How to Clean a Suede Jacket

Doing General Cleaning

Use a suede brush. Brush the entire surface of your jacket. This will fluff up the nap, which improves the overall look of your suede while also loosening dirt or debris on the surface. Loosening up the fibers with the brush will also make removing embedded stains easier.

Concentrate additional brushing on visibly dirty areas. If you’ve removed all the surface dirt, there may still be a stain on the suede. Rub the stain with the brush using slightly more pressure. Move the brush back and forth to try to dislodge the stain from the fibers. Don’t rub too hard. Suede is delicate. Brushing too hard can damage the nap.

Spray the jacket with a suede protector. The suede protector will help keep your jacket clean and protect it from many surface stains, such as water and oil. However, suede protector won’t protect against heavy stains, like blood, ink, or mud. Suede protector helps against many stains acquired through everyday wear. You can buy suede protector online and in stores that specialize in suede and leather.

Addressing Tough Stains

Try a suede eraser. Use gentle pressure to rub the suede eraser across the stain. Removing the stain with a suede eraser may take a while, but be patient and most stains will be removed. You will probably want to go over this part of the jacket with a suede brush to fluff up the nap after you've removed the stain with the suede eraser. You can also use a pencil eraser instead of a suede eraser. You can buy suede erasers online or at major retailers. They are usually found in suede kits.

Use a vinegar solution. Mix a solution containing one part white vinegar and two parts water. Use a soft cloth, cotton balls, or cotton swabs to clean the stain. Dampen the cloth with the vinegar solution. Massage the stained area using gentle pressure. Make sure you don’t saturate the cloth or cotton ball. It should only be damp. Let the area dry completely before wearing.

Take the jacket to a dry cleaner. If there are stains you cannot get out, you can take the jacket to a dry cleaner. You may also be able to find a person in your area who specializes in cleaning suede and leather. They may be able to clean your jacket.

Treating Specific Types of Stains

Blot any liquid stains. If you spill liquid onto your suede jacket, use a towel or cloth to gently blot as much of the liquid you can. Make sure to do this as soon as possible. Be careful not to press the liquid into the suede. Instead, gently dab at it to soak it up. After the liquid is dry, use a suede brush or eraser to remove the stain. If you leave it, it will soak into the suede and permeate the fabric.

Clean water stains by dampening the jacket. Though you shouldn’t use water for stains on a suede jacket, you can treat water stains with water. Dampen a soft cloth and run it over the jacket, or use a spray bottle to lightly mist it. Make sure to only use a light layer of water and that it is evenly spread over the jacket. Soak up the water with a sponge or a paper towel. Use a suede brush to freshen the nap afterward.

Try cornstarch on oily stains or sweat. Suede jackets may end up with sweat stains around the collar or cuffs. Try removing these stains by sprinkling a thin layer of cornstarch or cornflour over the stains. Leave this overnight. Remove the cornstarch with a suede brush. The cornstarch should have soaked up the oil or sweat.