How to Clean Suede

Suede is a special fabric, which often requires careful handling. You can clean suede clothing, shoes and upholstery yourself with one of the methods listed below.

General cleaning

You'll need the following:

A bath towel
A clean pencil eraser
A suede brush
White vinegar
A clean, dry cloth

Here's what to do:

Rub the suede gently with the towel.
Remove dry stains with the pencil eraser.
Brush over the suede with the suede brush.
Apply a little bit of vinegar to the stains.
Gently scrub the stains with the dry cloth and let the suede air-dry [source: repairhome].

To clean mud, oil or ink, you'll need one or more of the following:

Dry-cleaning solvent
Blotting paper
Leather-product degreaser
Suede brush
Nail file
High-nap towel
Clean, dry cloth

Here's what to do:

Ink stains Blot the stain immediately to remove excess ink. Dab on a bit of dry cleaning solvent. The solvent and stain should evaporate.
Mud Gently scrape off the mud with a nail file [source: Alward].
Grease or oil stains Blot leather degreaser on the stain with a clean cloth, and follow the directions for the product. Allow the degreaser to dry. Brush off the powder with the suede brush [source: MrsClean].

Rub the suede gently with a nail file or towel to help restore the nap after cleaning [source: Alward].

Recommendations:

Spray new suede items with a suede protection product, readily available in stores. Test a small hidden section before you spray the entire item.
Don't clean oil or grease stains with water, as it might spread the stain.
Brush off dust from your garments or shoes with a suede brush. Don't use the brush for anything else.
Wear a scarf to protect suede collars from perspiration, hair products, body oil and makeup.
Store your suede garments in fabric bags, not plastic, so they can breathe.
Have unusual stains removed by a specialist. Have expensive items professionally cleaned by a specialist, too.
Take your garments to a suede specialist for professional cleaning every other year [source: Alward].