Learn how to care for your suede leather shoes and keep them beautiful and durable for many years to come.
Some of our bestsellers, like Esther, Edith, and Ella, are crafted from high-quality suede leather. This suede is derived from full-grain leather—the finest leather available—and, like the rest of our shoes, boots, and sandals, is highly durable with a long lifespan when properly maintained. Just like in the past, our shoes are crafted to stand the test of time, and we’re here to help you keep them as beautiful and durable as possible for years to come. here comes a guide on how to clean your suede shoes at home.
A pair of my 1940s suede memery shoes, Edith.
What is suede leather?
Suede leather is a type of leather, which has a soft and velvety texture. The leather is made form the underside of the animal skin, and is usually made from sheeps skin, which most of our suede models are as well.
What you'll need:
To care for your suede shoes you'll need following:
- A special suede shoe brush, or a clean tooth bush
- A special suede rubber or a regular pencil rubber eraser
- Alternatively a suede protection spray or white vinegar
If you're in doubt about what type of spray, rubber or brush will be the best for your shoes, we advise you to take your shoes to the local cobbler or shoe store, and have them guide you.
How to clean suede shoes
To enhance the suede’s resistance, follow this step-by-step guide:
- Gently brush off any loose dirt with a clean toothbrush or suede brush. Brush in short strokes and don't rub the suede too hard.
- Use a rubber eraser to gently rub away any left dirt from the suede.
- The rubber can also be used on small scratches.
- Spray your shoes with a thin layer of protective suede spray and let them dry for at least 30 minutes or over night.
How to clean suede shoes without suede cleaner
For a stubborn stain on suede shoes that won’t budge, try using regular white vinegar and a microfiber cloth.
- Lightly moisten a corner of the cloth with vinegar
- Gently dab the stained area. Use a light touch when rubbing, as pressing too hard can push the dirt deeper into the material.
- Avoid soaking the suede—only slightly dampen it.
- The suede may temporarily darken while wet, but as the vinegar evaporates, its original color should return.
How to clean oils stains from suede shoes
For oil stains use baking powder or cornstarch.
- Gently dab with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Use cornstarch or baking powder, and let it absorb the oil for at least 30 minutes.
- Brush off the powder with a soft suede brush or a toothbrush. Make sure you don't "push" the stain further into the suede.
Our Alma pumps in a beautiful burgundy suede.
"Don'ts" when taking care of suede leather shoes
Never use leather care on a suede shoe, as this can change the texture and the color of the suede and remove the velvety, soft texture. We also strongly advise against using water or a damp cloth to clean dirt from suede, as this can push the dirt deeper into the material.
Leather Soles: How to Maintain Flexibility and Durability
For the leather outer soles on suede shoes, we do advise using leather care products on the outer soles themselves. Many of our shoes and boots have leather soles, just like they did back then. Applying leather care to the outer sole regularly helps maintain its flexibility and resistance to water and dirt. You can find our guide on applying leather care here. With the right techniques, you can help your shoes maintain their high-quality look and feel for many years, making them a reliable and stylish part of your wardrobe.
Need more Help with Shoe Maintenance?
If you have any questions about maintaining your memery shoes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service—we’re always happy to assist. You can also book a 1:1 video call with us, where we’ll walk you through the different models and answer any questions you may have about caring for your memery shoes. You can book here: https://memery.us/pages/1-1-session-with-team-memery
