Repairing Guides

how to repair suede shoes water damage

by Chelsie McClure Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

  1. Blot moisture out of the shoes with a cloth or paper towel. ...
  2. Wait up to 24 hours for the shoes to dry out. Suede becomes more prone to damage when it is wet. ...
  3. Use a suede brush to spread a light coating of water across the shoe. Dip the brush into clean, lukewarm water and shake out the excess moisture.
  4. Dab the suede with a rag to distribute the water evenly across it. Dampen a clean cloth by touching the moisture on your shoe.
  5. Stuff the shoe with paper to help it keep its shape. Set the shoe on a flat surface with the opening face up.
  6. Set the shoe in a cool, dark place to dry overnight. Put the shoes out in an area with good air circulation.
  7. Brush over the shoe to finish cleaning it. Use a suede brush or a clean nylon toothbrush. Lightly brush the entire shoe along the suede’s grain.

“The best thing you can do is take a microfiber towel, or worst case scenario, some paper towels or even toilet paper, and blot the suede. The goal is to soak up as much water as possible as quickly as possible. If you allow the suede to dry on its own after being soaked, you're in trouble.Nov 15, 2015

Full Answer

Will water ruin my Suede Shoes?

Know that water will not ruin your suede shoes if you take your time letting them dry. Do not wipe, rub, or scrub your suede vigorously. When the soft, delicate hairs get wet they will tense up and become brittle, making them easy to rip off. When your shoes get stained or wet, resist the urge to start scrubbing until they are fully dry.

Can you fix Suede Shoes that have colored?

Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to fix suede shoe color. Pour one tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of water into a small bowl or bucket. Stir until well combined then soak a clean rag in the mixture and wring it out until it’s nearly dry. Rub them in a circular motion to gently remove stains.

How do I clean the inside of Suede Shoes?

You can pick up a suede sealant at most drugstores or on amazon. A thin application will last several months and help repel dirt, water and other stains. Make sure to reapply after brushing.

image

Can suede be fixed after water damage?

FOR SUEDE: Let dry completely at room temperature. Dirt, mud or water stains? Now is the time to treat! Working with the direction of the suede nap GENTLY brush off with a suede eraser or suede brush (a clean soft toothbrush will work).

How do you fix suede shoes that got wet?

Blot all the areas that got wet to soak up as much of the water as you can. Then, take a suede brush or toothbrush and brush the suede back and forth for several minutes. You can also put a hairdryer a foot away while you're brushing to bring life back to the shoes.

Is water damage on suede permanent?

The nap is made of small leather “hairs” which become stiff and brittle when they get wet, or when they dry after being wet. Brittle hairs are more likely to break off, and once that happens the suede has been permanently damaged.

Can you repair damaged suede?

While suede shoes have a reputation for being difficult to look after, suede leathers are actually one of the more durable shoe materials and most of the time can be repaired or restored.

How do you get suede back to normal?

1:313:21How To Reset Suede On Your Shoes! SneakerHead Tips & Tricks ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's very simple all you need to do is just start brushing again. Make sure it's completely dry.MoreSo it's very simple all you need to do is just start brushing again. Make sure it's completely dry. But just start brushing it in kind of one motion.

What happens if suede shoes get wet?

As I said earlier, generally speaking, suede will not ruin if it gets wet. But some conditions have to be met for it to be true. Since suede is less water-repellent than other types of leather, you should treat it with a water-repellent spray.

How long does it take for suede to dry?

It will take up to 24 hours. Pro tip will be to place a folded paper or cloth underneath the shoe for better results.

How do you repair suede?

How to Repair Torn SuedeUse a subpatch that comes with the leather repair kit. ... Use a hair dryer to hold the patch onto the torn edges if it is difficult to hold the patch together. ... Roughen the patched area with leather protector, because it's likely that the cut line may still be visible once the glue has dried.More items...

What happens when suede coat gets wet?

Suede is a porous material and is easily marked by water, therefore you should avoid wearing a suede jacket in rainy conditions. Water marks can be removed, and the jacket restored to its original condition, but drenching a suede jacket will wash out all the natural oils and leave the jacket stiff and shiny.

How long does suede take to dry?

