How to care for suede shoes

You adore your suede shoes, and you probably paid a bundle for them. It's worth learning how to maintain and properly care for your suede shoes to give them the longest possible life in your closet. Here are five tips you can use to keep them in good shape.

• Seal the Suede

Before you wear your new shoes out on the town, take the time to apply a sealant to protect them from the elements. Even if you only wear them to the office, they can still be exposed to rain, dirty streets and puddles. You'll need to reapply the sealant every few months, so mark on your calendar when you do it to keep track.

• Brush Out Your Suede

Every few months, suede starts to look a bit worn. Bring it back to life with a vigorous-though-not-hard brushing with a suede brush or toothbrush. You want to help the fibers on the material look lively again.

• Use Only Special Suede Cleaners

The fastest way to ruin a pair of suede shoes is to clean them with water, soap or anything else other than suede cleaner. Use this cleaner immediately if you get any stains on your shoes, such as ink blots or blood.

• Use a Shoehorn to Get into the Shoes

Suede can pick up marks and creases easily. Using a shoehorn can help you avoid such marks on your shoes. It also limits contact with your fingers, which carry natural oils that can hurt your shoes.

• Use Shoetrees

Your shoes need a short break when you arrive at the end of the day. Allow them to air out for 15 minutes, then put shoetrees inside them to help them retain their natural shape.

Follow these five tips on protecting suede shoes

Now that you've read our maintenance tips for protecting your suede shoes, you may need to purchase some of Furniture Clinic's suede footwear products, including Suede & Nubuck Cleaner and Protector or a Suede Cleaning Brush. We also offer a Shoe Stain and Water Repellent which is perfect for any item of footwear, clothing or accessory! When you spend $25 or more, we'll also throw in free shipping. Remember to check out our e-Learning Center, too, for DIY tips.