How to Clean a Suede Coat at Home, Dry-First

You can clean a suede coat at home if the label allows it: hang it, brush it all over in one direction, and rub marks on the collar and cuffs with a suede eraser. Treat oil with cornstarch or baby powder, let the coat dry at room temperature, then brush the nap up and spray it with a protector. Never put it in the washing machine or soak it.

This tutorial is part of our suede care guides.

Key takeaways- Work dry first. Brush and eraser use no liquid, so they can't leave rings.- Collars, cuffs and pocket edges get dirtiest. Start there.- Don't spot-treat a coat with suede shampoo; it can leave water rings.- Our partner store's own pages disagree on home care versus dry cleaning. We show both.

Check the label first

The Laundress says that if a leather item is labeled not washable or dry clean only, you shouldn't wash or spot-treat it. If your coat says that, skip to when to take it to a specialist.

Whatever the label says, keep it out of the washing machine. A shoe retailer warns that soaking suede can warp or discolor it, even on a gentle cycle. Our machine-washing Q&A has more.

Tools and materials

How to clean a suede coat at home in 8 steps

Step 1: Empty the pockets and hang it

Take everything out of the pockets. Heavy items in pockets stretch leather, according to the store's care advice. Hang the coat on a wide hanger in good light so you can see every mark.

Step 2: Brush the whole coat

Brush from the shoulders down, gently and always in one direction. Do the whole coat, not just the dirty patches, so the nap looks even.

Step 3: Collar, cuffs and pocket edges

These areas pick up the most soiling. A leather repair shop says the collar can turn dark, greasy and thin over time. Rub light marks with the suede eraser in the same direction you brushed.

Step 4: Oil and grease spots

Blot first; don't rub. Cover the spot with cornstarch or baby powder, leave it overnight, then brush it off; repeat if needed. A dry cleaner adds that powder works on fresh spots, but set-in oil rarely comes out at home.

Step 5: Water marks

A shoe retailer's method is to lightly dampen the area around the mark, then brush it even as it dries. Try it on an inside hem first. For other stain types, see how to remove stains from suede; for pen, see how to get ink out of suede.

Step 6: Overall grime: whole coat or specialist

If the coat is dull all over, sources split. A menswear writer warns that spot-treating a jacket with suede shampoo can leave water rings. A suede cleaner maker says to treat the whole item, never one spot, and let it rest 24-48 hours.

Treating a whole long coat with a liquid cleaner is a big job. If the label or your nerves say no, this is the point to hand it to a suede specialist (see below).

Step 7: Dry on a wide hanger

Let the coat dry at room temperature, away from heaters. Keep the hair dryer away; a dry cleaner warns heat can flatten the nap.

Step 8: Restore the nap and protect

Once dry, raise the nap with a rubber or crepe brush and light pressure. Then spray a water repellent: test it inside first, and apply several light coats rather than one heavy one. Put This On suggests silicone-free waterproofers.

The store's advice conflicts: brush at home or dry-clean only?

Leather Collection's suede jacket pages don't agree. The Beige Suede Jacket for Men FAQ says to brush with a soft suede brush and use a suede eraser on small marks. The Cambridge suede jacket FAQ says dry-clean only, by a suede specialist.

A third product page says to take it to a dry cleaner who knows suede. The store's general care page warns that normal dry cleaning strips leather's oils and points to a specialist leather cleaner.

We don't settle it. Follow your coat's own label, use the dry steps above for light marks, and go to a specialist for anything bigger. The store sells no cleaning products.

Common mistakes

When to take it to a specialist

Go professional for set-in oil, water rings, faded patches, stiffness, deep grime or smells, stains more than a day or two old, or a coat you'd hate to lose. That list comes from a dry-cleaning chain, which sells the service.

Choose carefully. A leather repair shop says to pick a cleaner with references and ask for no wet process. A menswear writer warns many local dry cleaners send garments off-site, and that cleaned suede loses some of its plush nap.

Even specialist cleaning can shift color slightly, so the store suggests cleaning matching pieces together. For a lighter routine between cleans, leatherguide.org has suede jacket care basics.

Storing a clean suede coat

Hang it on a wide wooden, plastic or padded hanger in a cool, dry, ventilated place. Cover it with a breathable cotton or canvas bag, not plastic.

Related guides

• Not sure the job is one for home? See how to clean a suede coat for when to use a specialist.
• For pants, skirts and gloves, see how to clean suede clothing.

FAQ

Can I use Dawn dish soap on suede?

None of our sources recommend it. The Laundress says most real suede should not be exposed to water or heavy chemical solvents. Stick to brush, eraser and powder at home.

What is a good spray for protecting a suede jacket?

Look for a water repellent made for suede. Put This On suggests silicone-free waterproofers. Test it inside first and use several light coats.

More in how to protect a suede jacket.

Does water damage a suede jacket?

It can. Product FAQs at our partner store say suede doesn't like water. If the coat gets wet, let it dry at room temperature away from heaters, then brush.