Natural suede and its differences from artificial. Suede products. Care, cleaning, stain removal

20.10.2019

Suede is a material that has not lost its popularity. So again, looking at photos from fashion shows, I understand that suede jackets, skirts, sandals and boots will flash on the streets with enviable regularity. Today I would like to tell you how to take care of things made of suede at home, so that it retains its original color and shape as long as possible.

Natural and artificial: care features

Suede is understood as the soft skin of animals made by the fat-tanning method. Most often, goat and deer skins are used in the production.

Artificial suede is produced in woven and non-woven. In the case of the first, a velvet surface is obtained by splitting microfiber threads, for the second, the method of gluing the pile to a fabric base is used.

The artificial material can withstand mid-temperature washing and ironing, making it easier to clean.

Let's start with the question of shoe care.

Summer

It would seem, what difficulties can arise in the summer? The thing is that the dust actively settles on the suede, making it dull and unkempt:

Photo	Recommendations
	Step 1. Cleaning from dust. To do this, arm yourself with a flannel napkin. Try to shake off the truth, while lightly pressing the top layer of the material itself.
	Step 2. Washing with soapy water. It is better to organize a bath day for your favorite sandals using diluted baby soap or powder for delicate washing.
	Step 3. Drying. Wipe the suede thoroughly and leave to dry completely (on its own!).

Use special protective equipment for suede shoes. They create a protective film on the surface of the material, which prevents the absorption of dust and dirt.

If a satisfactory result is not achieved, suede shoes can be held over the steam. Thus, with a liter of water, you will lift the pile and restore its original color.

Salton for suede, nubuck, textile shoes;
Collonil 546 Velor + Nubuk;
Salamander Professional Nubusk Velours Fresh.

In winter

The main troubles that await suede shoes in winter are salt stains. If they have already "settled" on their favorite boots, use a cream paint. It will not only get rid of unattractive streaks, but also bring back the brightness of the color.

I advise you to take a closer look at:

Kaps Suede Dye;
Wilbra Dressing Liquido;
Silver CD1L025;
GoldCare 2002.

A little secret for lovers of brown suede shoes. You can brush up brown suede with a brush dipped in rich coffee grounds.

An equally formidable winter enemy is moisture. So that the material does not lose its properties and appearance, do not forget to systematically treat with water-repellent sprays. For example: Salamander, Collonil, NikiLine.

If your shoes, despite all your efforts, get wet, dry them only on special shoes, as far as possible from direct sources of pace, such as radiators and fireplaces.

Folk recipes

We are looking for solutions to complex problems

Photo	Recipes
	Bad smell. The point is the bacteria that have lodged in the pile. To lift it, hold the shoes over the steam for a quarter of an hour and dry thoroughly.
	Glossy spots. The problem is solved with a vinegar solution. The solution is prepared from a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of vinegar and applied to the glazed area.
	Divorces. You can use kerosene to clean the suede. A small amount of the product is applied to a napkin and only then to shoes.
	Ingrained dirt. If the classic brush and dry cleaning are powerless, arm yourself with a solution of liquid soap and ammonia. Gently apply the solution with a brush, gently clean the contaminated area without force and blot with a soft cloth. Ammonia is added in the amount of 2-3 grams

Clothes and accessories

For the care of suede things, there are also special brushes that gently lift the pile.

Sticky and greasy spots can be easily removed with cornstarch, which is applied in a thin layer and left on for several hours. The remains are removed with the same brush.

If we can easily hold the shoes over the steam, then taking care of suede clothes, for example, a men's jacket, is more difficult to organize. Hang it on a hanger in the bathroom after taking a hot shower or bath.

Natural suede does not tolerate improper storage. When it comes to seasonal items, choose dry, well-ventilated areas, and forget about attics and basements.

Summing up

I hope my homemade recipes for the proper care of clothes and shoes have come in handy. Do you have any secrets of storing suede items, washing and ironing them? Share them with our readers. And be sure to watch the helpful video in this article.

Suede clothes look stylish and expensive, be it a bag, gloves, or boots. Some people find this material impractical, but it is not. If the suede is natural, it can easily withstand even cleaning with soapy solutions, this is due to its properties acquired during processing.

