How to clean suede shoes at home?

Competent care for shoes, regardless of the season, is a must-have event that will provide it with a proper appearance and long operational life. This is especially true for suede shoes, since it requires a special approach to operation and care, so before acquiring such a model it is important to have an idea of ​​the ways and means intended for servicing suede products.

The popularity of such shoes, both among men and women, is due to the peculiarity of the material to transform the look of shoes, adding to the image of elegance, while increasing the level of comfort during operation due to the softness and suppleness of the material.

However, seasonality and climatic features sometimes make adjustments to a person’s life, which as a result forces the suede shoe to walk through puddles and mud or snow drifts, where the direct measure of suede with various chemicals is a necessary measure. In addition, there are cases when, due to certain circumstances or carelessly, shoes get dirty with various greasy or dye compounds. The same water is left on the suede saline stains that spoil the look of shoes and the quality of the material.

First of all, you need to dry wet shoes, boots or sneakers: for this, the outside of the shoes should be soaked with dry lint-free rags, and inside, put a few crumpled newspaper rolls to fill the entire space as much as possible, regardless of whether artificial or natural suede was used to make shoes.

If the shoe is made in light shades, to fill it you must use white paper without the presence of typographic printing. To speed up the drying process of the material, the paper inside can be changed every half hour, but on condition that it becomes wet.

It is necessary to dry wet suede at room temperature and not to place it near heating appliances, since there is a big risk that the shoes lose their shape.

When the dirt is completely dry on the ground, it can be removed with a brush. Such a useful accessory, as a rule, is sold in shoe stores with products and professional care products; You can also buy it at a regular hardware store or in supermarkets in specialized departments, where shoe products are offered.

Such an accessory is usually made three-sided, on each side there is a different pile; As a rule, this is the rubber side, the side with soft bristles and the area with metal teeth. Polyurethane villi will help lift suede, after it is wet and stuck together, the second side is used to remove worn and greasy marks on dry shoes, the latter gives the product and villi the correct location and helps to clean more dirt.

In the absence of such an object in use, it is best to make a substitute at home: for this you can use an old toothbrush, a rag made from coarse raw materials, or an ordinary clothes brush.

It is necessary to work with a brush strictly in one direction., and such places as the joints between the suede and the sole, where it does not come out to remove the dirt with a brush, can be processed with a cotton swab. The brush can cope with the main surface layer of existing dirt, remove dust, and clean off traces of salt; but in order to get rid of deeper and older stains on shoes, especially white or beige, you will need additional funds for suede and much more effort.

The next stage, which concerns the removal of dirt and other impurities from suede, is a water-repellent treatment, which is performed by specialized means. It is more correct to carry it out immediately after acquiring a new pair of shoes, spraying the material with an aerosol so that it becomes well-moistened with the composition. After that, you need to suede finally fed and dried at normal temperature. As a rule, such treatment will be able to protect the shoes from getting wet for a period of time, after which the procedure will need to be repeated. Today you can find on sale a huge variety of tools that are recommended for use with suede and nubuck. Feature of the product is a composition containing almond oil. This substance provides gentle care and performs protective functions.

Cleaning suede shoes involves not only water-repellent impregnation and brushing, but also refreshing care so that the shoes always have an attractive appearance. For these purposes, there are special aerosols, creams or liquid formulations that have a color similar to a diverse palette of suede.

To remove serious dirt from shoes, even if you regularly use products that allow you to repel water and keep the color bright, you will need certain tools that you can additionally purchase or make yourself at home.

Today, you can easily buy specialized products to combat dirt and serious stains on suede shoes. Among the most popular brands are Saphir, Kiwi or Salton. All products of professional cleaners can be classified as follows.

Such compositions after application to the material form a reliable protective layer. Usually, the cream is applied with a sponge or brush to clean and completely dry shoes only. Among the popular brands can be identified Duke Velours Nubuck.

Such compositions allow to remove stains and marks on shoes from salt and road chemicals, in addition, the compositions restore the material, provide water-repellent qualities and easily cope with other types of pollution. The most popular brands include “Davidik” spray or “Silver Premium 3 in 1”.

The tool qualitatively impregnates the pile of material, cleans dirt and traces of salt; It is necessary to use such compounds strictly according to the instructions. The Salton brand products are very popular.

They make it possible to give the material its original color and paint over traces of dirt that cannot be removed.

In addition, to help care for shoes made of suede, you can buy sponges and all kinds of erasers, which are recommended to be applied daily after wearing boots, shoes or sneakers. The essence of the removal of stains and stains lies in the dry method of cleaning, when the area on the material, which is defective with dirt, is rubbed with an eraser or sponge to completely remove the eaten material in the pile.

