{"id":104896,"date":"2019-06-11T11:26:43","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T16:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=104896"},"modified":"2021-07-29T18:35:31","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T23:35:31","slug":"how-to-clean-suede-maintenance-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/style\/clothing\/how-to-clean-suede-maintenance-routine\/","title":{"rendered":"A Man’s Guide to Cleaning and Caring for Suede"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

Suede is a leather material used to make belts, watch straps, bags, and more. Men are most likely to encounter it in shoes, <\/span>like chukka boots<\/span><\/a>. Suede looks and feels good; it adds a unique visual and physical texture to your footwear and accessories.<\/span><\/p>\n

But for a lot of guys, suede can seem like an intimidating material. You\u2019ve perhaps heard about its delicate nature \u2014 that it is easily scratched and scuffed and can be readily damaged by water, grease, and other elements and stains.<\/span><\/p>\n

While suede isn\u2019t quite as sensitive as it\u2019s been made out to be, it does have its own care routine that differs from other leathers. We\u2019ll get into that in just a bit. But first let\u2019s have a look at what suede is and how it\u2019s made. With both bits of knowledge under your (suede) belt, you\u2019ll be well on your way to eliminating your aversion to this handsome material.  <\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Suede?<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re anything like me, it\u2019s possible that the way suede is labeled and marketed has made you think that it\u2019s an entirely different variety of leather (or material altogether!) \u2014 something man-made or exotic. <\/span><\/p>\n

The reality is much simpler: leather is a material made from the hide of any number of animals (cow, sheep, crocodile, etc.), and suede is formed through a process that can be applied to <\/span>any<\/span><\/i> of those leathers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Manufacturing leather is a complex process, and different parts of the hide go into making the different kinds of leather \u2014 full grain, top grain, bonded, etc. Suede is the softer <\/span>underside<\/span><\/i> of the hide. Sometimes manufacturers will just flip the hide over, but that creates a stiff material that isn\u2019t generally what you\u2019re going for with suede (though Red Wing does this and calls it <\/span>\u201cRoughout\u201d leather<\/span><\/a>). Most of the time suede is actually made from a thin middle layer that gets fully cut away from the outer part of the hide. Suede is thinner, more naturally porous (hence being known as a water-sensitive material), and, since it was undercover and protected from the elements when it was part of the animal, not as naturally toughened up as the types of leather taken from the outside of the hide. The result is a napped material that\u2019s softer, lighter, and, more prone to damage. <\/span><\/p>\n

It should be noted that most suede is made from lamb \u2014 while other hides can be used, lamb suits itself best to the process; larger animals create a much shaggier nap, which just doesn\u2019t look as nice.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What About Nubuck?<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever shopped around for suede you\u2019ve likely also encountered the term \u201cnubuck\u201d or \u201cnubuck suede.\u201d Rather than coming from an inner layer of the hide, nubuck is actually full grain leather that\u2019s been sanded\/buffed to give it a slight nap. So it looks and feels much like suede, but with two main differences: 1) it\u2019s not quite as soft, and 2) it\u2019s a bit more heavy and durable since it\u2019s the outer part of the hide. This also means it doesn\u2019t quite need the same maintenance (though the below routine can still be followed, just less frequently). When it comes to nubuck vs. true suede it\u2019s not really a question of one of them being better or worse; it\u2019s more about what you\u2019re looking for in the material.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How to Care for Suede and Make It Last <\/span><\/h3>\n

As previously alluded to, suede isn\u2019t as delicate as you may think. Scratches can be buffed away, and a little bit of water or dirt isn\u2019t going to permanently ruin your shoes. <\/span><\/p>\n

But, it does need to be cared for and maintained, just as your other leathers do, albeit with a different process and set of products. The bristles in the brush in your standard leather care kit are usually a bit large to be working on suede, and you definitely don\u2019t want to be using any polish\/cream on the material, nor a wet cloth. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

So first, get yourself a <\/span>suede care kit<\/span><\/a>. Any suede-specific kit will come with a small brush (and sometimes a second brush specifically for maintaining the nap) as well as what\u2019s called a suede eraser (or sometimes suede block). It\u2019s basically a large rubber eraser that removes scuffs. And depending on the kit, you may also get a leather protector in the form of a clear spray. <\/span><\/p>\n