When it's colder or more humid, it might take longer for your surfaces to dry. Ventilating the area by opening windows or using a fan will help Scotchgard™ Suede & Nubuck Protector dry faster. If you're just drying between coats, 2 – 4 hours is usually sufficient.

How to get stains out of suede shoes?

Use a suede brush to spread a light coating of water across the shoe. Dip the brush into clean, lukewarm water and shake out the excess moisture. Then, brush the entire shoe along the suede's grain. Make sure the entire shoe feels slightly moistened before you attempt to treat the stains.

How to smooth out creases on suede shoes?

Buff creases by wiping them in a circle with a brush. If your shoe still has creases on it, scrub it using the suede brush, a nylon toothbru sh, or a towel. Go around the crease repeatedly to smooth it out . You can also push and pull on the suede to flatten the creased area as you massage it back to shape.

How to fix scuff marks on suede?

This will help you begin treating scuff marks and creases. Water damage can only be fixed by adding gentle amounts of water. You can also fix most liquid stains with vinegar and oil stains with cornstarch. Serious damage sometimes cannot be reversed on your own, so take care of your suede to prevent further problems.

What is suede shoes?

Suede is a fuzzy type of leather that looks great when worn, particularly as a snazzy pair of shoes. However, it is also delicate, and damage can be difficult to treat. If you notice problems with your shoes, clean them off right away with a suede brush. This will help you begin treating scuff marks and creases.

How to get scuff marks out of suede?

Scuff marks happen when the suede fibers get too matted down. Use a butter knife or something similar to lift the fibers. Pull the edge of the knife against the grain slowly, taking care not to touch the undamaged portion of your shoe.

What to do if you can't scrub out scuff marks?

If you can’t scrub out the scuff marks, rub them with a cleaning eraser. The eraser restores the suede's texture.

How to get suede back to its original state?

Continue brushing until the surface of the shoe looks even and clean. Then, repeat the treatment with any remaining marks to bring the suede back to its original state. Be careful to brush over the damaged spots only. Avoid rubbing the clean areas on the suede.

How to get water out of suede shoes?

Brush the shoes with a soft-bristle brush. A suede brush is ideal for this, however, any brush that is not too stiff will work. The brush brings up the nap on the suede, which negates some of the water damage. Do not use a lot of pressure or fast motions.

How to restore suede?

Bring your suede to a good dry cleaner or leather restorer for treatment. The process takes longer than normal dry cleaning, but an experienced dry cleaner can at least partially restore the quality of your suede. A leather restorer will do the best job and can recommend products to you for future use.

How to get water stains out of shoes?

Use a clean, dry pencil eraser to lightly rub at any water stains on the shoes. Do not rub too vigorously.

Can you fix suede shoes after water damage?

If you wait too long to repair water-damaged suede, you risk permanent damage. It may be impossible to fix everything, but it is fairly simple to make your suede shoes look a lot better.

How to repair a torn suede shoe?

Glue the suede patch to the subpatch and shoe. Spread glue across the back of the patch, then press it onto the suede. Try to make it level with the old suede around the tear so it looks as natural as possible. Spread glue on both the back of the patch and the torn suede flaps. Secure everything together by pressing the patch onto the subpat ch, then tucking the torn suede onto the new patch and subpatch as well.

What to do if you have a hole in your suede shoe?

Thanks! Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. If you suspect you have a hole in your shoe, get a restore kit with a suede brush and eraser. Sometimes suede shoes just need to be restored to look normal again.

How long does it take for suede glue to dry?

Allow the glue to dry for up to 24 hours. The exact amount of drying time needed varies a little depending on the glue, so check the manufacturer's recommendation for specifics. To ensure the repair holds, give it as much time as possible before wearing the shoe again. Keep the torn suede pressed together the entire time. Once it has dried, remove the tape to check the results.

How to keep suede from tearing?

Use fabric tape to hold the suede together while it dries. Keeping the suede pressed together is a little tricky due to the shape of the shoe, but a fabric-safe tape can help. Make sure all the excess glue is gone, then place the tape over the tear.

What happens if you pull suede too tightly?

Shape the suede carefully back into its original form. If you pull the suede too tightly, the shoe may not fit properly or feel as comfortable as it used to.

