It turns out, cleaning a suede bag is not as difficult as you may think. Here are seven options for keeping your suede bag in great shape.
1. Use a Dry Brush
For clear surface marks and water spots, a dry cloth will do. The rule of thumb with suede is to avoid using any color as the water will discolor the suede. Use the clean cloth and gently rub your bag to remove surface marks. Don’t press too hard so as to make sure not to ruin the texture of the suede.
2. Use a Specialty Brush to Remove Dirt
To clear dust from your bag and re-store it’s fine appearance, use a brush— but not just any old brush, you’ll need a specialty one like this leather brush from Amazon. Brush the suede in one single direction to clean away dust and dirt from your purse, or you can use small back and forth motions to help loosen up specific stains.
3. Remove Stains With an Eraser
Stains are a suede bag’s worst nightmare, however, it doesn’t have to be the end of your beloved bag. Try using a soft pencil eraser and literally erase away the stain. Afterward, when the stain is gone, try the first tip. Make sure the eraser is clean and hasn’t been used before.
4. Condition It Up
After you’ve cleaned your suede bag, it’s often a good idea to condition it. Using a specialty suede conditioner (like this one), add a little onto a buffing cloth and rub it gently into the bag with short, steady strokes. Don’t forget to do the seams and corners.
5. Apply Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol to a Clean Cloth
Vinegar and rubbing alcohols are safe to use on suede, as they can help brighten the material after it has gotten dingy or dirty over time. Pour a small amount onto a clean cloth, just enough to make the cloth damp, and then proceed to rub the suede with the cloth to clean it. You may need to do several applications depending on how dirty the cloth has become. Let the suede dry completely after using vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
6. Periodically Clean Your Bag Professionally
Even though you clean your bag regularly, taking your bag to a professional suede cleaner once a year will keep your bag in perfect condition forever. The cleaner will give your bag the spa treatment that you wouldn’t be able to do yourself.
7. Freeze Your Bag
Yes, really. When you get in a particularly, erm… sticky, situation, like you get gum or wax stuck to your suede (yikes), don’t fret, you can still recover. You can remove it by freezing your purse first (yes, you read that correctly). This will harden the wax or gum and then you can pull it off or chip it off in pieces using your fingers (no sharp objects) without ruining the material.
I also recommend storing your bag in its drawstring duster when not using it.
xo,
Julie
source content from: who what wear
