Suede & Nubuck

Suede & Nubuck Shoe Care Guide

Taking care of suede and nubuck leather shoes mainly involves cleaning them in order to restore them to their original and new condition. In this guide, we will display to you a complete suede and nubuck care guide which includes washing with a suede soap and water. Nevertheless, depending on your shoes’ condition and how dirty it is , solely brushing to remove dirt is perfectly fine too.

Step 1: Brush off dust with a Horsehair Brush

Brush off any superficial dust on your shoes using a horsehair brush. The sturdiness and flexibility of the horsehair’s bristles allows easy dusting on the edges of the shoe, where most dust and dirt accumulates. Hold the brush firmly and brush in a ‘back-and-forth’ motion.

Proceed to the next step if the entire shoe is very dirty. Skip to step 3 if the whole area is slightly dirty. Skip to step 4 if there are specific stains on the shoe.

Step 2: Deep cleaning with Suede Shampoo

We recommend using the Saphir Médaille d’or Omni’nettoyant to thoroughly wash and clean your suede or nubuck shoes when they are very dirty.

To begin, pour some Omni’nettoyant cleaner into a small cup. Using the brush provided, dip it into the cup and start to scrub the suede leather shoes. Make sure to scrub the entire shoe evenly. Before the cleaner dries out, rinse the brush and brush the dirt off the shoe. Lastly, let the shoes dry for a while before proceeding with the next step.

Step 3: Remove dirt with a Suede Brush

Brush your suede shoes with a proper suede brush to remove any marks or surface dirt. The stiff bristles of the suede brush removes dirt on the surface without compromising the coating of the leather.

Step 4: Remove specific stains with a Suede Eraser

If there are any specific stains or any other stubborn stains on the shoes where the suede brush is unable to remove, proceed to use the Saphir Gommadin Eraser. Once you have identified the dried mark or stain, rub the eraser onto it like how you would do with a pencil eraser. Afterwards, brush off any residues or grime with a horsehair brush.

Step 5: Nourish & Recolour

We recommend using the Saphir Médaille d’Or Suede Renovateur to nourish and recolour your suede or nubuck leather shoes especially if the colour has faded after using The Omni’Nettoyant.

Shake the can of the Suede Renovateur before use. Spray it about 30cm away from the shoe in a well-ventilated area. Be careful not to spray onto the lining of the shoes. Take note to not over-saturate the shoes. Allow the shoes to rest and dry completely for at least 30 minutes.

Step 6: Apply Waterproofing Spray

Protecting and waterproofing suede or nubuck leather is an essential step as these leathers by nature are easily stained by water. This also prevents future stains from occurring.

Shake the can of Super Invulner Spray before use. Spray the Super Invulner can about 30cm away from the shoe in a well-ventilated area. Be careful not to spray onto the lining of the shoes and also take note to not over-saturate the shoes. Allow the shoes to rest and dry completely for at least 30 minutes.