Natural suede changes color when you slide your finger over it

There are different types of suede - natural and artificial. The difference between them will be both in quality and in price. Products made from natural suede are very expensive today due to the use of elite materials used for its manufacture, and a long and complex processing process. Therefore, on sale more and more often you can find products from a substitute material.

Natural suede

For the manufacture of this material, the highest quality raw materials are taken: skins of elk, roe deer, deer, sheep. Layers of leather, even in thickness, are selected without holes and flaws, and then they are tanned with various fats of vegetable and animal origin.

The result is a thin, soft material with double-sided pile and water resistance.

Boots and boots made of natural suede can get wet on top, but they will never let moisture inside the shoe. This suede material differs from artificial substitutes, velor and nubuck.

Faux suede has a homogeneous structure

Suede substitute

This material often looks like suede, and not everyone will be able to visually distinguish a substitute from a natural product. But that's where the similarities end. A suede substitute is a completely artificial material, during the manufacture of which fibers are glued onto the fabric, or thread loops are made, which form the pile.

Then the product is treated with various impregnations, improving its properties: strength, water resistance, ability to retain color. But in a sock, such a material, of course, is not perfect. It is cold, poorly permeable to air, and the opposite is true for water. The substitute will not be as strong and durable.

How can you define natural suede and faux suede?

How to determine if natural suede is in front of you or not:

Suede jackets

A suede jacket will give you comfort in winter weather. Such a product is extremely warm, but at the same time it has good air permeability, so such a jacket will not increase your perspiration. But in an artificial thing - you pretty sweat.

Since suede products are expensive, they will always emphasize the status of their owner or owner. Well, such a jacket will serve you faithfully for several years.

Suede gloves

Use a dedicated suede brush

Natural suede gloves will give their owner a respectable and elegant look. These products today have a large color palette that will allow you to choose gloves for any coat or fur coat. In them, your fingers will feel a pleasant warmth.

But if you have purchased a pair of such elegant and expensive gloves, get ready for what they will be need special care.

How to clean suede gloves

First of all, you need to purchase various aerosolized suede care products. They are easy to apply and will give your suede garment the ability to repel water and dirt.

It is better to apply this impregnation to the gloves as soon as you buy them, it will act as a preventive measure.

If the gloves are still greasy, clean them with a special rubber brush, holding them over the steam so that the pile is smoothed and lifted. The most stubborn dirt is removed with a solution ammonia by adding it to water in a 1: 5 ratio.

And finally, washing. They resort to it in extreme cases, because suede is a very delicate material. Wash suede gloves in warm water by putting them on your hands. The water temperature should not exceed 30 °. The product must be gentle and suitable for natural materials. Rinse the product thoroughly, and after washing, wipe it well with a pile cloth to remove as much moisture as possible. Dry at room temperature.

If you handle suede with care and take care of it properly, products made from it will delight and warm for a long time.

The popularity of suede - velvety leather with a characteristic fine pile, which is tanned with fatty substances, is due to its excellent decorative qualities. Designers of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories from year to year prefer this soft, elastic, waterproof material, creating amazingly beautiful and stylish things.

But when replenishing your wardrobe with a suede product, you need to be prepared for regular, and most importantly, delicate care, since only under this condition can you preserve the attractiveness of suede, no matter whether it is natural or artificial. Let's find out which cleaning methods are the most effective, and how to keep things made of suede of different colors clean.

What kind of pollution are there?

Although suede has good performance characteristics, it is susceptible to all kinds of dirt. The choice of this or that processing method determines the nature and origin of the stains.

In the case of suede, most of the problems are caused by:

Blocked areas are unavoidable due to prolonged use of clothing, shoes or accessories.
Greasy stains. The main reasons for their formation are the interaction of things with the skin in the process of wearing and the banal carelessness of the owners.
Whitish stains. The main provocateur of the appearance of such spots is dampness. If measures are not taken in time, mold can spread, and the fight against which is rarely successful.

