Suede is characterized by its particularly soft feel and fine nap, which gives the surface its structure. Bags made from suede have an elegant look thanks to the finely crafted material - to preserve this look, leather goods owners need to regularly clean and waterproof suede bags.

The rough surface makes suede particularly beautiful, but also particularly sensitive. Dirt and water are practically absorbed by the material's open pores, so stains form easily. Even clear water can leave nasty limescale stains on suede that are difficult to remove.

Caring for suede is therefore an essential part of wearing suede.

What exactly is suede?

Bags and interchangeable flaps made from genuine suede are as soft as textile bags and look particularly elegant thanks to their fine nap. Like velour leather, aniline leather, and nubuck leather, suede is one of the types of napped leather and is usually made from split leather.

To produce fine split leather, thick, high-quality leather is cut into several large layers. Some types of suede are also made from high-quality full-grain leather.

Suede generally comes from regulated game farms. Fine leather from deer or wild boar was a popular material in the 1970s and adds a touch of boho-chic flair to any look.

Expert tips for leather care: cleaning suede bags

The rough surface with its soft patina makes suede particularly beautiful, but also particularly susceptible to dirt. If textiles or other leather surfaces from your clothing repeatedly come into contact with the material, slight discoloration develops over time.

Treat your genuine suede bag gently and, if possible, dry off moisture immediately so that no stains form in the first place.

Cleaning a suede bag is very easy if you observe a few no-gos and use the right cleaning materials:

1. Brush out stains

To clean suede, you need a suede brush with stiff bristles that slightly roughens the leather's surface during cleaning.

Alternatively, you can also use a toothbrush. In some cases, dried dirt stains can also be brushed out of the material while dry.

Caution: Use as little water as possible - washing suede bags in a machine is absolutely taboo.

2. Never clean without impregnation

You should seal your new bag with a special impregnation spray for suede before wearing it for the first time, so that dirt cannot penetrate the material as easily.

The impregnation must be renewed after every cleaning. Impregnating products protect against dirt, but not against discoloration caused by UV radiation. Over time, the sun naturally changes the color of suede.

3. Pay attention to the pH value

An absolute no-go when caring for suede is the use of harsh cleaning products and soaps. These alter the leather's pH value and also leave behind unsightly stains.

Expert tip: If you use water for cleaning, boil it before cleaning the bag or use distilled water from a canister to prevent limescale marks.

Suede wonder: How to effectively remove different types of stains

Water stains and oily stains on suede bags form all too easily and penetrate deep into the material. Light brushing alone is not enough for stubborn stains.

Set-in grease and dirt must first be dissolved. Special cleaning products remove suede stains deep into the pores with the right pH value.

It is best to always treat stains specifically on as small an area as possible. With our ZOÉ LU FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser, you can remove suede stains from small and large areas, then dry them thoroughly and impregnate them.

Your suede bag will then look like new and be free of unpleasant odors.

ZOÉ LU FRIIZ - N°2: Revolutionize your leather care!

For effective cleaning of your ZOÉ LU interchangeable flaps and Main Bag made of genuine leather, we developed the ZOÉ LU FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser .

The cleaning solution can be used on smooth and suede leather and is gentle on the material's fine nap. FRIIZ Cleanser N°2 completely removes discoloration and grease stains and leaves no residue, even on delicate suede and nubuck leather.

The set includes a bottle of FRIIZ leather cleaner with a matching brush made of genuine horsehair. The dirt remover for all leather surfaces can also be used on wool, nylon, or other mesh fabrics:

1. Mix N°2 The Cleanser with water in a 1:5 ratio, or apply a little undiluted solution to heavily soiled areas.
2. Then rub the cleaning solution into the suede using gentle, circular motions.
3. A foam forms on the leather, collecting dirt particles and grease from the pores of the leather. Remove it with a clean cloth. Stains on suede disappear magically with N°2 The Cleanser.
4. You can simply rinse the remaining foam from the clean leather surface with lukewarm water. Do not immerse the material in a water bath; instead, let clean water run over it.
5. After drying, you can roughen the surface again with the included horsehair brush.

Attention: You should cover metallic coatings, studs, and rings with tape before brushing, so they are not damaged by the brush. 

Naturally clean: Your guide to caring for suede with household remedies

To clean suede without water, simple household remedies are ideal, as they can be found in almost every household. A leather brush or a clean toothbrush are the most important tools for removing stains from suede.

Household remedies such as baking soda, dry shampoo, and cornstarch do not seem suitable for use with dark leather.

But don't worry: Powdery residue and dust can easily be brushed out of suede with soft bristles.

1. Cleaning suede with dry shampoo, cornstarch, or baking soda
   Powdery household remedies with absorbent properties are perfect problem-solvers for a quick leather wash. You should sprinkle one of the tried-and-tested household cleaning remedies over fresh stains as quickly as possible and let the powder take effect.
   Dry shampoo also removes grease stains from suede without using water. Before cleaning a large area, test whether dry shampoo for light or dark leather is better suited to your suede bag. After 24 hours, stains and powder can be brushed off dry.
2. Erasing stains from suede
   A dirt eraser or an ordinary uncolored eraser can easily erase discoloration and dirt from suede. This is especially practical when you want to remove small stains on the go.
3. Damp suede cleaning with household remedies
   Deep-seated dirt and snow marks can be removed from suede with liquid cleaning agent. Soften residues of limescale and salt gently with vinegar or onion juice, then wipe them up with a cloth.
4. Cleaning dark suede with coffee
   You can use cold coffee to touch up faded areas on dark leather and gently remove light stains. To do this, dab a cotton cloth in your black coffee and gently rub the affected area of the suede.
5. Cleaning large areas of a bag with dish soap
   Instead of a wash cycle, you can freshen up your bag with an occasional shower and keep it germ-free. Mix a little dish soap with warm water and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Then wet your entire bag, inside and out, with the cleaning solution. It is best to rub the rough surface with a brush rather than a cotton cloth to lift the fine nap again.

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Conclusion

With a little know-how and a feel for the material, cleaning and caring for suede is no problem at all for fans of beautiful bags. Always leave room in your bag for little helpers such as an eraser, mini brush, or the FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser to remove stains as soon as possible after they appear.

With household remedies such as vinegar, onion juice, dish soap, and baking soda, any mishap on suede can be reversed.

However, for burn marks and stains from insoluble paint, there is only one solution: Take some fine sandpaper and then very carefully remove a layer of the leather.

FAQ

Why must suede not get wet?

Suede consists of open-pored split leather with a rough surface that readily absorbs moisture. When the material is exposed to moisture, it seeps deep into the pores and damages the suede.

Water stains and oily stains must therefore be treated as quickly as possible and dried thoroughly before re-impregnation.

Can you wash suede yourself?

A suede bag does not necessarily need professional cleaning. If you remove stains as soon as they appear and care for and impregnate your bag regularly, the material will retain its color and feel for a long time.

With the FRIIZ The Cleanser and simple household remedies, dry and wet cleaning of suede can also be done easily at home.

What happens to suede in the washing machine?

When washing suede, you can make many mistakes that permanently alter the material.

To prevent your bag from developing a prematurely worn look, you should keep it away from washing machines! In the washing machine, suede loses its shape and color.

Leather would also take far too long to dry, causing new water stains to form. The drier, the better, is the rule when cleaning leather!

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