Make Suede last longer

Posted by Silke

The last pair of boots I bought before leaving Germany to move to the United States was a pair of black suede slouch boots. I don’t remember where I bought these boots, how much I paid for them or even who the manufacturer is. There are no tags, only an imprint of a cobbler on the bottom of the boot. These suede boots have been in and out of style several times now and have been in the back of my closet for many years.

Since slouch boots are in style once again I wore them just the other day and believe it or not, they still look good.

Here are a few tips to make your suede shoes and boots last longer.

Suede can be difficult to take care of since it has a tendency to attract stains and water can harm the suede. Before you wear them for the first time spray your suede foot ware with a silicon/water repellent spray like the Nikwax spray you can find on Amazon. Reapply the spray every so often, depending on how often you wear that particular pair.

Minor stains can be gently brushed away with a soft suede brush or cloth. Use a pencil eraser to clean off any dirt. You can also buy spray-on suede cleaners for larger stains. If your suede shoes or boots get wet, stuff them with newspaper, changing the paper a few times until the shoes are dry. Slushy roads in wintertime can ruin suede, so maintain your suede shoes and boots by brushing the nap with a dry toothbrush. To remove salt lines, make a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar and wipe your suede foot ware with a dampend cloth.

Let me know if you have any home remedies or other tips for taking care of your suede foot ware. Like my hubby always says “Sharing is caring!”