How to Clean Suede: The Complete Care Guide
How to Clean Suede: The Complete Care Guide
Suede has a reputation for being high-maintenance, but that's mostly a myth — it just needs different care from smooth leather. The golden rule: no water and soap. Suede's soft, napped surface needs its own gentle approach. Here's exactly how to keep it looking great.
First, the golden rules
- Never use water and soap the way you would on smooth leather — it can stain and stiffen suede.
- Always let suede dry fully before cleaning or brushing.
- Work gently and in the direction of the nap.
If you're not sure whether your jacket is suede or smooth leather, our guide What Is Suede? Suede vs Leather explains how to tell.
What you'll need
- A suede brush (soft-bristled)
- A suede eraser (or a clean pencil eraser)
- A suede protector spray
- A clean, dry cloth
Step 1: Brush off dust and dirt
Once the suede is dry, brush the whole surface with a suede brush, working in one direction to lift the nap and remove loose dirt. This alone refreshes suede that just looks a bit flat or dusty.
Step 2: Tackle marks with a suede eraser
For scuffs and dry marks, rub gently with a suede eraser (a clean pencil eraser works too). The friction lifts the mark out of the nap. Brush again afterwards to restore the texture.
Step 3: Deal with stains carefully
- Dry/scuff marks — suede eraser, then brush.
- Grease/oil — sprinkle cornflour or talc on the spot, leave overnight to absorb, then brush off.
- Water marks — once dry, brush the nap; light misting of the whole panel with water (not just the mark) can even out a watermark, but do this cautiously.
For anything stubborn or set-in, a specialist suede cleaner is safer than experimenting.
Step 4: Protect it
This is the step most people skip — and it's the most important. Spray the suede with a dedicated suede protector before wearing a new jacket, and re-apply periodically. It helps repel water and stains, so spills brush off instead of soaking in. A protected suede jacket is far easier to live with.
What to do if suede gets wet
Don't panic. Let it air-dry naturally, away from heat (never a radiator or hairdryer). Once fully dry, brush the nap back up with your suede brush, and it should return to normal. Stuff the jacket loosely to help it hold its shape while drying.
What to avoid
- No water-and-soap cleaning.
- No direct heat for drying.
- No scrubbing hard — gentle brushing only.
- No storing damp (mould loves suede).
That's genuinely all suede needs. For the full leather care routine, see our pillar guide, How to Care for Leather.
Love the soft, warm look of suede? Browse our men's suede jackets and women's suede jackets.
FAQs
Can you clean suede with water? Not the way you clean smooth leather. Soaking suede with soapy water can stain and stiffen it. Brush it, use a suede eraser for marks, and protect it with a spray instead.
How do you get marks out of suede? Use a suede eraser (or clean pencil eraser) on dry marks, then brush the nap. For grease, use cornflour overnight to absorb it, then brush off.
What do you do if a suede jacket gets wet? Let it air-dry naturally away from heat, then brush the nap back up once dry. Protecting it beforehand with a suede spray makes this much easier.
How do I protect a suede jacket? Spray it with a dedicated suede protector before first wear and re-apply periodically. It repels water and stains so they brush off rather than soaking in.