How to Clean Suede Shoes at Home?
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
You clean suede shoes dry: brush the nap with a dedicated suede brush following its direction, and rub shiny, flattened spots with a suede eraser or an ordinary pencil eraser. Remove white salt stains with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution, and cover grease stains with talcum powder or potato starch overnight. Never soak suede, machine wash it or dry it on a radiator.
Step by step
- 1
Wait for the shoes to dry and shake off loose dirt
Do not clean wet suede, because damp nap smears dirt easily and mats down. Leave the shoes to dry at room temperature, stuffed with paper to hold their shape. Once the suede is dry, gently shake off sand and loose dust by hand or with a soft brush.
- 2
Brush the suede with a dry brush
Take a suede brush and comb the surface in short strokes following the direction of the nap. On a dirty spot you can briefly go against the direction to pull dirt out from between the fibers, then smooth the nap back down. Brush without pressure - the goal is to comb the dirt out, not rub it in deeper.
- 3
Rub shiny spots with an eraser
Remove the smooth, shiny patches in high-friction areas with a suede eraser, or a clean white pencil eraser if you do not have one. Rub in short back-and-forth strokes until the nap turns matte and fluffy again. Simply brush away the eraser crumbs afterwards.
- 4
Lift flattened nap with steam
Refresh suede crushed at the creases with steam - hold the shoe over a steaming pot or pass steam from an iron over it from a few centimeters (an inch or so) away, without touching the material. Brush the damp nap immediately so it lifts. Do not overdo the steam, because excess water leaves marks.
- 5
Remove salt stains with vinegar
White salt rings, typical in winter, dissolve in a 1:1 vinegar and water solution. Dampen a cloth or a cotton pad in it, wipe the stained area without soaking the whole shoe and wait for it to dry. Then brush the suede to restore an even texture.
- 6
Draw out grease stains with talcum powder
Cover a fresh grease stain with a thick layer of talcum powder, potato starch or cornstarch and leave it overnight. The powder pulls the grease out of the fibers - in the morning just shake it off and brush away the rest. Repeat on a stubborn stain a few times before you reach for a specialist suede cleaner.
- 7
Waterproof the shoes after cleaning
Spray clean, dry suede with a waterproofing spray from the distance stated on the can, applying two thin coats instead of one thick one. The spray forms a barrier that makes it harder for water, salt and mud to soak into the material. Repeat every few weeks and always after a thorough cleaning.
What not to do with suede shoes
Suede cannot stand water and heavy soaking. Machine washing, soaking under the tap or scrubbing with a wet sponge mats the nap, leaves water marks and stiffens the material as it dries, and a matted surface often cannot be saved.
Also skip drying on a radiator, with a hair dryer or in full sun - heat warps the shoe and dries the leather until it cracks. Do not clean suede with smooth-leather products or with colored cloths that could transfer dye onto light nap.
How to care for suede day to day
Prevention gets you the most. Waterproof new shoes before their first wear, then refresh the protective layer every few weeks, especially before the rain and snow season.
After each wear, brush off the dust and give the shoes a day to breathe before you put them on again. Store them away from radiators, ideally with shoe trees to hold their shape, and pick different footwear for wet weather - suede will repay you by looking good for years.
Frequently asked questions
›How do I clean salt stains off suede shoes?
White salt streaks come off with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution. Wipe the stained spot with a dampened cloth without soaking the whole shoe, and brush the suede once it dries. Salt can permanently discolor the material, so act as soon as you notice the rings.
›What can I clean suede with if I have no brush?
As a stand-in, use a clean pencil eraser on the shiny spots and a dry, coarse towel or an old toothbrush to comb out the dirt. These are stopgap fixes - a proper suede brush with dense, stiff bristles does the job more effectively and safely.
›Can suede shoes go in the washing machine?
No, never put suede in the washing machine. Water and spinning mat the nap, deform the shoe and can permanently discolor the material. Suede is cleaned dry only, treating stains spot by spot without soaking the surface.
›How often should I waterproof suede shoes?
Every two to four weeks with regular wear, and always after a thorough cleaning. Do it more often in the rainy season and in winter, because water and salt wear down the protective layer faster. Apply two thin coats instead of one thick one.
›How do I revive faded suede color?
Suede renovator sprays matched to the shoe's shade restore the depth of color. Apply them to clean, dry material and brush the nap once it dries. Test the product first on a barely visible spot to check the shade.