How to Do Things

As investing in suede is costly, we should know ways to restore it. This article will tell you how to restore suede easily. There are a few easy steps which help to keep the velvety covering of your suede intact. These material used in all of these methods are generally available in a household.

Following things are required to restore suede –

• Clean white towel made of terrycloth
• Suede brush (a soft old tooth brush can be a substitute)
• Suede eraser
• White vinegar
• Commercial suede degreaser product
• Paper towels or tissue paper
• Soft and clean white cotton cloth (a great substitute can be an old tee shirt)
• Fine steel wool or fine grain sand paper (grain 150 or higher should be used for sandpaper)

The steps that follow can restore your suede to almost new condition. But, care must be taken to follow the cautions, wherever applicable. The necessary precautions are mentioned in the proper steps.

Prepare the suede –

• In case the suede is wet, a soft towel can be used to soak up as much of the water as possible. The suede can also be kept in between two towels to squeeze the water out.
• If the suede is muddy, ensure that it is completely dry before you start to clean it.
• The material can be stuffed with paper towels or wadded up tissue paper to prevent it from losing its shape.
• After completely drying the suede, sweep away the extra dirt by a suede brush or an old toothbrush. Avoid scrubbing the suede. Do complete and gentle brushing in one direction. This makes the dirt loose and hence removes it.

Remove dirt spots and stains from suede –

• A huge variety of products and techniques are used to remove stains and dirt from suede.
• A suede eraser can be firmly used on the stain in a single direction. Keep in mind not to scrub the suede. Scrubbing actually embeds the dirt more firmly.
• Next, make use of the suede eraser gently to drive out the remaining dirt. If the cleaning is not complete, repeat the steps again.

Commercial suede degreasing agent

• § This is required in case of some grease or body oil stains on the suede.
• § These products should be used in an airy area.
• § The directions specified on the product you have chosen should be followed.
• § The products are available in shoe stores or leather specialty store.

Vinegar

• A small amount of white vinegar put on a soft damp cloth can be applied if your suede still has marks or stains after applying the degreaser.
• Blemish gently into the tarnished area. Allow it to dry completely and then continue with the removal process.

Restoring the nap or surface texture of the suede –

• Now, your suede is finally clean. The clean suede appears to be flatter than the dirty suede. This is because the nap is being smoothened down in the cleaning process.
• Before performing this last step, make sure the suede is again completely dry.
• Now, the suede needs to be brushed in a rounded motion with the toothbrush or suede brush. The brushing restores the trampled lie-down to its initial state.
• If the suede brushing is unable to bring the nap to its original loosened up state, then it is probable that the nap may have been damaged in the cleaning process.
• The steel wool or the finely grained sandpaper can be used here. Rub the nap gently in a circular motion by these articles. Care should be taken not to rub away too much of the nap.

These were some of the household ways to restore stained suede. If these methods are not able to reinstate the suede back to its original state, a professional in this field can be consulted. There are some especially difficult stains which include red wine, blood and permanent marker, which are tough to take out using home remedies. A specialist leather store can guide you in finding a company that is a specialist in removing stains and dirt from suede and restore it.