Cleaning suede

[Marsie]

Hi folks,

Anyone got any good tips for cleaning suede jackets, or places that do it cheaply? !I have 2 desperately in need of cleaning, but I'm in Wedding Skinflint mode and can't face the bill of £70 upwards to do both.

I know some people say you can wash them, but love them both so wouldn't like to risk it.

;D Any tips to save this huge chunk of money gratefully received.

M.

[16011996]

i have a wire brush (available from most fabric shops) and i just give mine a good brushing every so often. for any stains, i dab with luke warm water, and blot really well with kitchen roll to get out all water possible so it doesn't leave a mark. if you do wash, put in a net bag, and do on a delicate wash with no spin, put on a sturdy hanger and drip dry, pref outdoors on a good day, and don't use fabric softner as this makes them go very flat. hope this helps, haven't had mine cleaned in 2 years since someone told me about brushing it!!

[cathy]

steam lots of lovely steam and a wire brush

you will get the brush in a shoe shop ask for a suede brush

hang over a kettle or even better if you have a steam cleaner or can cadge one from somewhere

theyll come up good as new

direct the steam on the soiled parts and wipe with clean cloth then as you continue to steam brush the pile up with the brush

[16011996]

i have steam cleaner, i never thought of that. :-[ :

[Marsie]

Aha, I currently have custody of my sister's steam cleaner, and I didn't think of it either. Will arm myself with a suede brush and go to work.

One of them is pale pink (pale pink suede, what was I thinking ???), so will have to have a bit of clean mainly round arm cuffs first, but hopefully will be OK.

Thanks folks!

M.

[cathy]

I have a light blue suede jacket that came up great with my steam cleaner

good luck

;D

[mazza245]

I got a bargain, some beautiful pale pink suede Bertie boots for £5 as they were a bit grubby! My best bargain for some time! I also bought some suede cleaner which nearly cost as much as the boots but it hasn't got them clean! I assumed that I would be able to find an old household recipe for cleaning suede but everywhere just seems to recommend the spray cleaner! Please has anyone any ideas? I suppose I could just wear them under trousers but it does seem a shame.....!

[foreverskint]

i had a suede cleaner from Brantano that worked. it was like a small fine sanding block and cost around £2.50. You could try some very fine sandpaper on any stubborn marks but you would have to be very careful. I expect somebody willl know f a dry cleaning method with bicarb or something!

[Poppy9]

Have you tried putting masking tape over them and then lifting off the dirt. Cobblers don't recomend you use suede brushes as it removes a layer of suede.

[Quackers]

You need the suede cleaning block that forever skint mentioned. Clarks call it a 'nubuck block'. Either that or a 'crepe brush'. Suede brushes are too harsh as they are wire and like Poppy says remove the suede. A crepe brush is made of crepe (suprisingly!) and as you rub the suede or nubuck the crepe gets hot and sticky and dirt and stuff sticks to it.

A nubuck block costs £2.95 & the crepe brush is £3.20. This is from Clarks although I imagine a supermarket or local discount store would sell their own versions a lot cheaper. I always find the nubuck block works better - its like an eraser and rubs of any marks although very stubborn marks may not come out.

Once you have cleaned them then spray them with protector spray. As well as making your boot water resistant it will also make them stain resistant so they will be easier to clean the next time. OMG - listen to me, I'm like a walking advertisment - can you tell I work in a shoe shop

[Queenie]

Well done on your bargain boots - they sound very pretty.

[mazza245]

Thanks for your replies. I have bought one of those blocks and will have a go at them but I have already taken a layer off the suede by trying to brush them! It's a good idea to spray them afterwards to try and protect them as I can imagine they are going to get very grubby very quickly!

[mazza245]

I tried the spray and the nubuck cleaner but when I put them on yesterday, I noticed they still look really grubby! I suppose I could try dying them darker, that way I would still be able to wear them. I thought someone might know of some clever old-fashioned way of cleaning them on this board, like with bicarb/vinegar or something. I have thought about just gently 'washing' them with some water with washing-up liquid in sponged on and then dabbing off with a towel? I suppose that could really ruin the suede though. Has anyone any clever ideas, please?

[Galtizz]

A rubber or, as a last resort... *white vinegar* you just knew it would come in somewhere didn't you.

See HERE

[Sarahsaver]

Have you thought of dyeing them? It is a doddle. Get a bottle of suede dye and away you go. If a layer has come off are you sure thay are real suede?

[tiff]

If you cant get the suede clean, just go over them with shoe polish and you will then have lovely pink leather boots, not suede lol

[Sue7]

I had a suede jacket for christmas, the instructions say dryclean only but when i took the jacket to the dryleaners they wanted £38 to clean it!!!!! I would not mind but the jacket only cost £40.

Does anyone have any tips on how to clean suede without cleaning out my bank account.

[cardtart]

I used to clean my suede boots with steam and a brush,it brings the nap up.Also there is a suede shoe cleaning foam that you can buy from the supermarket but this might be a bit risky though..

[katiepops]

I have a very lovely pair of baby pink shoes that are half leather and half suede. I've had them for a couple of years now and they are not looking their best now! The suede in particular is rather grubby.

Does anyone know how I can clean them and get them back to looking smart, and pink!?

Kate

[Jay-Jay]

Clarks do a little suede cleaning block for around £3. It's a block of weird crumbly stuff which you gently rub on the shoe and it magically rubs off the muck. I was very sceptical but it really does work.