Suede is a type of leather that is obtained by mechanically separating the layers of the skin and is the hardest and most resistant of these types, but it still requires special care.
Sometimes nubuck, suede and split leather are used interchangeably, as they all have a velvety feel to the eye, but if you look closely or simply touch them, you can see a huge difference between them, with the first two having much finer and also much more delicate finishes.
Suede shoes have been used for the hardness of this material to make footwear for work, since in addition to this hardness, they breathe, making them comfortable for many hours.
But this does not mean that they are exempt from stains and that misuse and lack of care can affect their lifespan and appearance. Below we offer a series of tips to take into account for their correct conservation.
It is commonly believed that the biggest enemy of suede is water, but that is totally incorrect, as dust is actually the biggest problem with these types of footwear.
To protect them, anti-stain sprays can be helpful, but they do not exempt us from performing intensive brushing to remove dust, dirt or stains from our daily life.
The essential tool that we should not be without for good care is a special two-sided brush, one made of metal and the other made of crepe rubber. It is very easy to find in any large supermarket, but if we want to get a quality one, the best option is to buy it in a shoe specialist store. The way to use it is to brush with the metal side in the natural direction of the hair, and always in the same direction, until all traces of dirt are removed. Then we can turn the brush over to simply comb with the rubber, making it softer.
If we find any stains, the best thing to do is to use a damp cloth on both shoes. It is important not to only clean the stain, as this cleaning can cause the tone of the leather to vary, but the lighter stains will disappear, unifying the colour. If they do not disappear, we must repeat the same operation with carbonated water and we will surely achieve a good result. This second procedure is more aggressive for the leather, so it is advisable to carry out the other step first and this one as a last option.
If our shoes are worn out, we can also improve their appearance using a homemade but effective method. This involves boiling water and placing the shoe over the container, allowing the steam to fall directly on the leather. After this operation, we should let the shoe dry naturally, without applying any heat source, not even the sun. Once it is completely dry, we should brush it with the metal part.
We must also keep in mind that every shoe, when wet, must have paper inside, acting as a shoe tree and capturing moisture, so that it does not deform, causing annoying chafing and deteriorating its appearance.