Salt streaks are the result of walking in the rain or sleet.
Yellow from sweat or white streaks from lined deodorants, which are also common.
Protein contamination that remains if milk, eggs, blood and other substances with a similar composition get on the suede. The reason is the careless attitude of the owners. Spots of this kind are considered the most difficult, therefore it is important to get rid of them as quickly as possible before the formation of a characteristic crust.
Oil stains from paints and varnishes, glue or ink from a pen, to remove which you have to not only clean, but also degrease the problem area.
Dust pollution - small suede fibers contribute to the accumulation of dust, as a result of which things take on an ugly grayish tint.

How to wash?

When choosing a cleaning method, you must also take into account what type of suede you have to deal with: with a natural material or an artificial analogue. The original is easily recognizable by its sinuous grooves, multidirectional pile and variable color. Its artificial counterpart is characterized by a uniform hairiness of the surface with a certain direction of the villi.

Natural suede, due to its increased strength, has a rather long service life, but contact with water is undesirable for it. When interacting with a liquid, the material, due to its fluffiness, begins to actively absorb moisture, swelling and becoming solid. For this reason maintenance of natural suede products is mainly reduced to dry methods of cleaning from dirt. Whereas artificial canvas calmly refers to moisture. What is contraindicated for him is friction, which provokes deformation of the villi.

Natural suede

Faux suede

Professional care

Preserving the unique texture of suede and keeping it in good condition requires certain tools and skills. Today's variety of effective products for the care of this material allows you to easily select protective agents for products of any type and color. Regular use of professional cosmetics for the care of suede shoes and clothing minimizes the negative impact of external factors and prolongs the life of the things you love.

What should be in the home care arsenal:

Water-repellent impregnation with silicone, thanks to which pile leather will be able to withstand the harmful effects of moisture and will not be afraid of dirt or dust.
Foam shampoo, which works well against salt stains, instantly removes dirt and promotes a deepening of color.
Spray paint that prevents color fading and repairs rough spots on suede.
Sponges-brushes for removing dry dirt, restoring velvety material, cleaning welts and seams.
To remove stubborn stains, it is most convenient to use hard sponges that suck in dirt or loose erasers that remain in the stains, which are then removed with a brush.
Erasers for restoring shiny areas and hairiness.
Several special brushes to gently remove dirt and restore worn, smoothed pile. The most convenient in this regard is the combined option - a "2 in 1" brush, where one side is a rubberized comb, and the other is a rubber surface with short bristles.

The safest method of processing suede is considered to be the sequential brushing over the contaminated surface.

The advantage of mechanical dry cleaning - delicate and at the same time deep cleaning of the pile in the most inaccessible areas between the villi. The bristles combs them efficiently, removing dried dirt, dust, fat deposits. The brush restores the original fluffiness to the pile leather, due to which things from it look like new.

Alternative care

To clean suede products, you can use folk methods:

With ammonia (5 ml) and soda (60 g). The ingredients are mixed, and then the resulting composition is applied to the problem area. Wait 10-15 minutes and remove the mixture with a damp cloth.

With the help of talc, chalk or starch with adsorbent properties, it is easy to get rid of greasy stains. Any composition is simply sprinkled on the glazed areas, kept for an hour, and then the powder is cleaned off with a brush.
High-purity gasoline will help to remove the greasy stain. The napkin is impregnated with fuel, lightly wipe the dirt and leave for 40-50 minutes.
Lemon juice copes well with stains and smudges from road salt. To prepare a cleaning solution, water (200 ml) is mixed with the juice of one fruit and the product is wiped. In this case, rinsing is dispensed with. They let things dry naturally, and then "comb them".
If you are having difficulty removing old stubborn stains, then you should try the recipe: skim milk (100 ml) + ammonia and soda in equal proportions. The resulting composition is used to treat the contaminated surface, having previously tested it in a small area on the inside of the product.
Peroxide (5 ml) with ammonia (5 ml) can remove stains of various origins, without worrying about the loss of color brightness of things. A mixture of these components has a gentle effect and prevents damage to delicate suede.

How can you quickly clean?

