There is nothing more frustrating than having a night out with friends, and suddenly someone spills a drink on your brand-new suede shoes.
According to Clark, a footwear-designing company based in England, suede is a type of leather made from the underside of animal hide. It has a unique surface consisting of small, raised fibres that are sanded to create a soft and velvety texture.
However, suede is a delicate material. Even a small drop of water can leave a lasting stain, so it’s best to avoid wearing suede shoes in wet conditions. But if your shoes have already been damaged, what can you do to fix them?
The Solution:
To help maintain the quality of your suede shoes, WikiHow offers several solutions for different types of stains.
Oil Stains
To remove oil stains, a thin layer of cornstarch can be sprinkled over the affected area and left overnight. The next day, use a suede brush to scrub off the cornstarch and pull out the stain.
Mud Stains
For mud stains, wait until the mud has dried completely before using a nail file to gently rub off the dried mud.
Gum
In case gum or wax has stuck to your shoes, try scraping off as much as possible with the edge of a credit card. Afterwards, put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and rub it over the surface to harden the residue. Finally, use a suede brush to separate the residue from the fabric.
General Stains
In addition to this, when it comes to general stains such as watermarks or any other general stain, the Nike footwear brand says water should never be the solution to get rid of the problem.
Because the material absorbs water, the best alternative is to start the cleaning process by making use of a dry brush to get rid of stubborn stains, this can be followed by rubbing the affected area with alcohol or white vinegar.
