Can suede sneakers be washed in the washing machine?

Can suede sneakers be washed in the washing machine? All shoes get dirty sooner or later and require cleaning. But while fabric boots are easy to wash, items made from delicate materials, such as suede, are quite difficult to clean. If the outcome is good, improper washing will cost your suede sneakers discoloration, or in the worst case, unraveling seams. It's time to find out whether suede sneakers can be washed in the washing machine or whether it is better to limit yourself to dry cleaning. Let's consider all the nuances and recommendations.

Will the machine damage suede shoes?

Natural and artificial suede are delicate materials and therefore require special care. Soft velvety leather does not like water, so manufacturers recommend not to even wet shoes made from it.. It is logical that machine washing for suede products is prohibited, since a long stay in a filled and rotating drum will lead to disastrous consequences. An exception may be sneakers, which in factories are purposefully increased in wear resistance, but it is better not to take risks with sneakers - there is a high probability of a “fatal outcome”.

The fact is that when suede is in water for a long time:

loses its original softness;
fades due to pigment leaching;
loses villi.

It is not recommended to wash natural and artificial suede in water - it is better to choose dry cleaning.

The worse the quality of the suede, the more damage machine washing will do. Low-quality leather will come apart after the first cycle, while expensive leather will last a little longer. In any case, there will be consequences: the second or third time the seams will begin to come apart, the sole will fall off and the appearance will deteriorate.Therefore, it is not recommended to wash suede sneakers in a machine - it is better to clean the shoes by hand.

Would you risk washing it in the machine?

You can wash suede sneakers in a washing machine, but only at your own risk. Expensive high-quality leather will withstand a couple of cycles, but a Chinese fake threatens to fall apart after the first time. Especially if there are glued stripes on the shoes, and there are cracks and holes in the fabric and sole.

If it was decided to take a risk, then washing is carried out in the following sequence:

prepare shoes by removing laces and insoles;
clean sneakers of debris by tapping the soles, using a knitting needle and a toothbrush;
wrap the sneakers with white cloth napkins and place them in a special bag for washing;
add several color-catching napkins to the drum;
pour suede shoe gel into the powder receptacle;
choose the fastest program (the delicate mode will not work, as it lasts a long time and involves a large volume of water, which is detrimental to suede);
adjust the cycle settings (turn off spin, set 20-30 degrees, refuse additional rinsing).

Suede sneakers are washed on the fastest program without spinning, re-rinsing and hot water.

As soon as the washing program is completed, you must immediately take out the sneakers, stuff them with white paper, and wrap the outside with a dry terry towel. All so that the water leaves the skin faster and causes less damage. We place the wrapped sneakers in a ventilated room, away from direct ultraviolet radiation and heating devices.

Wash in the traditional way

If you don’t want to risk your sneakers, then it’s better to skip the washing machine and give preference to hand washing.We prepare the shoes for the procedure, remove the insoles and laces, and then clean off the adhering dirt from the soles. You can also brush off dust from suede using a special brush.

The following is the algorithm:

fill the basin with water heated to a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees;
dissolve detergent in water and foam;
Dip sneakers into the solution and soak for 20 minutes;
rinse quickly;
clean stains with a damp soft cloth;
blot with napkins and dry.

You cannot apply detergent directly to the shoe - it is too aggressive for sensitive suede. If you cannot remove stains after soaking, you should turn to steaming. To do this, boil water and keep the steam over steam until the sneakers get wet. Then we clean off the dirt with a soft brush and dry it.

Let's clean without getting it wet

Ideally, it is better to avoid wet cleaning of suede sneakers altogether and choose dry cleaning. If the stains are minor and local, they can be removed without detergents or soaking. It is enough to assess the nature of the contamination and choose the appropriate method for removing it.

Clean dry stains with a soft rubber brush.
Treat the affected area with talcum powder or baby powder (for fat).
Walk over the surface of the sneaker with an eraser or fine-grained sandpaper (it will make it velvety and soft).
Rub the “bald spot” or greasy areas with dried rye bread.
Cover with coffee grounds (for brown suede).
Rub with a matchbox (to remove dried soil).