How to get suede back together?

Pull the suede’s flaps back together again. Take one flap and pull it over the other. Join the edges together so they have little to no overlap. Then, press down firmly to keep the suede stuck together. Some of the glue may come out from underneath the flaps, so wipe it up with a paper towel before it has a chance to solidify.

How to fix a shoe that is tearing?

Select a flexible contact adhesive that will last long-term. Use a shoe adhesive or fabric glue if you have them. These products work on all sorts of different materials, including tough ones like suede. The real benefit is that they don't stiffen up like superglue and hot glue, so the tear won't reappear just because you happen to move the wrong way in your shoes.

How to get suede color out of shoes?

Dampen the whole shoe with water using a brush or a sponge. This evens out the color of the suede. Remove any excess water with a towel (I recommend using an old towel since wet suede might release some dye) or a sponge.

What happens if you get wet suede?

If part of your suede shoe gets wet, you might end up with water stains or a tidemark on the suede after drying. The good news is that you can easily fix such water-damaged suede following five easy steps.

How to get water stains out of suede?

How to fix water stains on suede in 4 easy steps. Clean the shoes from loose dirt with a brush (with soft [Amazon link] or brass bristles [Amazon link] – I prefer the soft ones). Make sure that your shoes are dry. Here is the time to take out lases, if you have any.

How to keep shoes soft?

Put a shoe tree or some white paper inside the shoe to keep the shoes’ shape and let them air dry in a breezy spot in the shade. (If your shoes are very wet, a newspaper is not recommended since it might color your shoes.) When dry, brush your shoes with a suede brush [Amazon link] to make the suede soft again.

Can you wash suede shoes wet?

In fact, when washing suede (or nubuck), you should dampen the whole shoe to clean it, so suede can definitely get wet. But there are some limitations to that statement. Keep reading to find out more. If you want to learn how to clean suede (or nubuck), check out my other post, where I explain in detail how I have revived my 4 years old faded black ...

Can suede get wet?

Generally speaking, yes, suede will not ruin if it gets wet. The same applies to nubuck, which is a similar type of leather. You don’t have to put back your suede shoes because it is raining or snowing outside. In fact, when washing suede (or nubuck), you should dampen the whole shoe to clean it, so suede can definitely get wet.

Can you recolor suede?

The suede dye started to come off, which resulted in a faded color. The good news is that you can recolor suede/nubuck to its original color. For the tutorial in my other blog post, click here. Here are two products that you can use for black shoes (you can select there also a different color option):

What to do if you spill liquid on suede shoes?

Start by patting (NOT RUBBING) the area with a clean cloth or towel and then apply a layer of cornmeal or talcum powder. Let it sit overnight, and then brush the suede the following day to remove the dried powder.

How to protect suede shoes before wearing?

The first thing you should do BEFORE you wear suede shoes is protect them with a sealant. Either take them to a shoe professional to have done or DIY it. You can pick up a suede sealant at most drugstores or on amazon. A thin application will last several months and help repel dirt, water and other stains. Make sure to reapply after brushing.

How to remove scuff marks from suede boots?

I don’t know about you but my suede booties get scuff marks like crazy! To remove these marks gently rub an eraser back and forth over a scuff or stain until it lifts, then brush off any eraser shavings with your suede brush.

How to keep suede from getting shiny?

Brush Your Suede after every wear. This is the secret to keeping the suede fluffy and shiny-spot free. You can do this with a suede brush or with a dry/clean soft nylon toothbrush. If you’ve got a shiny, worn spot, use the brush/toothbrush to lift the tamped-down fabric with short, gentle strokes.

How to get rid of scuffed spots on suede?

For black suede pieces you can also touch up faded or scuffed spots lightly with a black crayon, then rub the color into the suede with your finger. Repeat until the spot blends with the surrounding suede. If tragedy strikes.. aka liquid spills on your suede shoes use talcum powder or cornmeal to treat them.

What is suede in shoes?

Suede is one of those fabrics that shows every last imperfection. Dirt, dark patches, grime and other stains show up on suede in a super magnified way so taking care of these little blemishes quickly will keep your suede shoes and boots looking #ShoeoftheDay perfect.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9