Did your best suede couch get dirty, and are you thinking about how to clean suede couch now? No need to worry anymore. What is the first thing you do? Yes, grab a wet cloth and clean up, right? You will end up running your suede couch if you do so!
You will get the best tips and tricks here, right from the experts! Here we will guide you step by step for the perfect foolproof techniques on how to clean suede couches and keep them shining and spot-free.
How To Clean Suede Couch
Before we go ahead and tell you how to clean your suede couch, it is important to understand what type of cloth suede is. Most people can’t differentiate between them and don’t even know they have a suede couch. They confuse it with leather.
What Is Suede?
Suede is one of the finest types of cloth available on the market. It’s a type of leather that is made from the underside of the skin of animals. It’s super soft and luxurious, with a velvety feel. It makes your couch look aesthetically pleasing with a touch of elegance and makes it stand out.
However, the only problem with suede is that it’s not washable and cleaning stains can be a hassle. Also, with time, it does lose the shine and finesse it previously had. Consequently, you end up thinking about how to clean suede couch to get that perfection back.
No, we are not trying to scare you!
Why The Need To Clean Suede Couches?
Even after taking lots of care of our upholstery, we do end up getting dirt and stains on it. Stains are inevitable, no matter how many precautions you take. You want to know how to clean suede couches, then you are at the right place!
We all want to give our suede couches a thorough cleaning because of
- Wet stains
- Old stains
- Or just for freshening up existing couches
Materials Required
You don’t want to start cleaning your couch and stop because you don’t have the right materials. We also recommend starting off by making a list of materials and arranging them.
- Cloth
- Suede Couch Cleaner
- Hairdryer/ vacuum
- Brush
- Detergent
Water – The Enemy Of Suede
If you’re pondering how to clean suede couches and come to the conclusion that with water you can remove suede fabric stains, then you are wrong, my friend! Why is water a big no-no? Because water tends to end up staining suede more than ever!
Types Of Suede Couches
Suede comes in 3 different categories. You need to first determine which type of couch you have. The three categories are explained below.
- Faux suede couch
- Microfiber suede couch
- Natural suede couch
Faux Suede Couch
This is more long-lasting than the normal suede fabric. It’s animal-friendly and made from microfibres of polyester.
Microfiber Suede Couch
It’s a much better option than natural suede. It is resistant to wear and tear and is highly durable. It’s man-made with small microfibres that give it an extra edge.
Unlike suede made from animal skin, these types of suede are waterproof and easy to clean. Furthermore, they are much more long-lasting and come in a variety of colors and designs. They have low maintenance and higher durability.
Natural Suede Couch
This is suede made from animal skin on the underside. It is difficult to clean and maintain.
How To Determine Which Suede Couch Do You Have at Home?
Couches are one of the most used pieces of furniture that we have at home. We eat, sleep, and watch movies on it. Most stains are on the couch, and we end up pondering how to clean suede couch.
But first, you have to determine what kind of suede you have.
For natural suede, you need to know that it’s expensive, has a fuzzy type of finish, and has a grainy finish.
For microfiber suede, it’s less expensive and can handle wear and tear and stains well.
After you have determined your suede type, we can go ahead with the cleaning process.
How To Clean Suede Couch – Tips From The Experts
With these tips and tricks, you don’t have to worry about your suede couches losing their shine and appeal. One thing you need to remember is that stains are inevitable. Even without children running around, your upholstery is bound to lose its shine with time.
Removing a stain as soon as it occurs, prevents it from toughening up and resulting in those hard-to-remove stains. Just use a good-quality suede couch cleaner and you are set!
Wet Stains
If you accidentally spill a beverage on your suede leather couch, you have to act promptly and immediately. By simply blotting the stain with a cloth, you can easily remove the stain. If some residue remains, use a lightly damped cloth. Remember not to rub in hard, but keep a light, gentle hand. In the end, using a hair-dryer to dry the affected area tends to give you the best results.
Old Stains
Removing those toughened stains can be a problem for you and get you thinking about how to clean suede couches. But, fortunately, these can be easily dealt with as well. Just clean the old stains on your suede leather couch with a cleaner and wipe them off with a soft sponge.
Freshening Up
For freshening up your suede leather couch, whether it’s a microfiber suede couch or a faux suede couch, just cleaning it with a lightly damp cloth is recommended. But be careful not to dampen your suede couch, or you might end up doing more damage than good!
How To Clean Suede Couch – Other Cleaning Methods
Apart from the remedies mentioned above, there are other ways to clean suede couches if you do not have a suede couch cleaner readily available at home.
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Talcum powder
- Vacuum
Baking Soda
Baking soda is not just a pantry item, but it does have amazing dirt and oil absorption. Just sprinkle it on the stain and remove it after 15 minutes. It does tend to work wonders.
