How to Clean Light-Colored Suede

How to Clean Light-Colored Suede
Written By
M.H. Dyer
M.H. Dyer
Published: Jan 13, 2010
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
1 minute read
Close-up of red textile
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Suede is beautiful, but it's an expensive, high-maintenance fabric. Unless the suede is only very lightly soiled, or if it's an old garment that has nearly outlived its usefulness, it will be much better to take the light-colored suede garment to a professional dry cleaner who specializes in cleaning leather. If you decide to try it yourself, handle the suede with great care, and keep in mind that trying to clean the light-colored suede on your own is risky business.

Wipe the light-colored suede with a suede brush, a soft toothbrush, or a clean, soft, light-colored bath towel. Don't rub hard. The purpose of rubbing it with a bath towel is primarily to raise the nap of the suede.

Remove small spots and stains by rubbing them very carefully with a special suede eraser, or a white rubber eraser. If this doesn't work, dab the spots gently with a damp towel or cotton ball dipped in white vinegar. If the spot remains after the suede is completely dry, wipe it again with the cloth and white vinegar. If you're attempting to remove a spot that is still wet, blot it carefully with a white paper towel.

Remove stubborn stains that don't respond to other techniques with a clean fingernail file. Work very carefully, moving the file in short strokes. This should only be attempted as a last-chance effort, because there's a possibility it will damage the suede.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

M.H. Dyer

M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an…

Sponsored
Our Everyday Life Logo

Explore our everyday life, the best source for food and drink tips, health and general wellness, healthy relationships and much more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.