As soon as you crack open your new suede shoes or belt, give it a spray with the protectant.<\/span><\/p>\n

From there, use the following routine \u2014 once a month or so for irregular use; every 1-2 weeks with regular all-day wear \u2014 to regularly care for your suede and make sure that it lasts for years to come: <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Brush<\/h3>\n

Use the bristle brush to clean off any dirt, sediment, etc. Don\u2019t press too hard and scuff the material \u2014 it\u2019s more like the pressure of brushing your teeth than washing dishes. You also want to brush in a single direction to keep the nap uniform. <\/span><\/p>\n

When you brush, it does appear to change the color some, but that\u2019s just the nap fluctuating (just like what happens when you run your hand over a suede or velvety couch). <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Erase<\/h3>\n

If there are specific spots or any stains on the material that didn\u2019t come out with the first brushing, use the eraser to gently scrub them off. Again, use a light pressure. The eraser works great for nearly any stain that isn\u2019t grease (more on that below) as well as scuffs and small scratches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Grease Stains<\/h3>\n

One thing that can truly muck up any material \u2014 suede included \u2014 is grease. One little spot can really ruin the uniform look of a shoe or accessory. With this particular type of stain, there\u2019s one product that does near-miraculous wonders: cornstarch.<\/p>\n

Apply a small pile to the stain (be liberal here), allow at least 15 minutes for the cornstarch to sit and absorb the grease (up to an hour or so), and then brush away with your suede brush. One application may very well remove the stain completely. If not, apply cornstarch again and repeat the process until the stain is gone. Give the area a scrub with the eraser, then give it a final brush to fully remove any residue and restore the nap.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t try to use other grease-fighting agents, like dish soap, as they can ruin the material.<\/p>\n

Bonus #1: cornstarch can also be used effectively even on old and seemingly set-in stains (though it\u2019s not a guarantee of course).<\/p>\n

Bonus #2: cornstarch can be used on any material to remove grease. No more relegating stained shirts to the rag pile.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

3. Brush Again<\/h3>\n
\"Suede

Before and after. On the left you can see a couple small scuffs and the nap is not uniform, giving it sort of a splotched look. After brushing and erasing, on the right, you can see the scuffs are gone and the nap is nice and uniform, giving the shoe a polished look. On the floor you’ll notice the residue\/sediment that gets brushed off; it really does make a difference and keeps the material clean. <\/p><\/div>\n

After you\u2019ve used your eraser, brush the suede once again, in a uniform direction. If your kit comes with a second brush (often called a \u201ccrepe\u201d brush), use it here.  <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Spray<\/h3>\n

\"Spraying<\/p>\n

Apply a clear protectant by holding the item about arm\u2019s length away and giving it a good spray all over. The material will probably change color some, but don\u2019t worry at all, that will go away.   <\/span><\/p>\n

If your suede gets wet, don\u2019t fret. If it\u2019s just a little bit, let it dry, then give it a brushing. If it got quite wet or muddy, dab it dry with a paper towel, let it dry, and give it a clean. If you\u2019ve been regularly applying the spray, you don\u2019t have much to worry about. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you do end up with a stain of any kind that you can\u2019t get out yourself with either a brush or eraser (or cornstarch), look for a dry cleaner in your area that does leather\/suede. <\/span><\/p>\n

Again, while suede is not a delicate fabric per se, it is more prone to damage. So you might as well not take chances with how you wear it. In general, do yourself a favor and just don\u2019t put on the suede boots if the forecast calls for inclement weather, or if your agenda calls for a muddy adventure. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you do that, and follow the maintenance routine described above, your suede products will find years of enjoyable use. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Suede is a leather material used to make belts, watch straps, bags, and more. Men are most likely to encounter it in shoes, like chukka boots. Suede looks and feels good; it adds a unique visual and physical texture to your footwear and accessories. But for a lot of guys, suede can seem like an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":104904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42301,6,227],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-104896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-clothing","category-featured","category-style"],"featured_image_urls":{"large":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_68a-538x280.jpg","aom":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_68a-372x230.jpg","reactor-320":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_68a-320x213.jpg","reactor-640":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_68a-640x426.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104896"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104901,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104896\/revisions\/104901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104896"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=104896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}