Talcum Powder
Just like baking soda, talcum powder also comes with good absorption properties. If you have a stain, just sprinkle some talcum powder on it and wait for some time. Then just brush it off with your hand. Voila, you’ll get a stain-free suede couch in a matter of minutes.
Vinegar
Vinegar is readily available in all households and works perfectly on stains without damaging the suede. Just pour some vinegar on a piece of cloth and gently rub it on the stain. You should be careful not to rub very hard since you might end up enlarging the stain.
Vacuum
By using a vacuum on your suede sofas, you will get rid of the usual dirt and debris. It keeps your sofa softer and cleaner too. It’s a great way to keep all your sofas free of pet hair as well. A deep vacuum once a month will surely keep your couch spot-free.
How To Treat Different Stains – Fast And Effective Way
You often encounter different stains on your couch and try to figure out how to clean suede couches. Well, we have come up with other cleaning methods as well.
- Cornstarch is another item that is very effective in treating oil stains and grease. All you need to do is sprinkle cornstarch on the effective area and leave it on for a couple of hours. Then all you have to do is vacuum it or simply dust it.
Tip… do not use a suede brush since you might end up strengthening the stain
- To remove mud stains, let the mud dry completely. Mostly, the mud crumbles off the suede fabric easily when it completely dries out. By using a suede brush, you can gently scrape off the extra residual left.
- One of the most common types of stains is left behind from water. Just dab the water with a cloth or towel. If you are encountering a tough stain, simply try blotting with a bath towel with some alcohol or vinegar.
- If your couch is stuck with gum or wax, then the best way is to apply ice to the surface. The gum hardens and is easy to scrape off. Don’t apply it directly or you might end up with water stains as well.
- Removing blood stains is simple with this foolproof trick. Just apply hydrogen peroxide to a piece of cotton or cloth and lightly dab the stain until all the blood comes out. Simple.
- One of the stubbornest stains to remove. But you don’t have to worry about how to clean suede couches with ink stains. For fresh ink stains, simply dab them with a paper towel or cloth. For dried ink, apply some alcohol and leave it to dry. Then clean it up with a suede couch cleaner and eraser to get the best and most effective results.
How To Clean Suede Couches (Different Methods)
Each type of suede has a different cleaning and maintenance method. Since their composition is different, the stain removal method is also different.
Natural Suede Couches
For couches made from natural suede, you do not have many options.
Vacuuming them once a month and cleaning spills immediately are the only available options. Since natural suede is not water-resistant, you cannot get it cleaned with water as it will cause more stains. If all other methods fail, calling in a professional to do the job is the best solution.
Microfiber Suede Couch
They can be cleaned with two different methods.
- Soap and water
- Isopropyl alcohol
Soap And Water Method – The Procedure
- First and foremost, you must remove all the excess dirt and soil from your suede couch with a cloth or vacuum cleaner. It will lay the foundation for the next step.
- Then, take a bucket of water. Add approximately four cups of water.
Tip…. the temperature should not be cold but warm for the cleaning to be effective.
- Add one cup of your favorite dishwashing detergent and mix it up well to make lots of suds.
- Take another bucket or bowl of plain water.
- Then take your brush and dip it in the subs.
Tip… be sure to not dip the brush in the water but only the suds.
- After that, lightly start cleaning the area slowly. You need to be careful not to drop any liquid droplets on the area already cleaned.
Tip.. the best way to brush is lightly and in circular motions.
- Then just dry it with a plain cloth dipped in water and leave the couch to dry. After the drying is complete, use an upholstery brush to fluff out the suede fibers.
Pro tip…. Rise the brush at regular intervals for maximum effectiveness.
Isopropyl Alcohol Cleaning Method – The Procedure
- First, clean the couch and let it be free of soil, dirt, and debris.
- Then take a spray bottle and fill it with alcohol. Now take a bowl or a bucket of water.
Tip… the water should NOT be warm. For best results, just use normal tap water.
- Next, spray the alcohol on a small area and quickly scrub with a sponge or cloth dipped in water.
Tip… rise the sponge repeatedly and it should not be soaking.
- Let the fabric air-dry and use an upholstery brush to bring to life the matted fiber.
Expert Tips And Tricks For Longevity – Last For Longer
Our experts have come up with simple, easy methods to help increase the lifespan of your suede couches and take away all your worries relating to how to clean suede couches effectively and efficiently.
- No direct exposure to sunlight.
- Spray them with a water-repellent spray to give them 24/7 protection.
- If they are wet, give them time to air dry before applying anything.
Pro tip…. Before using any technique or product, check it by applying it to a small area and then proceed with the rest of the process.
As you can see from the above discussion, keeping your suede couches clean and spot-free is now possible with the techniques and methods explained above. Now there are no more worries about how to clean suede couches and keep them as good as new ones.