Specialized formulations can also be selected based on the type of contamination present on the material. There are universal products, as well as formulations for dealing with greasy marks, salt stains, or for restoring the color that shoes have lost in the process of frequent contact with chemicals. Information on the purpose of a particular composition is indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions and on the spray can, packaging or tube with shoe means.

The multi-cleaner is a Saphir Detacheur Hiver-Winter or Tarrago Leather Care product. Kiwi belongs to the class of cleansing foam, Crep Protect is recommended to restore the attractiveness of the material.

In order to get rid of various traces and stains on suede, compositions that can be prepared independently at home are considered quite effective. However, there are some recommendations and features of a particular tool, as well as a number of preparatory activities related to shoes and material.

Each home is guaranteed to have something of the above substances. Such bulk solids will help remove the oily stain from the material. The most tangible results can be achieved when working with fresh pollution. To do this, it is necessary to slightly heat the sand or powder, treat it with a dirty area of ​​the material and leave it in this state for several hours. After that, the remnants of the bulk material can simply be shaken off or brushed off.

Sometimes, in the fight against dirt, a regular gum will act as a good remedy. Instead, you can take a simple bread crumb of a suitable color, and use the bread crust instead of a brush.

The above tools relate to options for the dry removal of various contaminants from suede. Next will be considered ways to use folk remedies that involve wet cleaning of dirty material.

In cases where powders and other bulk products did not bring the expected effect, you can prepare a soap composition from ordinary or household soap, or shampoo, whipping it up to the formation of foam. However, in this embodiment, it is important that the products used do not contain dyes or bleach and chlorine, so as not to spoil the color and texture of suede. For persistent effects in a soapy solution you can drop a few drops of ammonia.

It is necessary to work with the composition in the following way: on a clean sponge you need to collect foam and rub it in a circular motion into the material; avoid abundant water ingress on the shoes. After processing, the sponge must be rinsed out in order to remove residual foam composition from the material.

This option perfectly copes with dirt and traces of salt. For its preparation, it is necessary to dilute the ammonia and vinegar in a ratio of 4: 1 with a small amount of water. Moisten any rags or cotton swab with the agent and treat the necessary area of ​​the shoe. Then remove the product with water. After the final drying, the suede pile needs to be brushed to lift adhering hairs.

Many housewives at home get rid of the dirt on the shoes, holding it over the steam, however, this method has its drawbacks, because the water may contain a variety of impurities, which after drying will remain stained on the material. Therefore, using this option, you should be confident in the quality of water used, so as not to harm the shoes.

This method is recommended for the care and cleaning of light suede products.To prepare the composition you need to dissolve the baking soda in the amount of one teaspoon in 100-150 ml of milk and add a few drops of ammonia. Sponge shoes, moistened in the composition of its edge and lightly rubbing the place with pollution. Then, with a damp sponge moistened with water, you need to remove the remnants of the composition with suede.

This tool can be used for suede any color. To make a cleanser you need to mix the ingredients in equal parts, apply them to the problem area, then rinse with plain water.

This product should only be used on dark suede shoes. It is applied to the surface of the product and rubbed with light pressure. After the gruel dries, it must be removed from the shoes with a napkin, sponge or cloth. To remove the thicket, you can optionally use an eraser.

The cleaning process with such a tool involves treating the polluted site of suede with gasoline, after which the area must be powdered with a large layer of talcum and left shoes in this condition for 2-3 hours, and then clean the material with a hard brush.

Careful attention to shoes, as well as compliance with the rules of storage may not always protect against the appearance of contamination, but regular preventive measures will greatly facilitate the removal of contaminants. A huge role is played by the use of water-repellent compositions, which will protect the material not only from moisture, but also from dirt and various inclusions that it contains on the street, because the tool creates a certain barrier that prevents deep penetration of dust and dirt inside.

In addition, it is important to avoid suede contact with sunlight during storage. Good prevention of dust accumulation on the pile will be a regular "combing" of suede, which will remove deep accumulations of dirt, raising the villi, which increases the external attractiveness of shoes. It is best to keep shoes made of suede by wrapping a pair of paper.

It is more correct to have different brushes for grooming shoes for a multicolored shoe, and for a brush for light shoes you will need regular care so as not to get the shoes dirty with old dust from it again.

Cleaning should be done only in one direction, and before each exit to the street, especially in the off-season and in winter, suede shoes are best treated with special compositions and impregnations.

How to clean suede shoes at home, see the following video.