Is it possible to wash suede sneakers in a washing machine: how to do it correctly, how to clean light-colored suede shoes from dirt by hand, what happens if the washing is done incorrectly?

New suede sneakers look stylish. However, over time they lose their former attractiveness.

To return them to their original appearance and remove dirt, you can use a washing machine or clean the sneakers by hand.

They need to be cleaned correctly so as not to damage either sports shoes or household appliances. We'll tell you in this article how to properly wash suede sneakers.

What happens if you wash suede?

It is not always possible to wash suede shoes in an automatic washing machine. There are a number of restrictions, including:

The presence of buckles, locks, fur inserts and other decorative elements on shoes.
The presence of parts that are fixed with glue.
Presence of defects or loose seams. During intensive washing they will become even more noticeable.
A very hard sole or frame of a shoe. Hard elements can damage the washing machine drum.

Contact with water may cause sneakers to lose color and shape. In addition, suede often becomes rough after washing. Therefore, it is not recommended to process a new pair in a machine.

As for manual cleaning, preference should be given to dry methods . Water should only be used in extreme cases, for example, in the presence of persistent contaminants.

What to do with light-colored shoes?

Light-colored shoes need to be cleaned especially carefully. Full washing is contraindicated for her.

Do not use force during the cleaning process. Failure to follow this recommendation will result in product deformation.

To remove dirt from sneakers, you can use the following methods:

Steaming. This method is suitable for combating stubborn stains.
Place a pan of water on the fire and bring it to a boil. The contaminated area is kept over steam for about 5 minutes. The stain is removed using a white rubber eraser. If you don’t have it at home, you can use a stale crust of white bread.
A solution of milk and soda (take 0.5 tbsp of powder per 100 ml) . Wipe the suede with the prepared mixture and leave for 5 minutes. Then the contaminated area is blotted with a sponge soaked in clean water.
Corn starch . It works great on greasy stains on light suede shoes. Sprinkle it on the contaminated area and leave it for 3 hours. The starch is then removed with a soft bristle brush.

Features of cleaning in the washing machine

Most manufacturers do not recommend washing suede shoes in a washing machine.

It is best to wash suede sneakers using a special bag. It will protect your shoes from damage. If there is no net in the house, then you can use an old pillowcase.

The choice of detergent matters . Do not put dry powder into the washing machine. Preference is given to gels or liquid concentrates. You need to choose products that are suitable for washing delicate fabrics.

Be sure to take into account the color of the suede. It is not recommended to soak dyed sneakers or wash them with products intended for white items.

If this cleaning method is the only possible one, you must follow some rules:

Remove the laces from the sneakers and remove the insoles.
Remove all visible dirt: stones, dust, leaves. To do this, clean them with a dry brush. The sole can be washed under running cool water.
The selected cleaning agent is poured into the washing machine compartment.
Set the toggle switch to the “sports shoes” or “delicate” (“gentle”) washing mode.
It contains parameters that are optimal for cleaning sneakers. If the washing machine does not have this function, then the setting is carried out manually. The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. The spin is turned off. This will minimize the risk of shoe deformation. The less time it is in contact with water, the better.
After finishing washing, the sneakers are removed from the machine and dried in the fresh air. It is recommended to stuff shoes tightly with light-colored, non-dying paper. This will prevent the product from becoming deformed.

How to wash suede sneakers in a washing machine, video instructions:

How and with what to clean light suede at home

Shoes, accessories, and outerwear are made from suede. This material always looks very luxurious, but it has one feature - it cannot be washed in the usual way.
Caring for this surface requires compliance with certain rules, and here you will learn how to clean light suede at home without spoiling the appearance of the product.

Suede is considered a capricious and delicate material, and lovers of such things definitely need to know how to keep them clean and what not to do.

Manually: which is correct?

