How to Clean Suede Pumps

There has been a lots of view of this site by people looking for ways to clean black suede pumps. I wanted to consolidate the cleaning methods into one post. Cleaning black suede (or any color suede) is relatively easy to do. Now there are suede cleaning kits you can buy and for those just follow the directions but there are way to clean suede that can be done at home and for free.

Before doing any home method let me be clear that having the suede professionaly cleaned is likely the most effective (and costliest) method. I recommend cleaning the suede yourself if you have small spot stains on your pumps or have no alternative. If you are going to home clean I would recommend getting a suede brush & bar such as the Woodlore 3″ Suede Bar And 3″ Brush which you can get at Amazon for under $10.

My favorite method is to is to gently brush the suede then hold the dirty suede pump over a steaming kettle of water. Let the steam loosen the dirt on the suede then gently brush the suede again to remove the dirt. You can then let them sit to dry. If you want to blot dry them do not use paper towels as you may end up with bits of the paper sticking to the suede. You can wrap the shoes in paper towels and put them aside to dry though. Either way let the shoes dry completely (really do not get impatient – they need to dry).

One other popular home method is to use white vinegar. Use a damp cloth, cotton balls, or cotton swabs to gently massage the offending area, and then let it dry. After the pump is dry use your suede brush on the area that was treated.

So, those are the two most effective ways to clean black suede pumps that I have used.