How to Clean Suede Furniture

Suede is one of those problematic fabrics that often require the aid of a professional to clean. However, there are some simple techniques available to keep all your suedes and faux suede items looking amazing without costing you a pretty penny. Knowing how to clean suede furniture is especially important, since most of us can’t haul our couches down to the dry cleaners, and a professional home visit incurs a whole new set of expenses.

Even without being real suede, cleaning microsuede furniture uses many of the same techniques as the genuine article. Microsuede is a type of microfiber comprised of small tiny strands that are much more resistant to stains than real suede. Another faux suede item is Ultrasuede.

Unlike the leather origins of actual suede fabrics, Ultrasuede consists of a polyester blend that feels similar to natural suede but is also much more stain-resistant. The ease with which it takes to clean Ultrasuede furniture is sometimes as simple as tossing it in the washing machine. No matter which suede your furniture is made from, we have the best cleaning methods available here.

Smart Ways to Clean Suede Furniture and Faux Suedes

When it comes to cleaning the furniture in your living room, take care when choosing the types of cleaning products you use. These living spaces receive a high amount of foot traffic, which means also exposing your family to harsh chemicals. Most suede upholstery does best with pure, natural ingredients that are safe to use around pets and small children.

Cleaning Suede Furniture

Now that it’s time to maintain your suede couch, you want a fabulous cleaning solution to do it. In most cases, a suede brush is all that’s required to remove scuff marks and unwanted dirt. When using this technique, brush along the suede in one sweeping motion, rather than stroking the suede back and forth.

If you don’t have a suede brush, an old, soft toothbrush also works. To remove stains, sometimes the best suede furniture cleaner is a suede eraser. These tools work great when it comes to preserving the look of other items like suede shoes, which face their fair share of the elements.

If you don’t have an eraser explicitly designed for suede, then a pencil eraser also does the trick. Use sandpaper to remove surface oils and restore the texture of suede shoes after cleaning, similar to using a suede brush.

Baking Soda: The Best Suede Cleaner

When it comes to getting rid of tough stains and spots from suede, avoiding excess moisture is critical. Powdered cleaners like baking soda go a long way in the suede stain remover process, as well as serving to deodorize and freshen the furniture. If you don’t have baking soda, other cleaners like talcum powder also work wonders.

To clean suede with baking soda, start by sprinkling the surface of the furniture with the powder. Let it sink into the suede for approximately 15 minutes before brushing away or vacuuming up the leftover powder. Repeat the process as necessary until all stains vanish.

Another fantastic powdered suede cleaner is cornstarch. Similar to baking soda and talcum powder, cornstarch is one of the best methods for removing a grease stain from suede items, as well as most wet stains.

Baking soda and cornstarch work equally well for how to clean a microfiber cloth for glasses but you can usually put this item in the washing machine for complete cleaning. Air drying is better for the material than using the clothes dryer.

Cleaning Microsuede Furniture with Vinegar

Even if most microfiber and Ultrasuede fabrics are stain repellent, that doesn’t mean they’re completely impervious to a stain or two now and then. When you need to deep clean microfiber or spot treat stubborn dry stains, one of the best cleaning solutions available is white vinegar.

Not only is this cleaner gentle on most fabrics, but it also eradicates stains with ease.Before using vinegar on your microfiber, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clear away any dirt and debris to make cleaning easier. Using a soft terry cloth, gently dab the area with vinegar, working in a cross pattern to dissolve any stains.

If the vinegar is in a spray bottle, do not directly spray the microsuede. Too much moisture causes further damage to the fabric, rather than aiding the stain removal process. Once you’ve adequately lifted the stain, use a dry cloth to absorb the remaining vinegar.

Spot Clean Ultrasuede Furniture with Ethyl Alcohol

Another upholstery cleaner perfect for removing stains from suede is ethyl alcohol. You can also use rubbing alcohol, though it is recommended on light fabrics only. In both cases, test an inconspicuous area of the couch before using to ensure no discoloration occurs when cleaning.

Use this solution for how to wash a suede jacket that has a stain or two or your favorite suede purse. Gentle application is better than scrubbing hard. You don’t want to damage the material.

DIY Suede Stain Removal Recipe

Add the alcohol to the paper towel or cotton balls. Both are not necessary, so choose your preferred method or whatever you have available. Gently press the cleaner into the stain, blotting the area until it disappears.

Rinse with warm water when finished, and dry with a clean cloth. Fluff up the Ultrasuede afterward by using a suede brush in circular motions.

Now you have a better idea of how to tackle that suede sofa in your home. Cleaning microsuede furniture, along with its genuine and Ultrasuede counterparts, is simple when combined with the proper techniques and supplies.

If you’re still unsure what type of material you are working with, always double-check the manufacturer’s tag for care instructions before cleaning. Before you know it, your suede or microfiber couch will look brand new.

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