Suede is a popular and timeless material for trainers: it's comfortable, stylish, elegant, and so much more. When it gets dirty though, it can look a bit rough. And if you’ve got dirty suede trainers, maybe you’re wondering whether it’s too late to fix them.
If so, this blog post is for you. We’ll give you detailed
advice on how to clean your suede trainers at home - including whether machine
washing or cleaning by hand is most suitable, which products to use, and tips
to get stubborn marks off.
Here's what we'll cover:
- Can you wash suede trainers
- What do I need to clean suede trainers
- How to clean suede trainers
- How to clean mud from suede trainers
- How to keep suede trainers clean
- How to get stains out of suede trainers
Can you wash suede trainers?
You can, and considering how easily suede picks up dirt, you
definitely should! But because suede is a delicate material, there are a few
things you need to know before getting started. First up: never fully submerge your suede trainers.
Submerging suede can lead to warping, discoloration, or
other permanent damage to the delicate suede fibres.
Can you put suede trainers in the washing machine?
With the above in mind, while it is possible to machine wash trainers, we would always advise
you not to put suede trainers in a
washing machine as they’ll get fully saturated, increasing the risk of
damage. This is true even on gentle cycles: it’s the submersion that causes the
problems, not the intensity of the water.
Instead, stick to hand-washing methods when cleaning your suede trainers. This has a number of benefits:
- No risk of shrinkage
- No risk of warping
- No risk of colour fading
- No risk of losing the nap - the distinctive surface of the material
What do I need to clean suede trainers?
Now you know what not to do, here’s a thorough run down of what you should do to clean your suede trainers. The first step is to get hold of the right gear:
- A suede brush: these brushes are designed to remove dirt while protecting and restoring the nap of the suede. It’s important to use a special suede brush as they’ll be suitably soft and minimise the risk of damage to the fabric.
- A suede cleaning block: these are great for removing scuffs and stains from a suede surface.
- Suede cleaning fluid or vinegar: these liquids are both good for spot cleaning suede trainers.
- A clean white cloth or a clean towel: this is useful for dabbing cleaned areas to remove moisture, make sure the material is dry and that it doesn’t contain dye - otherwise there’s a risk it might transfer over.
- A shoe tree: great for helping to retain the shape of your suede trainers while they dry.
- Paper towels: if you don’t have access to a shoe tree you can stuff dry, undyed paper towels into your trainers to hold their shape while they dry.
How to clean suede trainers
With all the gear, here’s how to do the cleaning. Remember:
gentle is best, and avoid fully submerging the trainers in water at any point!
1. Brush off any dirt on the surface
The first step is to gently remove any dirt or dust on the surface of the suede with your suede brush. Gentle movements are best, and you should always brush in one direction to protect the nap.
2. Remove marks and scuffs with the suede eraser
For any dirt or dust that isn’t removed by the brush, the next step is to use the suede eraser. Gently rub the dirty areas, taking care to follow the same direction as you used with the brush.
3. Spot clean any other marks with suede cleaner
For particularly stubborn marks, put a bit of suede cleaner
(or vinegar) on your dry, undyed cloth. Then use this to spot-clean the
affected area: gently dab the stain, taking special care to not saturate the
material.
Once the suede cleaner is dried, use a brush to gently restore the nap of the material.
4. Let your trainers dry
Once the trainers are clean, either stuff them with dry,
undyed paper or put them on a shoe tree. Let them dry somewhere cool and dry,
taking care not to leave them near a heat source or in direct sunlight as this
can damage the fabric.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to get the majority of
dirt and marks off of your suede trainers. Read on for specific cleaning
queries and general care tips.
How to clean mud off suede trainers
Mud and suede are not a good combination. If your suede trainers have become caked in mud, here’s what to do.
1. Let the mud dry!
Resist the urge to clean it off straight away, as removing dry mud is actually easier and carries a lower risk of damage.
2. Brush off dry mud
Use the suede brush and the technique outlined above (gentle movements in one direction) to remove as much of the dried mud as possible.
3. Treat any remaining stains
If brushing the mud off reveals some stains underneath, use the spot cleaning method above to take care of them one by one.
4. Restore the nap
Use a clean suede brush to restore the natural nap of the fabric and get your trainers looking like their old selves again.
How to keep suede trainers clean
If reading these suede trainer cleaning tips has got you wondering about the best ways to avoid them getting dirty in the first place, have a look below at our preventative tips.
Avoid wearing suede when you know it's going to be dirty or wet
This fabric is prone to pick up dirt, and doesn’t respond well to getting wet. If you’re heading out for a walk in the woods, or the weather forecast is warning against rain, consider opting for alternative footwear.
Use suede protector spray
These purpose-built sprays are formulated to shield your trainers from dirt, water, and stains. Applying some spray every few weeks gives the best possible protection.
Brush them regularly
Even when your suede trainers don’t look particularly dirty, consider brushing them every once in a while. This will remove the small build-up of dirt and dust, keeping them looking fresh.
Follow these tips and hopefully you’ll be able to reduce the
frequency of needing to deep clean your suede trainers.
How to get stains out of suede trainers
Even with the best intentions, sometimes your suede trainers
will pick up stains. Depending on the offending substance, the preferred care
routine varies. Here’s what you need to do to remove some common stains:
Removing water stains from suede
Dampen the area around the stain (this sounds
counterproductive but trust us!) then use a suede brush to even out the area
around the stain as it dries. This technique will dispel the moisture and keep
visible damage to the shoe to a minimum.
Removing oil stains from suede
Sprinkle some corn flour onto the stain - only a small
amount - and leave it for a few hours. The oil will soak into the corn flour, then
you can brush the residue from the surface of the shoe with a suede brush.
Removing ink stains from suede
Try to tackle the stain as soon as possible, as the longer
it’s left for the harder it will be to remove. Dab the area with a dry, undyed
cloth, then use the suede cleaning steps outlined earlier to clean the trainer.
The best suede trainers are clean suede trainers
Suede trainers are a fantastic addition to any wardrobe:
they’re stylish, comfortable, elegant, and so much more. And even though the
material is prone to picking up dirt, we hope this guide has demonstrated that
keeping your suede trainers looking good isn’t too difficult. With an
understanding of how to clean suede trainers and a good care routine, your pair
will serve you well for years to come.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of smart trainers, take a look at our range of men’s suede trainers. You can also browse our shoe care range. And if you have any other questions about shoes and shoe care, suede or otherwise: just get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help.