How to clean suede at home: useful tips

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The popularity of suede, both artificial and natural, is primarily due to its external nobility, sophistication, even luxury. It is a velvety to the touch leather with characteristic villi, which is tanned with fatty substances in the dressing. All fashion houses every season present luxury bags and shoes and this material to the attention of fashionistas. And for the past few years, breathtaking suede outfits that can adorn every woman, regardless of age, have not left the podium. Demand, as you know, creates supply, so there is nothing strange and surprising in the fact that modern fashionistas have already replenished their wardrobe with a suede dress, skirt, of course, accessories and shoes. But how to properly care for such a delicate material? Are there secrets and methods applicable at home? How to clean suede? This is what we will talk about in this material.

Types of pollution

When planning to buy shoes, bags or clothes made of suede, you need to prepare yourself for the regular care of such a delicate material, otherwise it will very quickly lose its shape and attractive appearance. Let's figure it outall in order.

So, contrary to the stereotype, suede has excellent performance characteristics, but is still subject to a number of contaminants. The choice of the method of processing it is directly related to the nature of the pollution. Most often it is:

• Glossy areas are the result of prolonged use of footwear, clothing and accessories. Unfortunately, this is an irreversible process, which is also impossible to prevent.
• Grease stains - it is not necessary to drip oil from fish or meatballs onto the surface of the material. As a rule, such pollution is the result of tactile contact and the banal carelessness of the owners.
• Whitish s alt stains - they are most often encountered by residents of megacities, where streets and roads are actively sprinkled with chemical reagents. The situation worsens the neglect of regular drying of suede items.
• Deodorant marks and sweat stains.
• Contamination from dairy products - they are the result of the negligent attitude of the owners. They are among the most difficult and difficult to eliminate stains, which should be disposed of immediately. Otherwise, the affected area will be covered with a thin film, a crust, after which it will be impossible to get rid of it.
• Traces from paint products, ballpoint or gel pen.
• Dust settling - small fibers of suede, like a magnet, accumulate dust on their surface, giving the surface a faded shade of a very untidy appearance.

Featurescare

When choosing the best cleaning method, it is important first of all to start from what kind of material you have to work with: natural suede or its artificial counterpart. The original is given out by sinuous grooves, multidirectional pile and changeable color. Faux suede has a uniform hairiness, a fairly smooth surface. If you do not know how to clean suede, do not experiment, trust the experience of the housewives.

Natural suede is a more durable, reliable, and therefore expensive material. But for her, contact with moisture is fatal, which is why shoes and bags from it are recommended for dry weather. When interacting with a liquid, the material, due to its fleecy surface, begins to actively absorb moisture, like a sponge, while swelling and acquiring a completely uncharacteristic rigidity for it. That is why caring for her mainly comes down to dry methods. At the same time, the artificial canvas normally tolerates wet cleaning, hard cleaning with a violation of the direction of the villi is contraindicated for it.

Where to start

How to clean suede at home, while maintaining its unique structure, without harming it in any way? You will need a special tool and some skills. The modern variety of products for the care of shoes, accessories, chemicals for removing stains and dirt from various surfaces is really impressive. It would seem that the question of how to clean suede boots disappears by itself. Rememberone simple rule: regular use of professional care cosmetics will only extend the life of your favorite wardrobe item and save you time for subsequent tedious cleaning. Moreover, using sprays and impregnations, you can protect your shoes from the negative effects of an aggressive environment.

Arsenal of a modern hostess

If you are not indifferent to the noble material, you have enough shoes, accessories and clothes made of natural or artificial suede, collect your collection of suede care products:

• Water-repellent impregnations - pay attention to those that contain silicones. They effectively protect the fleecy surface from moisture and retain its structure.
• Foam-shampoo - you will no longer have a question about how to clean suede about dirt and s alt solutions, as this tool will do its job 100%. Moreover, it brings back the depth and expressiveness of the hue.
• Spray or aerosol paint - helps to restore the nobility of the shade and soften rough spots.

Sponges and brushes designed specifically for removing dirt - to remove old stubborn stains, it is better to use brushes with stiff bristles or sponges that perfectly absorb dirt into their surface. To restore a smooth pile, a combination of options will be an excellent option: a rubberized comb, on the one hand, and a brush with short bristles on the other.

Every professional withoutlabor will answer you how to clean suede at home. Among the advantages of mechanical dry cleaning, the ability to eliminate dirt even in the most inaccessible places, for example, in the seams. The brush perfectly combs the material, removing dust, dirt, and s alt from the villi. This method returns the natural fluffiness to the pile - after such a timely cleaning, your favorite products will look like new.

Alternative care

Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase an arsenal of professional suede care products. And here those tips that have already been tested by modern housewives come to the rescue.

Ammonia

Not sure how to clean black suede, make a mixture of ammonia and baking soda. Apply the resulting slurry to problem areas and soak for 10-15 minutes. Once the time has passed, simply wipe off the dirt with a soft cloth dampened with water.

Talc

Talc and starch, thanks to its excellent absorbent properties, perfectly fights greasy and oily stains, even dried ones. Glossed areas should be covered with talc or starch and left in this state for a couple of hours, after which it will simply clean off the residue with a stiff brush.

Gasoline "Kalosha"

It can be purchased at the hardware store. A miracle remedy has proven its effectiveness in the fight against complex stubborn greasy stains. It is very important to use purified gasoline, otherwise you can onlyharm.

Lemon juice

And here is another simple and effective remedy in the fight against s alt stains, which is the answer to the question of how to clean suede at home. Lemon is sure to be in the arsenal of every modern housewife. According to the recipe, it is necessary to add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of water, after which the product should be wiped quite gently with the resulting solutions. After processing, it is necessary to wait for the composition to dry and treat the surface with a stiff brush.

Faux suede care

Don't know how to clean faux suede? We will give you some helpful tips. Most items made from this material are machine washable, but be sure to read the label. Test the detergent on a small area before washing.

To eliminate stains, it is quite possible to use a soap solution, alcohol, lemon juice - these compounds must be treated with a contaminated area before machine washing. Some stains, for example, from sweat, deodorant, even after such exposure, do not want to leave. In this case, the use of modern stain removers with a gentle effect is allowed.

We told you how to clean suede at home. We sincerely hope that you will use the above recommendations to restore your products to their original appearance. But do not forget about the regularity and correct care for suchdelicate material, which will save you from problems and extend the life of clothes and shoes.