So, I’ve been meaning to clean my suede sneakers for, like, forever. They were looking pretty rough – lots of scuffs and just general dirtiness. I finally got around to it today, and I figured I’d share how it went.
First, I gathered my supplies. I just used what I had around the house:
- A suede brush (it’s kinda stiff, you know?)
- A regular soft-bristle toothbrush
- A suede eraser (looks like a pencil eraser)
- Some white vinegar
- A couple of clean cloths
The Cleaning Process
I started by brushing the sneakers with the suede brush. I went in one direction, trying to lift up the nap of the suede and get rid of any loose dirt. This actually helped a lot more than I thought it would. Got a bunch of the surface-level grime off.
Next, I used the suede eraser on the tougher scuff marks. I just rubbed it back and forth over the marks, like using a pencil eraser on paper. Some of the marks came off completely, others just faded a bit. Still an improvement, though!
For the really stubborn stains, I dipped the toothbrush in a tiny bit of white vinegar. I made sure to dab off the excess vinegar – I didn’t want to soak the suede. Then, I gently scrubbed at the stains with the toothbrush. I was careful not to scrub too hard, ’cause I didn’t want to damage the suede.
After scrubbing with the vinegar, I used a clean, dry cloth to blot up any extra moisture. I just pressed the cloth onto the suede, not rubbing.
Finally, I let the sneakers air dry completely. I stuffed them with some paper towels to help them keep their shape while they dried. I left them outside but I was be careful to protect the shoes from direct sunlight.
How They Turned Out
Honestly, they look way better. They’re not perfect – some of the deeper stains are still kinda there – but they’re definitely wearable again. I’m pretty happy with how they turned out, especially since I didn’t have to buy any fancy cleaning products.
I think next time, I’ll try to be a little more proactive about cleaning them. Maybe a quick brush after each wear will help prevent them from getting so dirty in the first place. We’ll see!
