Can you please tell me how to clean suede shoes safely? I have suede Vans that I love, but they are showing their age.
Beth Frandsen, Redmond, WA
It’s not difficult to learn how to clean suede shoes safely. The process is different from how to clean canvas shoes because of a different kind of fabric.
Suede can be damaged if you use the wrong cleaners or implements. The most important thing is to forget trying to wash them in a machine or dry them in a dryer. Soaking them in water or subjecting them to high heat will ruin the suede.
To begin to remove dirt from suede shoes, get a suede brush and eraser. This will help you remove surface dirt effectively. Be sure to brush with the nap, not against it, for best results. As we showed on our cleaning suede Ugg® boots tips, if there are scuff marks and you don’t have a suede eraser, try a regular clean pencil eraser. It should help you rub off the discoloration.
Next, it’s also possible to get rid of water stains on suede by using a suede brush and a little water. You don’t need to soak the material. Instead, dab a damp cloth all over the shoes. Then let them dry and brush them. The grain should go back to normal with all traces of the marks gone.
Oil is a little trickier to get out of suede fabric, but if you put cornstarch on the spots and leave them overnight, a fresh oil spot will disappear. Otherwise, you may have to brush out the stain. This works well for cleaning white suede sneakers or dress shoes. Baby powder and baking soda work well, too.
There are many other tricks to removing all sorts of stains like ink, blood, and more. But since you mentioned that you specifically have Vans® shoes, please take a look at this article:https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-vans®-shoes/It’s especially useful if you have white Vans® that you can’t machine-wash or bleach. Instead, you might need lemon juice or an oxygen bleach to get them bright white again.
In conclusion, I hope you find these tips helpful for cleaning your suede sneakers safely.
Joan