift the stain.

Once the shoes are cleaned, spray with a suede protection spray according to the directions on the can.

Munro American offers many styles that are constructed using suede or nubuck in the uppers.