How to Spot Clean Suede

Co-authored by Mallika Sharma

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References Approved

Suede is a type of leather or hide with a soft, brushed finish.^{[1]
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Research source} Like leather, suede requires special care and hand cleaning. When you spot clean suede, you want to be as efficient and quick as possible to minimize damage and residue.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.} Because water and cleaning solution can potentially stain suede, be careful what you use during your cleaning process. Whether you're looking to spot clean suede shoes or get stains out of a suede couch, we've got you covered.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Eliminating Stubborn Suede Stains

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Apply white vinegar to the stain.^{[3]
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Research source} The vinegar helps to break up the stain and bring it to the surface so that you can wipe it away.
- Vinegar works well as a cleaning agent for suede because it doesn’t stain. It’s also a natural option.
- Dampen a clean cloth or cotton ball with vinegar, and lightly wipe it over the stained area.
- If the cloth or cotton ball becomes too dirty while you are still cleaning, use a new one so that you don’t spread the stain back onto your suede item.
2
Use rubbing alcohol for ink stains. If the stain is fresh, first try to soak up as much of the ink as you can with a clean cloth. Then, use rubbing alcohol.
- Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball. Then, dab it on the stain area.
- Repeat this a few times with clean cotton balls.
- Make sure to keep a light touch on your suede.
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3
Repeat this process with patience. Rather than rubbing hard on your stain with your cotton ball or cloth of either vinegar or rubbing alcohol, you want to softly keep repeating the process.
- Change out your cotton ball often in order to remove as much of the stain as possible.
- It can be helpful to first use a cleaning brush to brush over the stain and use an art gum eraser to erase what you can of the stain. Then, you will have less to remove with the alcohol or vinegar method.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Suede Stains with a Brush and Eraser

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Brush the dirt spots on your suede.^{[4]
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Research source} You can find brushes specifically made for cleaning suede at stores like Target or Walmart.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.} However, a toothbrush or generic clean scrub brush will also work.
- The bristles on your brush should be fairly stiff to clean well.
- This method works well for getting the scuff and dirt marks off of suede shoes, which is an important part of restoring the suede.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Mallika Sharma
  Certified Leather Care Technician
  Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.}
- First, lightly brush across the suede in one direction to remove the top layer of dirt.
- Then, brush back and forth over the area of suede with the stain. Use short, quick strokes to avoid making any marks on your suede.
2
Erase over the stain. Once you’ve brushed off all the dirt that you can, use an eraser to rub over the stain area.^{[7]
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Research source}
- Art gum erasers work best for this task. Don’t use a colored eraser, as this can make the stain worse rather than erasing it.
- Don’t be afraid to rub at the stain vigorously.
- Consider laying out a towel as your work station, as the eraser can get messy and leave small pieces on your floor, table, or clothes.
3
Repeat the process. Brush and erase your suede stain several times before moving on to another method of stain removal. It can take a bit of time and elbow grease to really remove a stain.
- This method is great because it doesn’t involve any cleaning substances that could potential harm or mark your suede.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Oil Stains Out of Suede

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Use a cloth or napkin to remove what you can.^{[8]
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Research source} This is especially important if you notice a stain right after you create it.
- Dab the cloth or napkin, rather than rubbing it, to prevent the stain from penetrating deeper into your suede.
2
Cover the stain with cornstarch or baking soda.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.} You want to use quite a bit to create a little mound that completely covers your stain.
- The cornstarch or baking soda will draw the oil up out of your suede item.
- Let this sit for at least 10 minutes.
3
Brush off the cornstarch or vinegar. To do this, you can use either a cleaning brush or a cloth. Remove all the powder so you can assess the stain beneath.
- If it was a minor stain, it could be completely gone already.
- If you notice a lot of residual oil or grease, repeat the process with the cornstarch or baking soda.
4
Use vinegar. If you repeat the powder removal process a few times and a bit of oil remains on your suede, you can use vinegar to remove it.
- Simply dampen a clean cloth with white vinegar and gently wipe it over the suede.
- Once the stain has been removed, allow the suede to dry completely.
5
Use a degreaser specifically for suede. You can find these types of cleaners at leather stores or shoe stores. These types of cleaners are formulated to lifting excess oil out of the pores in suede, and bring it to the surface to be blotted away.
- For extremely set in or old stains, you will probably need to use a suede cleaner.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get stains out of suede shoes?

Mallika Sharma
Certified Suede Care Technician
Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.

Mallika Sharma

Certified Suede Care Technician

Expert Answer

A suede brush can be used to clean dry dirt and dust on suede. For harsher stains, color restoration by a professional may be the only solution.
Question

How do I get water spots out of suede?

Community Answer

This wikiHow article has a section on removing water stains specifically: How to Clean Suede Shoes.
Question

How do I remove an ink pen stain from suede?

Community Answer

Use rubbing alcohol for ink stains. If the stain is fresh, first try to soak up as much of the ink as you can with a clean cloth. Then, use rubbing alcohol. Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball. Then, dab it on the stain area. Repeat this a few times with clean cotton balls. Make sure to keep a light touch on your suede.