Washing is permissible only for high-quality suede products. The use of a washing machine is taboo, washing delicate materials is allowed only by hand.

How to wash natural suede?

Soaking is contraindicated in natural suede for the reasons indicated earlier. To wash it off, the product is processed by weight, that is, on a hanger or placed on a flat base.
A prerequisite is compliance with the temperature regime up to 30 ° C, otherwise the material will harden.
Suitable detergents are gentle, gel-like formulations.
To remove greasy stains from the collars and sleeves, use ammonia with soda or peroxide, and gasoline will help to clean complex dirt.
Spinning and twisting the material is prohibited.
It is advisable to rinse the product with conditioner, having previously greased it with glycerin (2.5 ml) and water (1 liter).
Do not dry in direct sunlight or near radiators. The products are dried in natural conditions by spreading them out on a flat surface and rolling them up in a roll.
The dried thing is combed with a special brush.

How to bring back the purity of faux suede?

The best option is to wash with a delicate gel and a brush. You need to add it to warm water and beat a rich foam. Then process the product by weight, rinse and wrap with a towel. Dry unfolded. To clean velvety pile leather items at home, do not neglect the possibilities of improvised means.

A few more alternative cleaning methods:

Cleaning up the coffee grounds can help restore cleanliness to things made from brown or black suede. You need to brew a fragrant drink. The thick remaining on the bottom of the Turks can be washed off the oil and remove other complex contaminants. The main thing is to let this substance dry completely, and then brush it off.
You can remove dried stains with ammonia. A working solution is prepared: water (1 l) + 3-4 drops of alcohol. A cotton pad is moistened in it and stains are treated.
Salt helps with stains well. It is applied in a small amount to the place of pollution and gently rubbed in with gentle movements, after which it is brushed off.

Furniture upholstery

To keep the suede sofa clean, use a rubber brush to prevent damage to the upholstery. You can entrust the removal of greasy stains with an eraser and alcohol solution. To protect expensive suede furniture, you will need to treat its surface with a dirt-repellent impregnation immediately after purchase.

The presence of a vacuum cleaner with the function of a steam generator or a household steamer greatly facilitates the task of cleaning a sofa or chair with a capricious suede lining.

Procedure:

Diagnose contamination and select household chemicals.
Vacuum clean to remove coarse dirt.
Treat the surface with a cleaning agent, creating a pressure of 3 atm. for knocking out dirt.
Carry out cleaning using two modes: with a stream of detergent followed by the suction of impurities by the device.
Remove local contamination.
Dry the treated surface in any way: draw out moisture with a steam generator or blow it off with air.
Rinse upholstery with clean water under high pressure.

Hot steam cleaning benefits:

At the end of the steam treatment, it is important to ensure that the upholstered furniture is completely dry in natural conditions.

Clothes and shoes

Due to greasy marks, a fashionable suede jacket, a luxurious raincoat or a designer dress made of piled leather ceases to look attractive. You can solve a similar problem with:

Steam treatment. Hot steam not only effectively removes greasy stains, but also copes five times with scuffs, folds and creases. In addition to a special steamer, you can use a regular iron.
Eraser - if you don't have a professional one, a simple stationery eraser will do, which easily reaches greasy spots in hard-to-reach places. To achieve the best cleansing effect, the material is slightly steamed.
Vinegar. 9% vinegar essence (15 ml) is added to water (1 l). With a cotton pad moistened with the resulting solution, gently wipe problem areas. The remaining composition is filled with a sprayer and sprayed over the surface to restore the softness of the skirt or dress.
The collars, sleeves and places on the elbows are sprinkled with a mixture of starch + talcum powder, held for an hour and removed with a brush.

Stains on suede hats and gloves are just as troublesome.

How to restore the look of your favorite accessories:

Prepare a mixture: milk (200 ml) + soda (20 g). Wipe the dirt with a moistened cotton pad until they completely disappear. After that, a solution is prepared: water (1 l) + vinegar (5 ml) and all areas on a hat or beret are treated. Wipe with a thick napkin and hang to dry.
Orange peels, which are simply rubbed over a hat or lemon juice, will help to update a dark suede hat.
To clean the gloves, use wool products. For convenience, gloves are processed directly on the hands, wrung out with a towel and placed in a horizontal position to dry.

