Suede Care
How to Clean Suede Clothing: One Method for Jackets, Pants, Skirts and Gloves
Brush, erase, blot, lift oil with powder, dry and protect. A 6-step dry method for suede jackets, pants, skirts and gloves, plus what never to use.
To clean suede clothing, work dry: brush the garment in one direction, rub small marks out with a suede eraser, and blot fresh spills instead of rubbing. Lift oil with cornstarch, dry everything at room temperature away from heat, then brush the nap back up. Never machine wash real suede, and read the care label before any liquid touches it.
This tutorial is part of our suede care guides. It covers every suede garment; each one then has its own hot spots, listed below.
Key takeaways- Real suede and faux suede need different care. Check the label first.- The same dry method works on jackets, pants, skirts and gloves.- Our partner store's product pages give different advice for different garments. We show it all.
Real suede or faux? Check the label first
The Laundress says most microsuede, a polyester fabric made to look like suede, is washable or spot-treatable, while genuine suede generally isn't washable. So the label decides which method you're allowed to use.
If a real suede item says not washable or dry clean only, the same brand says don't wash or spot-treat it. Brushing off dust is still fine; anything wetter goes to a specialist.
Tools and materials
| You need | What it's for | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Suede brush | Dust and dry dirt | – |
| Suede eraser | Scuffs and small marks | – |
| Rubber or crepe brush | Raising the nap after cleaning | – |
| White, undyed cloth | Blotting (dyed cloth can transfer color) | – |
| Cornstarch or baby powder | Drawing out oil | – |
| Padded hanger | Drying and storing jackets | – |
How to clean suede clothing in 6 steps
Step 1: Read the label and empty pockets
Follow the maker's care advice before any treatment. Empty the pockets; heavy items stretch leather, according to the store's care page.
Step 2: Brush in one direction
Lay the garment flat or hang it, then brush gently in one direction to lift dust. One shoemaker advises a brush kept only for suede.
Step 3: Erase small marks
Rub scuffs with a suede eraser in the same direction you brushed. A shoemaker compares a crepe eraser to a pencil eraser for stubborn marks.
Step 4: Blot spills and lift oil
Blot a fresh spill with a dry cloth straight away, and don't rub. For oil, cover the spot with cornstarch, leave it a few hours, then brush it off. Set-in oil rarely comes out at home, says a dry cleaner.
For ink and other stains, use how to remove stains from suede and how to get ink out of suede.
Step 5: Even out water marks
Sources give two light methods. A leather-goods retailer moistens the whole panel evenly with a slightly damp cloth so no single dark spot is left. A shoe retailer dampens just the area around the mark and brushes it as it dries. Test either on a hidden spot first.
Step 6: Dry, brush and protect
Dry the garment at room temperature, away from heaters and hair dryers. Heat can shrink or harden suede, a retailer warns. Once dry, lift the nap with a crepe brush and light pressure, then spray a protector in several light coats.
Garment by garment: where suede clothing gets dirty
Garment guides go deeper: how to clean a suede coat at home, how to clean a suede jacket and how to clean a suede skirt.
| Garment | What to watch | What the sources say | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackets and coats | Collar, cuffs, pocket edges | These soil first; the collar can turn dark and greasy | – |
| Pants | Spills, fading | Blot spills; deep stains to a leather cleaner; store out of the sun so black doesn't fade | – |
| Skirts | Water | The store's skirt FAQ says no water, no machine, use a leather dry cleaner | – |
| Gloves | Getting wet | Dry at room temperature, never on a heater or with a hair dryer | – |
| Blazers | Uneven-looking color | The shade can look lighter or darker as the nap is brushed different ways | – |
| Fabric garments with suede trim | Mixed care | The Laundress says it has washed many such items labeled dry clean, after a spot test | – |
Why you can't machine wash suede
A shoe-care seller says washing machines have no suede program, and even the mildest cycle can change a jacket's size, shape and color. A shoe retailer warns the problem is saturation, not how gentle the cycle is. More in can you machine-wash a suede jacket?
The store's own advice differs by garment
Leather Collection's product pages don't give one rule. The Black Suede Pants FAQ says to brush, blot spills and take deep stains to a leather cleaner. The skirt FAQ sends any spill to a leather dry cleaner soon after blotting.
A suede jacket FAQ suggests a suede eraser and keeping water use low. Another says dry-clean only, by a suede specialist. We don't pick one. Follow your garment's label and use the dry steps above for light marks. The store sells no cleaning products.
Storing suede clothes
Store suede clean and fully dry, in a breathable cotton or canvas bag, never plastic. Keep it out of direct sun, which a dry cleaner says can fade suede. Hang jackets on a padded hanger in a cool, dry place.
When to take it to a specialist
A dry-cleaning chain lists set-in oil, water rings, faded or blotchy color, stiffness, deep grime or odor, and stains older than a day or two. It sells the service, so weigh that. Another dry cleaner suggests a professional clean once or twice a year and warns that cleaning too often strains suede.
FAQ
Can I use Dawn dish soap on suede?
None of our sources recommend it. A dry cleaner says damage from simple soap on suede is irreversible. The Laundress says real suede shouldn't be exposed to water or heavy chemical solvents.
What should you not use on suede?
Skip the washing machine, laundry detergent and heat. The store's care page also lists saddle soap and mink oil as products that may damage leather.
How can you clean a suede jacket at home?
Use the six steps above, starting at the collar and cuffs. For a jacket-specific walkthrough, see how to clean a suede jacket at home.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.