Can you wash suede boots in the washing machine?

Suede shoes look beautiful and elegant. Unfortunately, this natural material quickly attracts dirt, and cleaning them can sometimes be a real challenge. Housewives who are accustomed to washing their shoes in a washing machine wonder whether it's possible to wash suede boots in the washing machine on the most delicate setting. Or will the pair not survive the water treatment? Let's find out.

Is it worth introducing boots to the washing machine?

No manufacturer of high-quality suede shoes allows the possibility of washing their products in a washing machine. Suede boots can only be cleaned dry; prolonged contact with water is harmful to the natural material.

It's unlikely you'll be able to restore your favorite boots to their original condition after washing them in a washing machine. Therefore, no matter how much you might want to make things easier, you shouldn't throw a pair in the washing machine. Suede boots should be cleaned using gentle methods, avoiding excessive soaking.

Material features

What is suede? It's a natural material made from animal skin. After sanding, the resulting material has fine hairs. It's pleasant to the touch, slightly fuzzy, and leaves a mark with every touch.

Natural suede shoes do not like moisture, dirt, dust and sand.

To ensure your suede boots last as long as possible, protect them from these adverse factors. Wear them carefully to avoid stains. Removing dirt from suede shoes is more difficult than, for example, from leather.

It's important to avoid wearing suede shoes in the rain, as moisture is particularly damaging to natural materials and creates favorable conditions for mold growth. Suede boots should not be exposed to UV rays frequently, as the sun can cause the fabric to fade.

Genuine suede shoes are elegant, lightweight, soft, and breathable. However, many people don't even bother looking at the shelves in stores, knowing that suede requires delicate care, is very sensitive to moisture and dirt, and can't be thrown into the washing machine. The fear of buying such boots stems from a lack of knowledge about how to care for the material at home. But if you follow certain rules, cleaning your boots shouldn't be a problem.

How to clean properly?

There are several ways to clean suede. Every owner of suede shoes should have a special cleaning brush with different sides: wire and rubber. This design helps achieve maximum results: the hard metal surface removes dirt and tackles greasy areas, while the soft rubber surface restores and smoothes the bristles.

If the dirt is very stubborn, the brush may not be able to handle the job. Then you'll have to resort to more aggressive cleaning methods.

It is recommended to use special cleaning products for natural suede.

Many different products designed to remove stains from suede shoes are available in stores. Before use, carefully read the instructions and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

You can remove white salt stains from suede boots or make shiny spots less noticeable using chalk. Rub it lightly into the material, then gently brush the area.

How to deal with heavy stains?

What should you do if you get an unsightly greasy stain on your favorite suede boots? Don't get frustrated and scrub the stained area until you're blue in the face. Instead, follow these steps:

• Wet the shoes. While contact with water is undesirable for suede, it's essential for removing stubborn stains. Take a damp cloth or sponge and thoroughly soak the dirty area of ​​the boots.
• Apply a special cleaning foam for suede to the damp boot;
• brush the surface of the shoes;
• wash off any remaining product with a damp sponge;
• Leave the boots to dry, placing special tensioners inside.

Avoid using concentrated soap solutions for cleaning. They can affect the structure of suede, causing the nap to clump, the appearance of lumps on the surface, and discoloration of the natural material. Therefore, it's best to avoid using soap.

Experts recommend treating suede with a special water-repellent spray once a week. This treatment will prevent the material from becoming dirty.

Removing old stains

Sometimes, when you take a pair of suede boots out of the box after they've been sitting in your closet for months, you might discover a stain. Old stains are more difficult to remove, so you'll need to resort to a special method. Here's the procedure:

• Bring a full pot of water to a boil;
• hold the boot over steam until the suede softens;
• go over the surface with a brush soaked in water;
• Dry suede shoes.

After drying, it's essential to impregnate the shoes, meaning treat them with a special protective agent. Deep impregnation will restore the suede, increasing its water resistance and wear resistance.

What are we going to clean with?

Natural suede, like leather, quickly attracts dust and dirt. Even the smallest stain is noticeable on suede shoes. To keep your boots looking their best, proper care is essential.

As already mentioned, you cannot clean suede in the washing machine. Even the most gentle washing will damage the shoes. Therefore, removing dirt from suede boots is only permitted using a dry method, using the following products and tools:

• Special brushes. Thanks to their unique design (wire on one side and rubber on the other), they allow you to clean dirt from the bristles and instantly restore them;
• Sponges. Suitable for gentler treatment of suede, if the shoes are not heavily soiled;
• Foam for suede shoes. Available at any home improvement store.

The dry washing process is carried out as follows:

• remove the detachable decoration from the boots;
• Insert tensioners inside the boots. Stretched material is easier to clean and removes detergents more easily;
• Wipe the suede with a sponge to remove surface dust. Don't forget to clean hard-to-reach areas;
• Treat shiny and worn areas with a special crepe brush;
• For heavy soiling, use a cleansing foam. Follow the instructions for use.
• Dry the pair of shoes.

The final step is to apply a renovator. This product nourishes the suede, making it more resistant to external influences and slightly restoring the material's color. After spraying clean boots, wait for the product to dry, and then brush them again. The soles should also be treated with a special cream.

Caring for suede boots isn't as difficult as it seems. You can easily do this without using a washing machine.

   

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