Suede Boot Maintenance - 10 Tips to Keep Your Suede Boots Looking Their Best

What is suede? Suede is a type of leather with a napped finish. It
was originally to make women's gloves. The term "Suede" comes FROM the
French saying "gants de Su`ede" meaning "gloves of Sweden". Like all
leathers, suede is made from animal skin. Suede does not contain the
tough exterior skin layer as does full-grain leather, so remains soft
and pliable.PROTECTION: When purchasing your suede boots, also
purchase a high quality suede protector (usually a spray) at the same
time. Many brands make claims but do your research to find the best
one available.
PRE-CLEANING: Before beginning any home cleaning process agitate and
heat your suede boots first. Use an emery board to gently agitate the
suede and steam it over a kettle or iron. The heat will open up the
pores, thus making cleaning easier
NEVER USE STAINREMOVERS: When trying to clean your suede use only
solvents or liquids meant for suede.
HOW TO SOAK UP WATER: Your boots will get water on them. The first
step in caring for your suede boots is to soak up the water. This is
very simple: use a paper towel or cloth to blot the water, do not wipe
the water as it will cause it to soak into the suede even more.
CLEANING DIRT OR SCUFF MARKS OFF YOUR BOOT: For this process you will
need a suede eraser (quick fix: pencil eraser), a dry towel, and a
suede brush (quick fix: old toothbrush). First, rub the eraser across
the stain or scuff ALWAYS going in the same direction, do not rub back
and forth. Continue rubbing until the eraser begins to crumble and the
dirt is brought to the surface. Wipe the eraser pieces off the boot
with the dry towel. Lastly, brush with the suede brush to bring the
nap back to the desired look.
CLEANING SALT STAINS OFF YOUR BOOTS: Choose an inconspicuous spot to
test this procedure on your suede to make sure it will not harm the
material. Dip a cloth in white vinegar and rub the boot gently. Allow
to air dry. Use the Suede brush to bring the nap back to the desired
finish. An odor may result from the vinegar use, but will eventually
dissipate.
SOAKING UP MOISTURE FROM THE INSIDE: If the inside of your boots have
moisture in them, try soaking it up with a cloth or paper towel. Then
stuff the inside of the boot with paper towels or rags and leave
overnight. This will absorb the moisture and help your boots retain
their shape.
ALWAYS ALLOW TO AIR DRY: Never try to wipe boots dry, especially the
outside material. After dabbing cleaning solutions, water, or other
liquids from the suede, allow boots to air-dry.
IF IN DOUBT HAVE PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED: Believe it or not, there are
some dry cleaners who will clean your suede boots for you. This is
usually expensive so while it's a good option, it may not always be
economical for everyone.
REMEMBER, DON'T FREAK OUT: Accidents are going to happen. When a
scuff, mark, spill, or any other mishap happens, try to clean your
boots promptly before stains are set, using the correct technique.