Cleaning suede boots the right way

It’s absolutely devastating when you buy brand-new, suede boots and they get mucked up within the first week.

But unless you’re going to keep your suede boots in the box they came in 24/7 (which we think would be a travesty, by the way), then you’re going to want to learn how to clean them.

Cleaning your suede shoes & boots is an easy task to learn, and if you’re a parent reading this, it’s something you can teach your kids how to do too. After all, you know that suede shoes won’t stay nice for long if they’re on your children’s feet! And it’s good for them to have the responsibility of keeping them clean. 

Why is suede footwear so difficult to clean?

We all know that it’s much better for the environment and your pocket if you clean your suede shoes & boots, rather than buying a new pair. But why do so many people resist? Well, mainly because it’s a bit of a hassle, and there’s not an easy way to do it. Plus, the last thing you want to do is damage them by giving them a good scrub!

That’s why we’ve put together this useful blog post, which will give you our easy-to-follow four-step process for how to clean your suede shoes and boots quickly and simply without causing any damage. Let’s get stuck in.

The one thing you shouldn't do to clean your suede boots

So your suede boots have taken a bit of a beating and they’re caked in dirt. the first place you head to is the washing machine, right?

Nope.

It’s much safer for your suede boots – and your washing machine – if you hand wash them. Using your washing machine to wash suede shoes and boots could damage them, eventually causing them to fall apart (which would be a bit embarrassing if you’ve popped out to the shops).

We get it. Washing machines were invented to save us time and hassle. But hand-cleaning your suede boots properly only takes 15 minutes. Spending some of that time now will keep your suede shoes & boots lasting longer.

Plus, the price of electricity right now is enough to put anyone off running their washing machine unnecessarily!

The step-by-step process for cleaning suede footwear

So if the washing machine is a no-go, how do you clean your suede boots? Simple. Just follow our step-by-step process below…

STEP ONE: Remove the laces

To get into every nook and cranny to clean your suede boots, you’ll need to remove the shoelaces if you have them. Simply soak the laces in warm water with a cleaning solution or even washing liquid.

You’ll want to remove any insoles too to give them a clean while you’re at it. You can clean your insoles in the same way we recommend you clean your suede boots below.

STEP TWO: Remove any caked-on dirt

You’ll want to use a dry brush and buff the suede boots to remove any loose dirt. Ideally, you’d use a suede brush for this, but a simple toothbrush can also make a good suede cleaning brush (it might just take a bit longer!).

STEP THREE: Hand wash your boots with a suitable foam cleaner

You can get a specialist suede cleaner, but a good foam shoe cleaner is great for use on suede material.

Next, you’ll want to gently rub the suede shoe or boot in a circular motion, to remove any stains or dirt. Do this carefully throughout. If you find you have some stubborn stains (salt stains from the snow or grease stains) you can try using vinegar or rubbing alcohol to help remove them. Or you could try a special suede eraser to help.

Finally, wipe with a wet towel or damp, clean cloth after washing the shoes to remove the residue.

STEP FOUR: Leave them to dry naturally

Step back from the tumble dryer!

When you've gone to all the effort of cleaning suede boots by hand, don't get lazy now and use a tumble dryer or even a radiator to dry your suede boots. This can damage suede and leather boots. Try to dry them naturally outside (yes, if you live in the UK, this might not be possible!), otherwise leave them to dry naturally inside. Use a cloth or towel to pat them dry too.

STEP FIVE: Give them some love to keep them smelling great!

We’re sure your feet smell sweet, but understandably our suede boots need a little freshening up every now and then.

You can use something like our deodoriser sacks. Just place them in your suede boots to prevent bad smells, mould and bacteria!

You also want to protect your now-clean suede shoes or boots, so they last longer and are easier to clean next time. A good suede protector spray will do the job.

Do you need a specialist suede boot cleaning kit?

Most households will have the ingredients to make solutions to clean your suede footwear. Don’t fancy rustling up your own shoe-cleaning solution? (We don’t blame you. It takes us 30 minutes just to find the bicarbonate.) Obviously, the next thing to do then would be to buy a kit designed to clean suede boots, wouldn’t it?

And you’d be right. A shoe cleaning kit does the job of, well, cleaning shoes!

We would recommend you look for foam cleaners. Foam cleaners work well because they prevent your suede boots (or shoes) from getting too wet. Getting your suede boots too wet changes their shape and can cause damage.

A foam shoe cleaner works better because it doesn’t make your suede boots too damp and they’re much easier to dry too! Alternatively, you can use Boot Buddy. Boot Buddy cleans every type of shoe without damaging them, including suede boots!

How can you clean your side footwear on the go?

If you’re taking your suede boots on holiday, to the beach, camping or to festivals, you might also want to take some kind of shoe cleaner with you. After all, you don’t want your suede boots looking dirty on the first day and then having to wear them all week!

It’s a good idea to look for travel shoe cleaning kits, like Boot Buddy, which are easy to carry.

Clean suede boots & shoes easily with Boot Buddy

Not to brag or anything, but we’re pretty proud of the fact that not one, not two, but three dragons from Dragons’ Den said yes to Boot Buddy. We absolutely love keeping your suede boots clean and long-lasting and helping the environment in the process. Check out the Boot Buddy products designed to clean suede shoes and boots below.