Hand washing suede sneakers is considered the most gentle. It allows you to carefully remove even the most difficult dirt from shoes.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

dissolve the selected detergent in warm water;
moisten a piece of gauze in the resulting solution and squeeze it out;
apply the composition to the contaminated area - it should become wet;
leave the product on the sneakers for a few minutes;
after the specified time, rub the stain with a soft brush until it completely disappears;
remove the soap solution with a clean damp sponge;
After processing is completed, the sneakers are dried naturally.

It is not recommended to completely soak your sneakers in a basin of soapy water. They resort to this method only when the shoes are very dirty.

Products that can be used to hand wash suede sneakers:

Laundry soap . In order for it to dissolve better, it is grated.
Dishwashing liquid, for example, MYTH or Feri . It is applied to the contaminated area and left for 5 minutes. Then remove with a damp sponge.
Liquid stain removers, such as Vanish . The gel is applied to the stain and left for about 15 minutes, after which it is removed with a sponge soaked in cool water.

The less suede comes into contact with water, the better.

Removing stains

To remove minor stains from clothes or shoes made of artificial suede, you can use folk remedies:

Fat. Fresh drops should be covered with starch, baby powder, and crushed chalk. After 15–30 minutes, brush off the product and carefully wash the damaged area with a cotton pad and soap solution.
Juice, grass, pollen, any stains of organic origin can be wiped off with a cloth moistened with vinegar (9%).
Wine. A fresh stain should be blotted with a dry, clean cloth. To remove dried marks, use a thick soap solution or shaving foam. The product should be applied to the stain, left for half an hour, and the residue removed with a napkin.
Gum. Rub the sticky mass with an ice cube. When the gum hardens, carefully remove it from the fabric.
Dirt. Do not touch wet drops; you must wait until they dry. Then clean the damaged area with a brush.
Glue, varnish, traces of cosmetics. Gently rub the marks with a cloth moistened with nail polish remover without acetone.

A universal safe remedy for any contamination is ordinary laundry soap. By whipping soap shavings into a thick foam, you can treat the greasy area, remove stains, dry clean, wash things by hand or put them in the drum of a washing machine.

To revive shiny areas, you need to:

treat them with a school eraser, a crust of rye bread, a nail file or pumice;
Apply a layer of wet coffee grounds (without sugar, milk, aromatic additives) to brown items, leave for 15 minutes, remove with a brush;
Clean white shoes, gloves or a bag with a sponge and dry tooth powder or baking soda;
extensive damage should be treated with an aqueous solution of ammonia (2:1), then rinsed with running water.

After removing the stain, the material should be dried thoroughly, and then the pile should be lifted with a clothing or toothbrush. If a noticeable mark or stains remain, the clothes will have to be washed completely or taken to the dry cleaner.

Spray paint for suede will help disguise heavily damaged areas. The main thing is to choose the right color.

Dry cleaning from dirt

Dry cleaning can remove simple stains on suede sneakers. This is the most gentle method of removing dirt from shoes. Most often it is used when processing light suede.

There are several dry cleaning methods:

Brush for cleaning suede and nubuck shoes. It can be used to remove simple stains. They are easy enough to wipe clean. Movements should be light.
Rubber eraser .
Using this stationery, you can remove particles of dirt and dust adhering to your sneakers. Use an eraser to gently rub the stain until it completely disappears. You need to choose a white, not a colored elastic band that has not been used before.
Talcum powder or baby powder . Powder products are used to remove greasy stains that have recently been acquired. Apply talcum powder to the stain, leave it on the shoe for half an hour, and then brush it off with a brush. To completely remove dirt, you can use a damp cloth.
Laundry soap . Rub it dry onto the stain. There is no need to pre-wet it. The soap is left on the shoes for 15 minutes, after which it is rolled off using a rubber brush. All dirt will be removed along with it.

If chewing gum or wax gets on your sneakers, they should be placed in the freezer for several hours. Frozen material can be easily scraped off with any blunt object.

This video will show you how to clean suede sneakers quickly and efficiently:

Care Tips

Suede sneakers are much easier to protect from dirt than to clean them later. Therefore, when buying shoes, sellers recommend also purchasing a water-repellent spray that needs to be used to treat the material.

