How To Clean Suede Shoes

Wet the entire outside of the shoe. Apply a light coat of water with your brush. Water can discolor suede, but properly applied water can also remove those stains.^[4]

Use a sponge or dry cloth to soak up excess water. Dab gently until the leather is evenly wet without visible water stains.^[5]

Stick paper and shoe trees in your shoes. Especially if you used a large amount of water, put dry paper in the shoes to help blot out excess water on the inside. Shoe trees (or just wads of paper) will help the shoes retain their original shape. Do not use newspaper because excess ink can soak into your shoes.

Let the shoes dry at least overnight. Put them in a dry, well ventilated spot and let the water evaporate.

Once dry, go over the shoes lightly with a suede brush. This will help shake out the grain back to its original look.