We fashionistas eye luxurious leather bags, save and make the splurge. But irregular upkeep may cause us to simply keep them stowed inside our closets. Leather bags need precision knowledge for cleaning. Suede leather bags, fortunately, are relatively easier to maintain.
You can do the basic steps yourselves, once you learn how to clean a suede bag with the simple tips in this guide. Reinstate your suede beauty to its old glory, or keep up its present mint condition for years to come!
Please note that the steps to clean a suede bag differ significantly from the same for more exotic leather such as cowhide, for instance. I will put up similar guides for other leathers in due course.
Let’s get started with how to clean a suede bag! The goal is to help your top-notch suede purse keep up its characteristic magnificence consistently.
What is Suede Leather?
Suede is a type of leather that has a nap, or fine fiber that you can actually feel when you run your hand over the surface. The feel is quite similar to velvet or even felt. It is made from the underside of animal skin, the part closest to the flesh, that is split from the rest of the skin above it.
Steps To Clean A Suede Bag
Things To Invest In
- A dry brush
- Suede eraser
- Suede protector for waterproofing
- Suede cleanser
Use a dry brush
Using a dry brush is the easiest way to keep your suede bag looking in top shape. You can dislodge surface dust and stains using a simple, basic brush. For a budget option, an old toothbrush does the trick just fine. Even a good nail file for that matter. But there’s a reason specialized brushes exist. It will help in the long run to invest in a good suede brush. Don’t worry, they are quite affordable!
Observe the direction of the fibre and use the brush only in that direction. Start with gentle strokes, increasing the intensity slowly if required, depending on the stain and strength of the suede.
As a general rule of maintenance, brush your bag with a suede brush every 2-3 weeks. For one, this will prevent accumulation of dirt. Didn’t we all learn that prevention is better than cure? Secondly each cleaning session will last only a few minutes rather than being an elaborate one.
You can find good suede brushes here.
Note – the fine fiber is referred to as the nap of suede.
Suede Eraser
Suede erasers are simply erasers specialized for use on suede material. The best way to use them is on dried up dirt and stains.
Make sure the eraser itself is clean, without any stains from previous use. You can do this by using it on any paper first.
Much like when using a dry brush, it’s important to let the surface dry up thoroughly before using an eraser. Similarly, rub in the direction of the nap.
After rubbing, you can use the brush once to wipe off the dislodged dust and eraser debris.
Vinegar or rubbing alcohol
Water will stain suede, but vinegar or rubbing alcohol won’t. These are your best bets to remove tough stains from your suede – such as food or wine.
Moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Buff the stain gently with this cloth. Let it dry completely. Then, round it up by wiping off the loose dirt and fluffing the nap with a dry brush.
Alternatively, you could go for a readymade suede cleanser.
General Tips While Cleaning Suede Leather
- Suede is a luxury investment. The bag will always come with a set of instructions for maintenance from the brand. If it does not, ensure to check with the seller/manufacturer at the time of purchase. It is a good practice to follow the specific instructions given by the brand. They may even have free maintenance/service for a limited period, which you could make use of.
- Patch test when trying the above steps in an inconspicuous corner of your bag to ensure there is no adverse reaction.
- If your suede bag is wet in a spot and not the whole bag, spray water in a thin layer evenly across the rest of the bag. Then allow the bag to dry naturally. It’s a good practice to stuff it with paper. This will help to absorb the moisture to an extent as well as keep the bag in shape while drying. Do not place it near a heat source. Once dry, brush lightly to smoothen the nap.
- It will hold your bag in good stead to spray it with a protector to waterproof it. It provides a first line of defence against any future spills. Stain removal also gets easier.
Suede is not high maintenance, for its elegance and the top notch style quotient it lends to any outfit. A little, timely care goes a long way. If, for any reason, you are unable to treat the stain yourself at home, do not hesitate to reach out for professional help. They have tons of experience to identify and treat most stains the right way. It may be a tad heavier on the pocket than trying to fix things yourself, but you can rest assured your bag is in good hands. I have compiled a list of the most trusted bag repair vendors in India here.
Hope the above has helped you in way or the other to sail through your suede bag woes!
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