Can suede boots be washed in the washing machine?

Suede shoes look beautiful and elegant. Unfortunately, natural material quickly attracts dirt, and sometimes cleaning boots turns into a real challenge. Housewives who are accustomed to using a machine are wondering whether it is possible to wash suede boots in a machine, on the most delicate cycle? Or will the couple not “survive” the water treatments? Let's try to figure it out.

Is it worth introducing boots to the washing machine?

Not a single manufacturer of high-quality suede shoes allows their products to be washed in a washing machine. Suede boots can only be cleaned dry; prolonged contact with water is detrimental to the natural material.

It is unlikely that you will be able to return your favorite boots to their original appearance after automatic washing. Therefore, no matter how much you would like to make the task easier for yourself, you should not throw a couple into the washing machine. Suede boots should be cleaned using gentle methods, avoiding getting the fabric too wet.

Features of the material

What is suede? This is a natural material made from animal skin. After grinding, the resulting raw material has fine hairs. It is pleasant to the touch, slightly fleecy, and any touch leaves imprints on it.

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

In order for suede boots to last as long as possible, they should be protected from exposure to these adverse factors. You need to wear the pair carefully to avoid stains on the surface. It is more difficult to clean dirt from suede shoes than, for example, from leather ones.

It is important not to wear suede shoes in the rain; moisture is most destructive to natural raw materials and creates optimal conditions for the formation of mold on the material. It is not recommended to frequently expose suede boots to ultraviolet light - the sun may cause the fabric to fade.

Natural suede shoes are very elegant, light, soft and breathable. However, many people do not even look at the shelves with it in the store, realizing that suede requires delicate care, it is very sensitive to moisture and dirt, changeable weather, and cannot be thrown into the washing machine. The fear of buying such boots is due to ignorance of how to care for the material at home. But if you follow certain rules, you won’t have any difficulties cleaning your boots.

How to cleanse correctly?

There are several ways to wash suede. Each 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 copes with shiny areas, while the soft rubberized surface restores and smoothes out lint.

When the dirt is very strong, the brush may not cope with the task. Then you will have to resort to more stringent cleaning methods.

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

In stores you can find many different compounds designed to remove dirt from suede shoes. Before use, you must carefully study the instructions and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

You can use chalk to remove white salt stains from suede boots or make shiny areas less noticeable.You should lightly rub the material with it, then carefully comb the treated area with a brush.

How to deal with severe pollution?

What to do if an ugly greasy stain appears on your favorite suede boots? Don’t get upset and rub the contaminated area with a brush until you’re blue in the face. It's better to do the following:

• wet your shoes. Of course, contact with water is undesirable for suede, but when removing stubborn stains it is simply necessary. Take a wet cloth or sponge and thoroughly saturate the dirty area on your boots;
• Apply a special cleaning foam for suede to a damp shoe;
• brush over the surface of the shoe;
• wash off the remaining composition with a damp sponge;
• leave the boots to dry by placing special tensioners inside.

Do not use concentrated soap solution for cleaning. It can affect the structure of suede, causing pile to roll, lumps to appear on the surface, and discoloration of the natural material. This is why it is advisable to avoid soap.

Experts recommend treating suede with a special water-repellent spray once a week. Impregnation will prevent contamination of the material.

Removing old stains

Sometimes, when you take suede boots out of the box that have been in the closet for several months, you may find a stain on them. Old stains are more difficult to clean off, so you will have to resort to a special method. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• boil a full pan of water;
• hold the boot over the steam until the suede softens;
• walk over the surface with a brush dipped in water;
• dry your suede shoes.

After drying, it is imperative to impregnate the shoes, that is, treat them with a special protective agent. Deep impregnation will restore suede, increase its water resistance and wear resistance.

What are we going to clean with?

Natural suede, like leather, very quickly attracts dust and dirt. Even the smallest stain is noticeable on suede shoes. For boots to look perfect, they need proper care.

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

• special brushes. Due to their interesting structure (they are wired on one side and rubberized on the other), they allow you to clean dirt from the fibers and immediately restore them;
• sponges. Suitable for softer treatment of suede if the boots are not heavily soiled;
• foam for suede shoes. Sold at any household chemical store.

The dry washing process is performed as follows:

• remove the detachable decor from the boots;
• insert the tensioners inside the boots. Stretched material is easier to clean and detergents can be washed off 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;
• If there is heavy dirt, use cleaning foam. The product should be used according to the instructions;
• dry a pair of shoes.

The final stage will be the use of a renovator. This composition nourishes suede, making it more resistant to external influences, and slightly restores the color of the material.After spraying clean boots, wait for the product to dry and “comb” the boots again with a brush. It is worth taking care of the soles - rub them with a special cream.

Caring for suede boots is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. In this case, it is quite possible to do without the help of a washing machine.

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