How To Clean Suede Trainers

Suede shoes are a wonderful choice of footwear.

There's just something so sleek about suede, with that gloriously soft material available in a range of colours.

However, when it comes to cleaning dirty suede shoes such as suede trainers, things can get a bit tricky.

You will need to avoid other types of cleaning products that you would normally use for other shoes.

Instead, you will need to use specific equipment that has been designed with suede shoes in mind.

We're going to cover some of the best methods for cleaning your suede trainers, as well as all the equipment you'll need to use to do so.

We're going to cover methods that include using a suede cleaner, as well as any household items that can do a similar job if you don't have any suede cleaner to hand.

Most importantly, you will need to ensure that you have a suede brush before you start cleaning the trainers.

This is because a suede brush has been designed to deal with the delicate suede material, so you won't have to worry about the suede brush damaging your trainers.

So let's take a look at everything you need to know when it comes to cleaning your suede trainers!

How To Clean Dirty Suede Trainers

So you've got a dirty pair of suede trainers that need a bit of TLC to get back into shape.

To get the best results from cleaning your suede sneakers, you will need to do this by hand.

First things first, you will need to remove the laces from your shoes, and place them onto a shoe tree so that they can maintain their shape while you clean them.

Next, you will need to take your suede brush and gently brush away at any dirt that has dried on your suede trainers.

If the mud is fairly recent and hasn't had time to dry, it will be best to leave this to happen before you use your soft brush.

You can also follow this step using a suede eraser if you find this easier.

This will help to get away the majority of the dirt clogging up your trainers, and is a good rule of thumb to follow for other types of shoes, too.

Now that you have used your suede brush to clear away any excess dirt that has gathered on your suede trainers, you can then start to use a suitable suede cleaner.

Once you've gone over your suede trainers with the suede cleaner, you can finish off with a spritz of suede protector if you want to keep your shoes protected from water stains and other types of marks.

If you don't have any suede cleaner to hand, you can also use white vinegar or rubbing alcohol.

It will be best to use a clean rag with these so that you can accurately tackle any marked spots on your suede trainers.

This is an excellent way for tackling any water stains or other types of stains that may have marred your suede trainers in recent years.

Make sure to work in a circular motion with your white vinegar soaked rag, then finally allow your suede trainers to dry completely.

Once your suede trainers have dried out, you can then use your suede brush to give the nap a fluff up so that they look as good as new.

This is the best way to deal with any stubborn marks that have decided to stick to your shoes.

Make sure to go over the entire shoe so that it can be restored to its former condition.

The one golden rule when it comes to cleaning suede trainers is to avoid using water at all costs!

This can actually make the results a lot worse, and leave water stains on the suede material.

Can I Use Shoe Polish On Suede?

Sadly it isn't possible to use standard shoe polish on suede.

This is because shoe polishes have been designed to clean traditional leather shoes, not suede.

Because suede is such a soft, delicate material to work with, you will need to opt for a suede cleaner that has been designed with this material in mind.

If you were to try to use a standard shoe polish on your suede footwear, this will damage it.

It could even change the overall colour of your suede shoes which we're sure you wish to avoid.

Shoe polish hasn't been designed for the type of leather that is suede, so it will be best to avoid using this and instead opt for suede rubbers, suede cleaner, or white vinegar.

What Household Item Can I Use To Clean Suede Shoes?

Surprisingly there are actually quite a few household items that you can use to clean suede shoes if you don't have any suede cleaner, suede protector, or a suede brush to hand.

White vinegar is one of the best household items to use for cleaning marked suede.

You should make sure to use a soft cloth with this as well, soaking the cloth in the white vinegar before working in circular motions over the suede.

You may be tempted to use paper towels or kitchen roll, but these are likely to fall apart during the cleaning process.

You can also use baking soda if you have any of this stashed away in the cupboard.

If you don't have a suede brush to hand, you can use a clean toothbrush instead.

Sprinkle a bit of baking soda over any stubborn stains, then use the toothbrush in circular motions to get rid of the stains.

You can use this method to clean the entire shoe until it is back to its former glory.

Can You Put Suede Trainers In The Washing Machine?

No, you can't put your suede footwear in your washing machine.

This is because suede is a very delicate material, so putting them in something as violent as a washing machine will only damage the material.

Water is also very harmful to suede, and will actually stain your shoes beyond repair.

You should avoid washing your suede shoes with water at all costs.

When it comes to cleaning suede footwear, it will be best to always do this by hand.

This means you can ensure that you give your suede shoes the attention they need so that you can get the best results possible.

You can also keep a much closer eye on all kinds of stains that could be on your shoes.

Once you've finished cleaning your suede footwear by hand, you can spray it with a suede protector.

This will give an added layer of protection for your suede shoes to prevent any unwanted stains in the future.

In Summary

So there you have it! You now know the best method to use for cleaning suede trainers.

When it comes to a tricky material such as suede, you will need to avoid using water or shoe polish.

Whereas these will be just the things you need for cleaning other types of shoes, these need to be avoided when it comes to suede.

The best method to use for cleaning your suede trainers is to purchase a good quality suede cleaner, as well as a good quality suede brush.

Make sure to use your suede brush to brush away any dried dirt from your shoes.

Use the suede cleaner to work away at any marks or stains on your shoes.

You can also use white vinegar and a clean cloth to work away at any stubborn stains that have set in on your suede trainers.

Suede rubbers are also an excellent choice for getting rid of any unwanted dirt.

Remember the golden rule of avoiding water!

And you should also avoid trying to use a washing machine, as this will only damage your suede trainers.

It is always best to clean your suede shoes or suede boots by hand if you can to get better results.