A suede shoe won’t look nearly as good without a decent cleaning. This guide will cover all you need to know about suede shoe cleaning kits.
Why Are Suede Shoes Difficult to Clean?
Suede’s got a lot going for it - it’s supple leather, and compared to traditional leather shoes, you can get a more comfortable fit without picking the perfect size. Suede also has this unique fuzzy look to it that makes it stand out amongst any other type of shoe. So by these standards, suede is a great material, if it wasn’t for one particular issue - it’s annoying to maintain.
You see, due to the fuzziness and overall nature of suede, it can very easily accumulate dust, dirt, mud, and stains. While leather is generally more resistant to this sort of thing, suede isn’t, and unless you’re very careful with where you walk, you’re bound to get it dirtied or stained in the future.
As such suede is usually reserved for special events and occasions, particularly those held indoors. It’s not because suede is perceived as luxurious or anything - many people just don’t want to have to deal with cleaning the shoes after bringing them outside. You never know what’ll get your shoes dirty out there, after all.
Types of Suede Shoe Cleaning Brushes
The brush is the classic tool for all cleaning kits, especially shoe cleaning kits. Shoes end up making contact with a lot of dirt and dust, and although the sole of your shoe does most of the contacting, the airborne dust and dirt particles move around and settle atop or beside your shoe. This means that, over time, your suede shoes will become dirty, whether you use them or not.
With a brush, you can easily remove the particles and debris that get stuck onto the suede. It also helps remove any particles present in the crevices of suede shoes, if they have any. Brushes are a quintessential part of a shoe cleaning kit, and suede shoes would not be perfectly clean without them.
Horsehair brushes
Shoe brushes are commonly made out of one of two materials - horsehair and nylon. Horsehair has the advantage of being soft and gentle on suede, which is ideal if you want to preserve the look of your shoes. However, they are the more expensive of the two, which isn’t great if you’re on a budget.
Nylon brushes
On the other hand, nylon’s a lot more durable, but this comes at the cost of being rougher around the edges - literally. Nylon brushes are tough, and while this can be useful if you’re scrubbing the floor or cleaning a wall, they’re not very gentle towards shoes, and this can damage the quality of your shoes if you aren’t careful.
Types Of Suede Shoe Kit Formulas
Cleaning formula
Cleaning formulas are meant to help, well, clean. They contain cleaning agents that remove stains and dirt without actually causing harm to your suede shoes. They’re often made specifically for suede shoes, though some general-purpose cleaning formulas claim to work with suedes.
If you want to really get rid of the stains on your suede shoes, then cleaning formulas are your best bet. They’re designed specifically for this purpose, and they often last many, many uses. You’ll even have plenty of formula left over after a year of use as long as you use it every now and then.
The only downside to suede cleaning formulas is that they can be pretty dangerous to use. They contain harsh chemicals that may be dangerous to exposed wounds, and you definitely don’t want them near your pets or children. Always be sure to keep them away from places where your child or pet can reach just so that nothing bad happens.
Strengthening/protecting formula
If cleaning formulas are the cure, then strengthening or protecting formulas is the prevention. The way they work is simple - they coat the outside of your suede shoes in a protective layer that blocks away dirt and debris from getting onto your shoes. They won’t stop stains, but at least your shoes will look cleaner than they normally would, especially if you walk outside with them.
Strengthening formulas are perfect if you want to use your suede shoes outdoors. Typically, using suede is pretty risky, especially if you’re walking in an area with mud, but with the right formula, you can keep them looking clean. Just be sure to avoid getting your shoes dirty whenever you can, because your shoes aren’t invincible even with a protecting formula coating the shoe.
How Often Should I Clean My Suede Shoes?
Suede shoes do need regular maintenance in order to keep them looking good as new, but exactly how often should you clean your suede shoes? The answer is simple - as needed. Suede shoes are not meant to be cleaned every day, and you probably don’t need to if you don’t wear them all the time.
A general rule of thumb to follow is if you visibly see stains on your suede shoes, then it may be a good time to clean them. Otherwise, you’re probably fine. You can simply brush off the dust or debris that may accumulate on your shoe over time, but actual cleaning isn’t really required unless the shoe lost its color or a stain is present.
