A lot has changed since Elvis Presley sang the words to his song, "You can do anything, but don't do anything to my blue suede shoes." Suede shoes are still prone to scratches and stains making them difficult to clean, so anyone who owns these shoes will sympathize with the request of the king of rock and roll. Will moving too much do a lot of damage to your suede shoes? Follow these steps to make your shoes look like new.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Cleaning Dirty Stains and Scratch Stains
Step 1. Prepare a special brush for suede shoes and make sure the shoes are dry
Suede has fine particles and is best cleaned with a special brush that can be purchased with a special set of suede cleaners. If your shoes have care instructions, follow them. Suede is very sensitive to water, so dirty stains and scratches are best treated when the shoe is dry.
Step 2. Gently brush the shoes to remove dirt
Use a suede cleaning brush to remove any dirt that has accumulated on the shoes. Do not do the motion back and forth, brush in the same direction repeatedly. If the dirt is removed successfully, the shoes will look newer.
Step 3. Brush vigorously to remove scratch marks
When a suede shoe is scratched, the particles are compressed in one direction. Lift the particle back by rubbing the scratched area back and forth. Again, this is best done with a special suede brush.
For streaks that are faded and difficult to brush off, try prying at the area with a knife to remove the fine hairs
Step 4. Use an eraser for stubborn stains
Scratches and stains that cannot be brushed off can often be removed by scrubbing with a pencil eraser or crepe rubber (the wrinkled rubber material used to make shoe soles). You can also purchase a special suede eraser designed for this kind of stain. Remove the stain with moderate pressure and work harder if the stain is more difficult.
Step 5. Protect your suede shoes
When they're clean (or when they're new), spray the suede shield on the shoes. This will help prevent stains and scratches from forming. Follow the directions on the medicine package.
Method 2 of 4: Removing Water Stains
Step 1. Wet the entire outside of the shoe
Dab a little water with a brush. Water can fade the color of suede, but applying the right amount of water can also get rid of the stain.
Step 2. Use a dry sponge or cloth to absorb excess water
Rub the shoes evenly so that the water stains are not visible.
Step 3. Insert the paper and shoe tree (a tool to keep the shape of the shoe from changing) inside the shoe
If you use a lot of water, put dry paper inside the shoe to absorb any excess water on the inside of the shoe. The shoe tree (or wad of paper) will help keep the shoe in shape. Do not use newsprint because the newspaper ink will be absorbed into the shoes.
Step 4. Let the shoes dry overnight
Place the shoes in a dry and well-ventilated room and allow the water to evaporate.
Step 5. When they are dry, gently brush the shoes with a suede brush
This will help return the suede particles to their original position.
Method 3 of 4: Removing Special Stains
Step 1. Remove oil stains or “unknown” origins with a nail brush
Use a suede brush to scrub the stain. Then use a nail brush to scrub stubborn stains with warm water. Oil stains are difficult to remove and oil-stained suede shoes won't look great anymore.
Some recommend cornstarch to remove oil stains if the oil is still wet. Sprinkle cornstarch on the stain and leave it overnight. The next day, brush the cornstarch and steam it with an iron
Step 2. Allow the mud stain to dry before cleaning
Scrub off the remaining mud and don't scrub too hard, then dry the shoes in the sun. When the mud hardens, pry out the larger lumps of mud with your fingers. Then use a suede brush to remove any remaining dirt.
Step 3. Place the shoes in the freezer to remove wax and gum stains
If you have gum stuck to your shoes, put them in the freezer for a few hours. The gum will harden and you can release it. Finally, brush with a suede brush.
Step 4. Remove blood stains with a cotton ball and peroxide
Gently rub a cotton ball dipped in peroxide on the stain until the blood stain is gone.
Step 5. Remove the ink stain immediately before it really sticks
Then, erase with sandpaper. If your shoes get an ink stain, grab a towel and blot the stain quickly. If it sticks, rub the stain with sandpaper. A cotton ball dipped in alcohol and rubbed on the ink stain can also be used to solve this problem.
Method 4 of 4: Other Cleaning Methods
Step 1. Apply white vinegar for stubborn stains
If the stain can't be removed in the usual way, add some vinegar and rub with a soft cloth or towel. Let it dry, then brush with a suede brush. This method is also great for getting rid of snow stains.
Step 2. Use steel wool to clean dry stains
Scrub the drying stain vigorously with a steel wool. However, be careful, this method will make the shoe feathers stand up when the stain is removed.
Step 3. Use a nail file and a heating device
If you don't have a suede brush, scrub the shoes with a nail file, then steam them with a kettle or iron. The heat from the tool will open the pores of the suede making it easy to clean.
Tips
- If you don't want to wear the shoes for a long time, wrap them in tissue paper and put them in the shoe box. Keep it away from moisture and light, as suede can mold in damp conditions and bright light can fade the color.
- If you want it fast, you can remove the water stain by gently pressing it with a paper towel.
- Do not paint suede shoes. If you can't clean the stains on your suede shoes with the methods above, then painting them is a bad idea and can damage the shoes later.
- If the laces are dirty, you can wash them according to the type of material.
Warning
- Be careful when using suede protective sprayers. Ensure adequate ventilation of the room and follow the steps and care on the label instructions, as there are sprayers that can cause a fire.
- Do not use clumps of newsprint as a substitute for shoe trees. If the paper is wet, it can stain the shoes.
- Do not use dry clean solvents. This solvent can indeed remove stains on shoes, but contains chemicals that are very strong and difficult to remove in the room of the house.
