Cleaning suede shoes: With these tips your favorite shoes will look like new!
Suede is generally more sensitive than smooth leather and more difficult to clean. If you use the wrong product to remove dirt or when caring for it, the leather can quickly become stained and greasy. If you forget to protect your suede shoes from external influences or neglect to care for them, this will have unpleasant consequences. The sensitive natural material can then quickly become brittle. Irreversible discoloration is also not uncommon. But don't worry. With the following tips, this won't happen to you and you will be able to enjoy your suede shoes for a long time.
What is suede?
Suede is made from the skin of non-domesticated animal species that live in the wild. These include reindeer, elk and deer. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer of these beautiful creatures live in the wild these days. For this reason, real suede, which can be recognized by its matte appearance and velvety feel, has become rare and accordingly expensive. This is why more and more shoes, clothing and accessories are made from the skin of cattle and pigs and are known under the synonym of suede.
What properties does suede have?
Suede is very comfortable to wear due to its pleasant feel. The natural material also impresses with its unique and elegant appearance. But it is not just its visual advantages that make suede one of the most popular types of leather. The fact that the natural material is particularly breathable, absorbs sweat and protects against cold and wetness also makes it a popular material for clothing, shoes, etc.
Furthermore, with the right care, it is also extremely robust and durable. However, suede is also very susceptible to stains, dirt and discoloration. This is due to the rough surface, on which dirt and dust stick more easily. With suede shoes in particular, you should make sure to clean, care for and waterproof them at regular intervals. Only then can the sensitive material withstand the rigors of everyday life and shine with its unique properties.
Suede brushes: How often should you care for your suede shoes?
Suede does require more intensive care than smooth leather. But it is not more time-consuming. Suede shoes do not need to be waxed regularly or pampered with a nourishing leather balm and then polished to a high shine. Instead, the sensitive surface benefits from care treatments using special dirt and suede brushes. Everyone should therefore have these two examples in their shoe cupboard:
Dirt brushes:A dirt brush should be used after every wear. It removes dust residues that have accumulated on the surface of the leather. Brushes with boar bristles or horsehair are particularly suitable.
Suede brushes:For deep-seated dirt or stains, special suede brushes do a perfect job. On one side they are equipped with brass bristles, which you can use to brush dirt and mud out of the material. The other side consists of rubber bristles, which are ideal for finishing work and can be used to perfectly roughen the leather surface.
As a rule, light dirt can be removed by dry cleaning. However, if there are stubborn dirt residues, your suede shoes will need intensive treatment.
Cleaning suede shoes: Remove light dirt!
If you were caught in the rain and your shoes are covered in stains and mud, then an intensive cleaning is the only way to get your shoes clean again. So let's get to work! If you wait too long, the dirt can penetrate deep into the material and cleaning will be much more complicated. Here's how to do it:
First, you should remove any dirt from the leather using a damp boar bristle brush. To avoid water marks, you should not work on the material in a specific spot, but always treat it over a large area.
Now your shoes need to dry overnight. Since damp leather can shrink and deform when drying, you should definitely stuff your suede shoes with crumpled newspaper, which will draw the moisture out of the material. Also use a shoe tree!
Cleaning suede shoes: Remove dried dirt residue!
If the dirt has dried on, treating it with lukewarm water is not enough. To remove dried dirt like this from the leather, follow these steps:
A suede brush with metal bristles is ideal for removing dried dirt. But be careful: To avoid damaging the delicate pile of the leather, you should only apply light pressure.
Now grab your dirt brush and remove all dust residue.
We then recommend that yousustainable suede cleanerto the entire shoe surface and work it into the material using a damp cloth or sponge. Finally, all residues are removed with clean water.
Fit shoes with a shoe tree, stuff with crumpled newspaper and let dry overnight.
By the way: To avoid any color differences, you should always treat both shoes.
Caring for suede shoes: Here's how to do it!
Once your suede shoes are completely dry, you should treat the stressed material with the right care products. This will ensure that it does not lose its pleasant feel and retains its beautiful appearance.
To ensure that the suede can perfectly absorb the nourishing ingredients, the material is gently roughened again using a suede brush.
Then apply the suede care product evenly to the leather surface using a sponge.
After the care product has dried, you can take your suede brush again and work on the leather with the rubber bristles in the direction of the grain.
Important: When choosing your cleaning and care products, always make sure that they are free of harmful ingredients. They tend to be counterproductive when treating leather and also pollute the environment.
Waterproofing suede shoes: The best comes last!
To protect your stylish suede shoes from wind and weather as well as dirt, you shouldImpregnate regularlyThe so-called lotus effect ensures that moisture and dirt cannot penetrate the material, but instead roll off the suede in tiny droplets. By the way: The protective shield works better if you apply several thin layers of your sustainable waterproofing spray than one thick one.
