Suede is soft as butter and is one of the most fashionable leathers for garments and accessories. A suede bag is a gorgeous accessory that enhances any outfit; however, it is a difficult material to clean. Since water can stain it, you need to try non-traditional methods to get rid of the patch that has formed on the suede handbag.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Suede Rubber
Step 1. Blot the stain and allow it to dry if necessary
If it isn't dry yet, you can try blotting it to get rid of some of the liquid. Proceed carefully and tap gently, trying to absorb the substance rather than making it penetrate even deeper. When you think you have removed as much of it as possible, allow the bag to air dry; once the moisture is gone, you can try other methods.
Step 2. Use a chamois brush to scrub away the dry spot
You can buy this tool on websites like Amazon or in shoe stores. In addition to using it to remove dirt from suede, it is also useful for performing regular "maintenance" operations on accessories made with this leather and for this reason it proves to be a smart purchase. Before attempting any other remedy, you should gently use this brush on the stain.
- Start by removing the top, outermost layer of dirt and brush in one direction to remove larger particles.
- Alternatively, you could use other types of soft brushes, but a suede-specific brush is the most effective option.
- Once the outer surface is clean, you need to scrub with a little more vigor; you can also start scrubbing in both directions to get rid of deeper, ingrained stains in the suede.
- In addition to removing dirt, brushing the stained area helps to reach the deeper patches that you have to deal with with the next methods.
Step 3. Rub the area to be treated with an appropriate eraser
You can find a specific product on the market designed to clean chamois, but a normal pencil eraser, such as gumapane, also works. Make sure it is white in color, otherwise you risk staining the suede; however, do not proceed with this step until you are sure that you have brushed off any residue of dirt and dust.
- Start rubbing the stain gently with the gum; after a while you should notice that the debris starts to rise.
- Do this until you completely remove the dirt.
- If you want, you could use very fine-grained sandpaper as an alternative to rubber. A piece of hard bread might work too, if you're in a hurry. Rub it into the stain until it begins to crumble.
Step 4. Brush the stained area again to even out the surface
After treating the patch with gum, the area is likely to be a bit squashed and uneven; to make the handbag look like new, scrub the suede by brushing the entire surface. In this way you allow the leather to recover its original softness and no one will know that it was stained before.
Method 2 of 3: Vinegar or Denatured Alcohol
Step 1. Test vinegar or alcohol on a small, hidden part of the bag
Only proceed with this method if the one described so far doesn't work. It is important to try the product before applying it to the stain, in case it reacts badly with the specific chamois you are treating. Among the inconspicuous areas you can test on, consider the underside of the strap or the base of the handbag. Dab some liquid in the spot you have identified and wait for it to dry; make sure it doesn't leave any kind of imperfection.
- Examples of discreet spots on your bag could be the inside of the shoulder strap or the bottom of the bag.
- Although vinegar and alcohol are both effective products, they act differently depending on the type of stain; for example, white vinegar works best on stains from environmental elements, such as salt, dirt and food, while alcohol is more suitable for more "stubborn" stains, such as ink.
Step 2. Rub your chosen substance onto the stain using a white rag
Once you are sure that the suede is not damaged by the cleaning liquid, pour a small amount on the cloth. It is essential that it is a white fabric, to prevent the color from transferring onto the bag; although water stains the chamois, alcohol and vinegar do not involve this danger. You don't have to scrub hard, but instead press the cloth onto the stain so it becomes soaked in liquid.
- You should avoid scrubbing too hard; Instead, press the cloth against the stain to make sure the liquid saturates the stain completely.
- Once you have carefully covered the surface of the patch with the product, wait for it to dry; you can't know if the technique worked until the suede is completely dry.
- The vinegar can leave a little odor on the leather, but it dissipates within a short time.
Step 3. Use the suede brush to complete the process
If necessary, you can also repeat the treatment with rubber. When the stain is completely dry, brush the treated area so that it blends with the rest of the bag.
Once done, review your work and see if you need to repeat the process
Method 3 of 3: Corn Starch
Step 1. Get cornstarch if you need to treat an oil or grease stain
Whether you smeared your purse with lip gloss or butter while dining at a restaurant, these are stubborn stains to get rid of. Your secret weapon is corn starch, which absorbs oil directly from the hide.
Step 2. Sprinkle the starch on the patch
Once evenly distributed, dab the chamois carefully and let the powder act "magically". After at least an hour, carefully shake the bag over the garbage can to remove the starch; once removed, hopefully this annoying grease spot has disappeared.
Step 3. Brush the treated area
In this way, you eliminate the cornstarch residues, as well as restore the stained area to its original condition, so much so that you would not be able to distinguish it from the rest of the bag; if all went well, it cannot be said that there was a stain before.
Advice
- Spray a stain repellent and a specific spray to protect the suede before using it.
- Do not store the handbag in plastic containers or bags; if you want it to remain soft and beautiful, you have to let the leather breathe.
