What you'll need
Quick answer
Clean suede dry first: let it dry completely, remove loose dirt with an appropriate brush, then use a permitted suede eraser on remaining surface marks. If that is insufficient, identify the stain and check the shoe maker’s instructions before choosing any liquid. Follow the exact cleaner’s panel coverage and drying method; do not soak one spot or assume every suede can be wet-cleaned.
The Jason Markk Premium Suede Cleaning Kit covers the dry steps with an eraser and a brush. Jason Markk’s own advice is that, when you can get away with it, the best way to clean suede is without water.
Before you start
Wait until the suede is dry. Nike advises against cleaning suede shoes while they are wet and says to let mud or other moisture dry before brushing, because brushing too early can cause a stain.
Hold the shape. Nike suggests a shoe tree or crumpled newspaper inside the shoe while you clean.
Establish compatibility before testing. Read the footwear maker’s instructions and the cleaner’s exclusions first. A hidden-area test checks the response of an already-permitted treatment; it does not make an excluded product safe. Inspect color and nap after the test dries.
Be careful with dyed suede. Jason Markk doesn’t recommend cleaning dyed suede, which it says is likely to bleed from any contact with water.
Step 1: Brush off loose dirt
Start with a suede brush. Jason Markk says to brush the upper gently back and forth to remove loose dirt and top-layer dust. Nike says a suede brush or toothbrush works, and that a clean cloth will do if you don’t have a brush, but to avoid soap or water at this stage because they can make the mess worse.
For minor scuffs, Nike uses a quick side-to-side brushing motion to lift the fibers and loosen debris. Angelus instead says to brush in one direction. The makers agree on light pressure, so keep it gentle whichever stroke you use. Common suede brush mistakes covers what heavy brushing does to the nap, and the bristle-type guide explains brush materials.
Step 2: Erase marks that brushing left
Use a suede eraser on marks that are still there. If you don’t have one, Nike names a pencil eraser or household cleaning eraser as the next best thing and says the eraser itself should be clean. Nike allows a little more pressure here than for brushing but warns that rubbing too hard can damage the suede. Jason Markk says to use very light pressure.
Angelus’s directions for its Nubuck & Suede Kit are to rub the eraser gently over stains or spots, then use the brush to lift dirt and restore the nap, repeating as needed. Jason Markk also finishes by brushing the loosened dirt away.
Step 3: Use a suede cleaner on what’s left
If dry care leaves a stain, liquid cleaning is a separate decision, not an automatic next step. Jason Markk lists material restrictions and warns about dyed suede bleeding. Follow a permitted product’s complete method rather than combining the different techniques below.
- Foam on a brush. Jason Markk says to put its Ready-To-Use Foam Cleaner on a brush, scrub gently and wipe clean with a microfiber towel. For suede, its FAQ says to scrub the entire upper with light pressure, giving heavily soiled areas more attention.
- Cleaner on a cloth. Leather Honey says to put its suede cleaner on a clean, dry cloth, not directly on the suede, and to wipe the entire surface rather than spot treat. Then use the eraser on stubborn stains, wipe away the excess with a dry cloth and let the suede dry.
- A lightly dampened cloth corner. Nike’s last resort is wetting the corner of a dry cloth with a small amount of suede cleaner, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol, then massaging with a rapid side-to-side motion and letting the suede dry. Nike says to lightly dampen the suede rather than drench it, and to repeat if the stain is still visible.
Fixes for specific stains
| Problem | Maker method | Who says so | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mud and loose dirt | Let it dry, then dry brush | Nike, Jason Markk | Suede brush |
| Scuffs and surface marks | Suede eraser, then brush | Nike, Jason Markk, Angelus | Suede eraser and brush |
| Marks left after dry cleaning | Approved suede cleaner using its specified coverage | Jason Markk, Leather Honey | Suede cleaner, cloth or brush |
| Oil and grease | Cornstarch for a few hours; wipe or vacuum, don’t brush | Nike | Cornstarch, cloth or hand vacuum |
| Gum or wax | Freeze until hard, then peel or scrape | Nike | Freezer |
| Blood | Nike describes a small peroxide dab; use only if the footwear maker permits this treatment | Nike | Hydrogen peroxide, cotton ball |
| Rain or spills | Blot, then brush once dry | Jason Markk | Microfiber towel, suede brush |
These are attributed maker methods, not interchangeable recipes for every suede finish. A footwear restriction takes priority. Do not mix vinegar, alcohol, peroxide or other cleaners, or run through them as successive experiments on the same stain. For valuable, dyed or unidentified suede, ask the footwear maker or a specialist before chemical treatment.
Dry it without matting the nap
Jason Markk gives a towel-blotting and nap-restoration sequence for its wet-cleaning process, while its rain/spill advice says to blot and let the shoe dry before brushing. Follow the relevant complete method rather than treating damp brushing as a universal rule. For routine dry brush-and-eraser care, let the suede dry first and avoid aggressive rubbing.
Keep the shoes out of the clothes dryer. Nike warns that the dryer can damage shoes and recommends stuffing them with newspaper or airing them out in front of a fan instead.
Protect it afterward
A permitted suede protector can be a separate step after cleaning and drying. Follow the exact bottle’s instructions: Jason Markk’s current Repel page specifies a first coat with at least 24 hours to dry, then a second coat and complete drying before use. The existing Repel product link does not establish the instructions for every formula or generation. Compare materials and methods in the shoe protector spray list . Repellency does not make porous suede waterproof.
How to choose what to use
For routine upkeep, a brush and eraser are enough. Jason Markk describes its eraser and brush kit as daily and weekly maintenance. Angelus adds that brushing regularly after wearing suede helps keep dirt from setting in.
Consider liquid only if the material and stain warrant it. Jason Markk’s Ready-To-Use Foam lists suede and nubuck but excludes unsealed or painted leather and warns about dyed suede. Dry care failing is not permission to ignore those limits or the footwear maker’s restrictions.
Buy a complete kit if you’d rather not assemble one. The Leather Honey Suede & Nubuck Care Kit (Amazon search) contains a cleaner, a protector, a horsehair suede brush and a suede eraser, and the maker says it is for suede, nubuck and sheepskin.
The suede brush and cleaning kit list compares these kits side by side.
FAQ
Can you wash suede shoes in the washing machine?
No. Nike doesn’t recommend machine washing or hand-washing suede shoes in soap and water, because suede absorbs water and washing can set stains.
Can I use vinegar on suede?
Nike lists white vinegar as one option for stubborn stains, applied to the corner of a cloth so the suede is only lightly dampened. It is Nike’s last resort, after a brush and an eraser.
Which direction should I brush suede?
Makers differ. Angelus says to brush in one direction. Jason Markk describes gentle back-and-forth brushing for loose dirt, and Nike uses quick side-to-side strokes on minor scuffs. All of them keep the pressure light.
Can I clean nubuck the same way?
Jason Markk says that, for the most part, you can clean nubuck the same way as suede, and the Angelus and Leather Honey kits are sold for both materials.