The spray is applied in several layers (2-3). The distance between the sneaker and the can is at least 30 cm. After the impregnation has completely dried, the procedure is repeated.

Such water-repellent agents will not only help keep shoes in their original condition, but will also make cleaning suede easier: dirt will come off the material much easier.

Washing bag

The bag for washing sneakers is a mesh that is secured with laces or a zipper. There are shock-absorbing inserts inside. They guarantee additional protection for shoes and the rotating elements of the washing machine.

Mode of application:

pour the selected detergent into the washing machine compartment;
place the sneakers in the net;
run a wash cycle without spinning and drying;
After cleaning is completed, the pair is taken out of the bag and dried in the fresh air.

To wash white suede sneakers, it is better to use bags made of light fabric.

How to dry?

Suede sneakers need to be dried correctly. If basic recommendations are not followed, the shoes will become stiff and lose their attractive appearance .

Do not place suede sneakers near heating appliances. They cannot tolerate contact with a heating radiator.

It is best to dry shoes in the fresh air, although this process cannot be called quick. It may take from 2 to 4 days.

To reduce drying time, you can put a crumpled piece of paper inside the sneaker. A few hours later he is removed. It will absorb excess moisture, allowing the shoes to dry faster.

Tips to speed up the drying process of your sneakers:

Leave shoes in a room with good ventilation and low humidity.
Take the couple out onto the balcony. However, you need to find a place for it that is protected from direct sunlight.
Use a hairdryer. This method is used only in extreme cases. The device is turned on at minimum power and the sneakers are blown with it, keeping them at a distance of at least 20 cm. You cannot expose one place to a jet of hot air for too long.

It is recommended to dry the insoles separately. Lace up your sneakers only after all the moisture has evaporated from them.

When should you go to dry cleaning?

Natural suede shoes are expensive. If your sneakers are new but very dirty, you can take them to the dry cleaner. Specialists will expose the pair to professional detergents, thoroughly remove all stains and dry it thoroughly.

Before paying for the services provided, you need to ask the dry cleaning staff if they can remove the stains without harming the shoes.

Criteria for quality work:

no stains;
softness and even color of suede, without scuffs;
removal of unpleasant odor.

For classic cleaning of sneakers you will have to pay about 1,500 rubles. For this price the client will be provided with the following range of services:

removal of stubborn dirt, salt deposits, oil stains, dust and dirt;
washing insoles and laces;
removal of pellets;
shoe deodorization;
combing suede and covering it with special compounds;
restoration of the shape of sneakers.

You can also use the shoe restoration service at the dry cleaner . Its cost starts from 2500 rubles.

The craftsmen will not only remove stubborn dirt, but also paint the pair in any color, restore damaged elements and carry out other work.

Important Tips

To remove dirt from suede sneakers as carefully as possible, you need to take into account the following recommendations:

You should resort to treating shoes with water or washing them in an automatic machine only in extreme cases.
You should not wear wet sneakers; you must wait until they are completely dry. A lot of dust will stick to wet shoes, which will be difficult to clean.
To dry your sneakers, use only white paper. Colored newspaper can stain shoes, leaving unsightly streaks on them.
To remove dust from suede, you need to use special brushes. They are sold in hardware stores and shoe departments.
Suede does not tolerate rough handling.

If, after removing the stains, the color of the sneakers has become less bright, it can be restored using special aerosols.

Drying suede sneakers

It is important to properly dry your shoes after any type of cleaning. The further appearance of the sneakers depends on how the drying proceeds. First of all, you will need to stuff the product with paper. It is better to use white material, as colored material may leave stains. The paper layer will need to be replaced 2-3 times as it gets wet. Then leave the shoes in a ventilated area out of direct sunlight. A terry towel will help you quickly dry your sneakers by thoroughly blotting your shoes. It is also permissible to use a special electric dryer.