To avoid losing the appearance of suede shoes, it is important to remove dirt as soon as possible, that is, upon returning from the street.

Clothes and shoes made of natural suede always look beautiful and expensive. These things add elegance to any look. But instead of natural suede products, stores often sell faux suede items. Therefore, the question of how to distinguish natural suede and not fall for the bait of unscrupulous sellers is becoming more and more relevant.

What is suede

To identify a natural suede product among hundreds of fakes, you need to figure out how this material is made. Suede is called leather, in the production of which prepared raw hides are impregnated with fats. Most often, deer, elk, sheep or calf skins are used for making suede.

How suede is counterfeited

Artificial suede is produced in two ways: woven and two non-woven. The woven method of making pseudo-suede is a fabric made of special microfiber threads and subsequent processing of the material. The first non-woven method consists of gluing the pile onto an ordinary fabric. The second is by adding looped threads, which then create the pile.

Why natural suede is better than artificial

Products made from natural suede not only look very beautiful and stylish, but also wear great. Suede clothes and shoes are always very comfortable, of course, if they fit the right size. The reason is that suede is perfectly breathable and, at the same time, heats up. Even in the warm season, suede clothing is no less relevant than in the cold autumn. After all, this is not synthetics, the density of which now and then throws you into a fever.

Verification methods

If there is a mark number 1 on the product, then you have natural suede (leather) in front of you.

Check # 1: the cost of natural and artificial suede

Suede products, like leather, are more expensive than items made from substitute materials. Therefore, even at the largest sale, suede boots cannot be sold for a song. But the high cost does not guarantee the quality of the material. Therefore, before buying a new thing, it is worth subjecting it to a few more tests.

Check number 2: to the touch

Before buying a suede product, you need to carefully touch it with warm hands. Natural suede will quickly heat up and radiate heat by itself. If the item is made of faux suede, it will stay cool.

Test # 3: Lint Test

The villi of natural suede can be directed in any direction. At the same time, the shade of the product will change slightly. This will not happen with a fake. The villi will either not be manipulated or the color will remain the same.

Check number 4: color and texture

The uniformity of the suede color is a wake-up call. Natural material cannot be perfect. There will certainly be microdamages on it, be it scratches, cracks or creases. If a thing is absolutely uniform in color and texture, it is a fake.

Check # 5: elasticity

Natural suede is very elastic. After folding the material into a fold, a trace will appear on it. But it will quickly disappear, and the suede will return to its original appearance. With artificial material, such an experiment will not work: either there will be no trace of the fold at all, or it will appear and will not disappear.

Check # 6: water

A drop of water is instantly absorbed into the suede. While the artificial material is able to hold the droplet on the surface for several seconds. Do not be lazy to take a bottle of water with you to the store and make sure the quality of the item you like is one hundred percent.

Check # 7: smell

This method is more suitable for more experienced shoppers who know how natural leather should smell. After all, suede also has a subtle smell of leather. And fake suede is usually odorless, or smells like synthetic.

Check # 8: wrong side

Calculating faux suede is easy enough by looking at the back of the thing. If the item has a fabric lining, it is most likely a fake. It is also worth carefully examining the edges of the fabric under the zipper.

The uncut threads of fabric found there also indicate that there is a counterfeit in front of you.

Faux suede is almost indistinguishable from real. This is a synthetic or natural fabric with a characteristic pile on the front side. It is used both for creating clothes and shoes, and for upholstering furniture. There are two ways to produce the material:

Woven... Microfiber threads are split into small fibers, which are glued to the base after processing. The result is a fleecy suede fabric with high strength. Without additional backing, the material becomes unstable to stretch. In this way, the highest quality and most expensive samples of fabric are made, from which jackets, raincoats, gloves are sewn.
Non-woven... Polyester villi are glued to cotton, silk or synthetic backings. This type is produced less costly, it is much easier to care for it. Such suede is used mainly for furniture upholstery.

