How To Clean Suede Boots

The easiest way to clean your suede boots is to not allow them to get water-stained or dirty from the onset. New suede boots should be protected from water and dirt by a commercial protector that is sprayed on the surface. If it is too late for that advice, your boots can and should be protected after each cleaning with a spray on suede protector. With proper care and cleaning, your suede boots will look better, stay cleaner, and last longer.

To clean suede boots, you will need:

• Newspaper
• Suede brush
• Suede block or eraser
• Suede water and stain protector
  

1. Lay newspaper over your table top or work area to protect it.

2. Brush the suede surface of the boots with a suede brush to pull up the nap and remove dirt.

3. Rub the stained area with a suede block or suede eraser. As you rub, the suede block will begin to wear down and crumble a little. Any area of the suede that looks shiny, like leather, can be restored to soft suede by using the suede block.

4. Brush the boots again with the suede brush to remove dirt, debris, and to fluff the nap. Spray the boots with the water and stain protector specifically made for suede. Let the protector dry completely according to the instructions on the label.

5. Brush the boots with a suede brush one last time after allowing the protector dry completely, to bring up the nap.

Tips

• Use only commercial products exclusively designed for use on suede.
• Follow the directions on the label of any product you are using on your suede boots.
• Consider making a patch test on a small bit of the suede that doesn’t show, to test the color fast of the suede to avoid damage during cleaning.
• If your efforts are not enough to get your suede boots clean, take them to a professional.
• If you get caught in the rain, use a towel to dab the boots dry. Stuff the boots with newspaper until they are thoroughly dry and then use a suede brush to touch up the nap.

Warnings

• Do not use household chemicals to remove stains from your suede boots.
• Leather cleaners or spot removers should not be used on suede and may cause irreversible damage to the suede.