Suede Care
Can You Steam a Suede Jacket? What Each Side Says, and a Gentler Way
Some care brands steam suede jackets from the inside; makers and repairers say no. See both sides, the precautions, and gentler ways to drop creases.
Sources disagree on whether you can steam a suede jacket. A laundry-care brand steams suede jackets from the inside, a few inches away, without touching the suede. A leather-goods maker says steam isn't for suede, and a leather repair company says no leather should be steamed at all.
None of the sources we read describe a test on suede. So the low-risk choice is to hang the jacket and let creases drop out first, as the store's care page advises for leather.
This Q&A is part of our suede care guides.
Who says yes, and who says no
| Source | View on steaming suede | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| The Laundress (laundry-care brand) | Yes: steam from the inside, a few inches off, don't touch the suede, pause to avoid water marks | – |
| Mahi Leather (bag maker; leathercraft consultant byline) | Yes, if the suede doesn't get wet and heat isn't put straight on the surface | – |
| The Leather City (jacket retailer) | Yes: hang it in a steamy bathroom, then brush | – |
| Andar (leather-goods maker) | Bathroom steam for leather goods, but not for suede | – |
| FCI London (furniture retailer) | Avoid steam on suede without expert advice | – |
| Leather Repair Company | No leather should be steam cleaned | – |
If you decide to try it
These are the precautions from the sources that allow steam, not a tested method.
- Check the label. If it says dry clean only, The Laundress says not to wash or spot-treat it.
- Work from the inside. Point the steamer at the lining, a few inches away.
- Never touch the suede with the steamer head, and keep heat off the outer surface.
- Pause often so moisture doesn't build into water marks.
- Dry fully on a wide hanger before wearing or storing, then brush the nap.
Gentler ways to deal with creases
The store's care page says wrinkles and creases in leather should hang out. Hang the jacket on a wide, padded hanger in a cool, dry place and give it time.
Skip the iron. Two leather-jacket retailers both say never to iron suede, because heat and pressure flatten the nap. One consultant does allow a low iron through a pillowcase, so this is disputed too. Our can you iron suede? answer goes deeper, and how to remove creases from a suede jacket covers the step-by-step.
If you want to check the shop's own care line, the Camel Suede Leather Bomber Jacket FAQ says to keep that goatskin suede jacket away from rain, heat and strong sun.
FAQ
Does heat ruin suede?
It can. A leather-goods retailer says a hair dryer or heater can shrink or harden suede, and a dry cleaner warns heat flattens the nap.
Can I steam clean my suede jacket?
Steaming to refresh is not the same as steam cleaning. See can you steam-clean suede? For smooth leather, our steaming leather guide compares the methods.
Can you steam clean fake suede?
Faux suede is a different material. The Laundress says most microsuede items are washable or spot-treatable, unlike real suede. Follow the garment's label.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.