Conclusion: faux suede is a combination of microfiber or polyester fibers and a cotton, silk or synthetic base. Properties of this matter:

outwardly, it looks like a natural analogue;
the surface of artificial suede is soft and velvety to the touch;
the fabric is durable and resistant to deformation (does not wrinkle);
does not fade;
has good durability;
repels dirt and dust;
has low hygroscopicity;
has a uniform color;
resistant to the formation of kinks, cracks, abrasions;
if you run your hand over the fabric, the villi will easily change position.

Differences from natural

Even taking into account the maximum resemblance to the original, artificial suede still has a number of features. How to distinguish real suede from its fake sister?

Pay attention to these details:

Derived from animal skins, natural suede looks more natural. It has a heterogeneous porous structure, in which cracks and scratches are noticeable.
Dyed natural suede cannot be of a uniform color (the reason is its uneven texture).
The thickness of a natural material changes from center to edge.
Original suede smells like leather, while artificial suede smells like synthetics.
Natural suede is much more expensive than artificial.

Advice! Run your hand over the canvas: the natural in the place of touch will become lighter.

Advantages and disadvantages

This artificial fabric has significantly more advantages than disadvantages. Let's consider everything in order.

Pros:

As a furniture upholstery, it is equally good for any interior style, be it classic or avant-garde. The versatility is evident in the successful use of suede both at home and in the office.
The increased resistance to deformation and the formation of abrasions is another plus of upholstery suede. Such sofa clothes will not crack or stretch under increased load, which the natural analogue cannot boast of.
The material does not accumulate static electricity.
Artificial suede furniture around the entire perimeter has the same density, unlike natural.
The fabric is resistant to direct sunlight.
This padding does not stick to the body.
An interesting property of artificial suede for furniture: it gives warmth in winter and cool in summer.
The same goes for suede clothing. The skin in such clothes breathes.
Faux suede is easier to clean thanks to the Teflon-treated material.
Such matter looks no less aesthetically pleasing and attractive than the real one. Its iridescent velvety surface is eye-catching.

Minuses:

The fabric has tensile strengths. For example, it cannot withstand being used as a scratching post. Keep animals away from this upholstery.
Light colored material tends to get dirty quickly. The problem is solved either by frequent cleaning or by a removable cover.
Caring for faux suede is not easy. Such material does not tolerate high humidity. Only dry cleaning or a minimum of water (solutions of ammonia or vinegar) is allowed.

Application

Suede is mainly used to produce:

clothes,
shoes,
furniture upholstery.

For sewing outerwear and suits, suede on a cotton basis is used. Such things fit the figure well. Knitted suede is a good material for skirts, dresses and blouses. Stylish accessories are also made from fabric: bags, belts, wallets, gloves. As for footwear, everything from shoes to high boots is made from faux suede.

In the production of furniture, artificial suede is given a worthy attention. It serves as upholstery for chairs, sofas, armchairs. Suede also found itself in everyday life. Excellent absorbent wipes for glass cleaning are made from it.

Care

How to remove stains from faux suede? Clothes can be washed with gentle washing agents. Brush and use suede shoes. But with the upholstery, you need to be careful. Only dry cleaning is permissible, especially if a greasy stain is planted. Water will only make matters worse.

Advice! When choosing an impregnation for suede shoes, be careful and choose brands that have earned the trust of consumers. Poor-quality impregnation can glue the villi into a dense crust, forever ruining the thing.

For cleaning clothes, a soapy solution is suitable, which is applied to the dirt with a soft brush. The solution should not be hot. After cleaning, blot the product with a towel to remove excess water. To avoid dripping, blot the garment several times with a towel while drying.

You need to take care of the upholstery constantly. First, vacuum and brush regularly. Secondly, whenever possible, use protective covers. But if you manage to plant a stain, then you have to tinker. How to clean a suede sofa? Salt, an eraser, washing powder will come to the rescue. Be sure to test any product on an inconspicuous area of the upholstery.

Advice! The movements during cleaning should be in the direction of the pile.

Faux suede is a useful and at the same time capricious material. But if all the operating rules are followed, then a product made of such fabric will serve the owner for a long time.