Suede trainers are a wardrobe staple that never goes out of style. If you own a pair, there’s a good chance that they’re among your all-time favourite shoes, as they’re versatile enough to suit a vast range of occasions.

But when it comes to any kind of suede footwear, there are two inherent problems. Firstly, suede is one of the most difficult materials to keep looking clean and smart. If you’ve ever marked your new suede shoes on the first day of wearing them, you know what we mean.

Secondly, there are some essential Dos and Don’ts when it comes to cleaning suede, and you need to stick to these rules if you don’t want to accidentally ruin those much-loved trainers with overzealous cleaning methods.

The good news is that with the right know-how and the right tools, your trainer maintenance is going to get a whole lot easier and more successful. This guide will reveal what you need to know to remove dirt and marks without ruining the fine texture, and how Boot Buddy can become your best friend in keeping your suede trainers looking box fresh.

Can You Put Suede Trainers In The Washing Machine?

While it’s technically possible, if you love the look and feel of suede, it’s best to avoid washing them in a machine. The vast majority of sports shoes and fashion trainers are best washed by hand, but when it comes to suede trainers, hand-washing is the only way to go.

This is because suede material is easily damaged by excess water. Immersing suede shoes in water - or worse, putting them through a washing machine cycle - is one of the worst things you can do to them. The water can ruin the nap and velvety texture of suede - the very thing that makes it so distinctive and appealing. 

Water can also cause unsightly watermarks and stains that will spoil the look and your enjoyment of your shoes. So, always clean and care for your suede trainers by hand whenever you can, with as little water and moisture as possible.

However, if you’re not so concerned about the look and feel of the suede texture, and your shoes are seriously grubby or grimy, you could get away with a machine wash, though you’ll need to do some work to rejuvenate the suede afterwards.

How to Clean Suede Trainers

There are essentially five stages to restoring your suede trainers to their former glory: prep, clean, treat, dry, and rejuvenate.

1. Preparing suede trainers for cleaning

As with any type of trainer care, remove the laces and any removable insoles. These can be washed separately, if required.

Next, the most important thing to do when cleaning suede shoes is to make sure they’re dry. It may sound crazy, but when it comes to suede fabric, attempting to clean them when any surface dirt or mud is still wet can make the situation much worse. (Though if you’re dealing with stains like blood or ink, acting fast is always better.)

If your shoes are dry, use a dry brush or soft cloth to gently brush away any bits of loose dirt or dried mud. The ideal tool for dirt and debris removal is a soft-bristle shoe brush or a specially-designed suede brush that will help to both remove surface dirt and maintain the natural nap and texture.

Before you begin cleaning the shoes, it’s a good idea to insert a shoe tree or stuff the shoes with white paper towels. This will help them keep their shape as you carry out the cleaning process.

2. Cleaning suede trainers

If you’re opting to dry clean your suede trainers, you’ll need a suede cleaning brush or a specialist shoe-cleaning tool to gently brush the surface of the shoe. Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure when brushing, as this can affect the delicate suede texture.

If you’re happy to use liquid on your suede shoes, use only the smallest amount possible. You can wash suede trainers with a little warm water and a brush (or soft cloth), using a gentle circular motion. Again, take care not to rub too hard, as this could remove the nap.

Avoid spot-cleaning suede shoes, as this can lead to watermarks. So if you are going to wash suede sneakers, make sure to moisten the entire shoe to avoid discolouration.

Work your way across the whole shoe (or the suede parts) until the trainers are clean. If any marks remain, you may need to carry out some special stain removal treatments.

3. Treating stains on suede trainers

If you’re handling tough stains on your suede trainers, they may need a little more attention than the basic cleaning process.

There are a few different ways to tackle tricky stains on suede shoes.

Suede rubber or suede eraser

You can buy a specialist suede rubber (or suede eraser) that is great for addressing stains and marks on suede shoes. If you don’t have one, you can sometimes use a pencil rubber, just make sure it’s not coloured or too harsh for the soft suede fabric.

A suede rubber is also good for dealing with scuff marks, as it works with the fabric of the scuffed surface to simply rub the marks away.

White vinegar or rubbing alcohol

Apply a small amount of white vinegar solution or rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth to gently dab away stubborn stains. As with all suede fabric, avoid using excess liquid, so make sure to only dampen the fabric, rather than soaking it liberally. Dab gently with a damp corner of the cloth soaked in the solution, rather than applying the liquid directly to the shoe.

Cornstarch or cornflour

For stains like grease and oil, sprinkle a small amount of cornflour or corn starch powder gently onto the stained area. Let it sit for about 3 minutes, then with a soft brush, lightly brush away the flour, which should have absorbed some of the oil or grease. Alternatively, you can vacuum the cornflour residue from the shoe. (If you don’t have cornflour handy, baking soda or talcum powder could be used instead.)

4. How to dry suede trainers

In the same way suede trainers don’t like too much water, they also don’t like too much heat. This is why it’s always best to air dry suede shoes after cleaning them. Don’t be tempted to place them on a radiator or near a hot fan heater. Using a hair dryer is also not a good idea, as it could affect the delicate texture of the suede.

If you want to speed the drying process up a bit, there are a few things you can do. Pat the shoes with a clean, soft cloth, such as a microfibre cloth or clean towel, to remove any residual moisture leftover from the cleaning process. You can also insert clean and dry paper towels or newspaper into the shoe to absorb any moisture on the inside. (Just make sure the paper doesn’t contain dye that could transfer to the fabric.)

5. How to rejuvenate suede fabric

If you used water or liquids to clean your suede shoes, you might notice that it affects the look and feel of the texture. To restore the suede back to its distinctive velvety appearance, you can rejuvenate the nap using a suede brush, brass brush, or any kind of soft bristle brush.

To do this, gently brush the suede, either in a circular motion all across the shoe, or in a back-and-forth direction. Work this process across all of the suede areas to restore the nap texture. If you have suede conditioning oil, you can apply it at this stage using gentle strokes and a dry cloth.

Optional: suede protection spray

Although this step is optional, if you’re keen to protect your suede trainers from future scuffs and marks, treat the clean, dry, stain-free shoes with a suede protector spray.

When it comes to taking the best care of your suede trainers, BootBuddy is your make-it-easy friend. This award-winning shoe-cleaning tool has been designed so that you can clean your shoes with limited water or even no water at all. (Perfect for avoiding damage or ‘crunchiness’ in suede shoes.)

It’s a 3-in-1 tool that can be used dry, with a controlled amount of water (or cleaning solution), or in conjunction with a foam cleaner. 

For Like-New Suede Trainers

The integrated brush head can help to remove excess dirt and debris from delicate suede fabric, either on the go or as part of your cleaning prep. It can also help to restore the nap and rejuvenate the texture of suede using a gentle brushing action once the shoes are dry.

This handy tool is going to make it easier than ever to keep your suede trainers looking sharp, and it’s portable enough to take with you when travelling, or any occasions when you need those delicate suede shoes to look their best. 

Your Best Friend For Clean Suede Trainers

Suede trainers, suede sneakers, suede kicks - whatever you call them, these classic shoes are a smart and stylish addition to any outfit. Yet they’re undoubtedly one of the most high-maintenance types of footwear.

Now that you know what to do - and more importantly, what not to do - you can confidently enjoy wearing suede trainers knowing how to take excellent care of them, so they look great and last longer. And to help you make even lighter work of suede shoe maintenance, check out the BootBuddy tools and accessories here.