Sure, a solid leather jacket can make you look as cool as Indiana Jones or Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, but it isn’t the only kind of jacket that can give you the essence of coolness. A good suede jacket gives you the same silhouette and the same aura, only with a softer look. Of course, if you are going to pick up a suede jacket, you need to know how to care for it and clean it properly.
We are here to tell you that you do not have to be intimidated by suede! You can keep your jacket looking fresh by following this simple guide, which shows you how to clean suede. With a couple of small tools, you can clean your suede jacket at home, saving time and money. These tools, designed specifically for suede, will also help restore the beautiful nap of your jacket that made you want to buy it in the first place.
The best part about this guide is that you do not have to treat your suede with any chemicals beforehand for these tools to be useful. Weatherproofing chemicals can help protect your best men’s jacket, but they can also muddle that beautiful suede texture. They can also discolor the dye, and once they are applied, there is no way to get them off.
Suede vs. leather
One of the more confusing things about suede is its relation to leather. While many people think they are completely different, suede and leather are actually very close to being the same since they are both made from animal hides. The smoothness of leather is due to it coming from the outer side of the animal hide. The softness of suede, however, is due to it being the inner side of the very same hide. While they are both produced from the same hide, leather and suede look and feel very different. Therefore cleaning suede and cleaning leather are very different processes.
Using a suede eraser and brush
Suede erasers and brushes are great tools designed specifically for cleaning suede. A suede eraser is a block of soft rubber that effectively works the same way as a pencil eraser on paper, rubbing stains off of suede. A suede brush is a very coarse brush, often made of nylon or sometimes horsehair and metal bristles. The brush wipes away particles pulled up by the eraser and restores the nap of the suede where it has been matted down.
- Use the eraser on any visible stains or scuffs. Use medium pressure in small back-and-forth motions in the same way you would erase pencil from paper.
- Use the brush to wipe away any dirt and debris pulled up by the eraser. Brush with broad strokes, using firm but gentle pressure. Too much pressure can scratch the suede. After focusing on the stained areas, brush the rest of the jacket to create an even texture.
Treating liquid stains
Liquid stains are a bigger issue for suede than dirt stains and scuffs but they are still treatable at home. All you will need is a good suede or nubuck shampoo.
- Mix your shampoo in a small bowl using two parts warm water to every one part shampoo. Take the brush provided with the shampoo or your suede brush, if none was provided, and stir it the shampoo mixture until you have a lather on the brush.
- Rub the stained area firmly enough to build up a foaming lather. Be careful not to apply too much pressure because you could scratch the suede. This step may be repeated until you see the stain fade.
- The shampoo will darken the suede a lot at first but only slightly after it dries. You will need to scrub the entire jacket to create a uniform color. This will also help clean and treat the entire jacket.
- Allow time to dry, then repeat steps 1 to 3 if necessary.
Suede jackets are an excellent addition to any wardrobe. They’re versatile because they match practically everything and they single-handedly upgrade any outfit. A good suede jacket can be worn with slacks and a button-down to add complexity to a formal outfit or it can be worn with a T-shirt and jeans to add respectability to a casual outfit. There are countless uses. Once you learn how to clean your suede jacket yourself, you can wear it unburdened by the fear of stains.
Mistakes to avoid
As you can see, you need to be very careful when cleaning suede, and there are some things that you should absolutely not do when you’re cleaning a suede jacket. First and foremost, do not use water, not even a little bit on a cloth to get out a small stain. Water is suede’s archenemy, and even a little can damage it, with the potential of staining the suede permanently. It can also change the feel of suede, making it go from soft and supple to stiff and brittle. And it goes without saying that suede shouldn’t go in the washing machine, it’s that whole water thing again.
