Comments on How to Clean Suede

I would just caution you to be extremely gentle when using the eraser or a scrub pad. A shiny buffed spot where the nap has been removed by excessive scrubbing may be more glaringly obvious than the original stain. Devon Delaney

Helpful article, thanks!

so what if i put my shoes in the wash already? can i clean them with vinegar?

Very useful! Thanks!

Thanks, pan4sonic! I was in despair over how to clean vomit off my leather boots (it's a long, sad story), but after reading your comment, I scrubbed them with a dry green scrubby pad (the kind you use to scrub dishes). The stains came right off!

Really great article.

my friend has wax spots on her favorite suede boots. Are there any sugestions for removing the wax?

my friend has wax spots on her favorite suede boots. Are there any sugestions for removing the wax?

I just sent my suede jacket to the drycleaner and it came back $41.00 later with the same spill on the back that was there when I brought it in. As a last ditch effort I threw the jacket in the washing machine on gentle cycle, cold water with a small amount of detergent. After washing it a few times I threw it in the dryer on low heat/gentle cyle with a dryer sheet, pulled it out when it was 80 percent dry and left it to hang dry and it is perfectly clean and can be worn again. The garment label states 100%leather cleaning by specialist only. I was willing to risk washing it because it could not be worn with the spill.

For those of you who have tried these methods with little or no resolve, I say look at suede from another angle. While most leather items thirst for moisture, suede begs to be parched. This is why the better results occur using cleansers such as cornstarch as opposed to detergent and water. While mild detergents help lift the initial stain, the final result will most likely leave you with a spot larger than the one you started with. Patience and a dry environment seem to be the key, as well as a good, clean nylon brush. I recently bought a used suede couch that had doggie drool stains across two sectional pieces. I gave it a vigorous brushing and the stain came out. A lack of humidity is definitely key, probably why cornstarch seems to work for some. Don't fret if you've used a wet method. My suggestion is, buy a cheap nylon brush at the grocery store. Suede wants its pile to be raised.

I have a suede jacket that had an ink line on it courtesy of my 2 year-old. I tried the shaving cream, sandpaper, nail file, AND eraser. NONE worked. I finally had to take it to the dry cleaners to have it professionally cleaned. The ink came out. It isn't cheap ($43), but it saved my jacket AND took out the stains that vinegar and shaving cream left. Cleaning a suede garment is the ONLY way to ensure that it will come out without having it look horrible.

I have a suede jacket that had an ink line on it courtesy of my 2 year-old. I tried the shaving cream, sandpaper, nail file, AND eraser. NONE worked. I finally had to take it to the dry cleaners to have it professionally cleaned. The ink came out. It isn't cheap ($43), but it saved my jacket AND took out the stains that vinegar and shaving cream left. Cleaning a suede garment is the ONLY way to ensure that it will come out without having it look horrible.

How can I get the gummy reside of a sale sticker off my new suede boots? They put it right at the top, right on the boot.

How can I clean liquid soap stains on my new suede jacket? I tried dabbing them with a wet towel, but they got worse.

How can I clean liquid soap stains on my new suede jacket? I tried dabbing them with a wet towel, but they got worse.

I just bought a brand new pair of Suede boots, I wore them for the first time today. Me and my friends went out to eat and something feel from the table onto my shoes, I am not sure what it was, but it left a big stain which seems like a grease stain. I scubed it with soap and water and it didnt help someone please help me tell me what I can do to remove this stain from my new 900$ Gucci boots!