Time to tackle another of life’s most colorful problems…. how to clean colorful suede! (Have you tried glitter polish yet since we told ya how to remove it!?) I, as you know, have a major shoe obsession/problem/addiction and I happen to gravitate towards the colorful suede variety. Wanna know the problem with that? I basically RUIN them the second I wear them. One scratch and BAM! Gross. Driving in them? BAM! The heel is basically black.
When Jeff was out of town a few weeks back and I had some extra time on my hands I decided it was time to try and give my shoes an overhaul but I didn’t want to go get any special supplies because Teen Mom was on and… well, you know. So I did some researching and some testing and found two items you probably already have in your house that instantly made SUCH a difference. Plus, I’ve got 15 of my fave pairs for you to snag this spring at the bottom of the post!
How To Clean Colorful Suede
Total Time:
Supplies
Toothbrush
White Pencil Eraser
Washcloth, Rag or Paper towel
Directions
*Before doing anything, I recommend testing both the eraser and the toothbrush on an inconspicuous part of the shoe, like the underside of the heal, to ensure that it does not remove the color. It did not on any of mine, but it's best to be safe!
1. You're going to want to start with the toothbrush to brush off any excess dirt. Rub the brush in a circular motion on the suede until you've removed as much of the dirt as possible. Wipe down with a rag/paper towel.
2. Now it's time to tackle any remaining dirt or darker marks. Rub the pencil eraser on the marks, just like you're erasing a pencil mark. Then, go back in with the toothbrush to remove the eraser pieces and the dirt. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the marks are gone.
Now how about a few of my current favorite pairs? Shoe shoppin’ never hurt anybody!
No. 1 Orange Heels | No. 2 Color Block Sandals
No. 3 Blue Heeled Mules | No. 4 Blue Heeled Loafer
No. 5 Pink D’Orsay Sandals | No. 6 Mint Platforms
No. 7 Purple Flat Sandals | No. 8 Pink Heels
No. 9 Lilac Platform Sandals | No. 10 Aqua Sandals
No. 11 Pink Suede Sandals | No. 12 Neon Pointed Flats
No. 13 Mint Mules | No. 14 Coral Heeled Sandals
No. 15 Yellow Heels
(p.s. I got these last year and a lot of you asked about them. They have gone in and out of stock ever since, so keep an eye on ’em if they sell out and you still want ’em!
Photos by Kelly Mindell
A few things I stumbled upon recommended using some vinegar but I didn’t find that helped much and it made me nervous it was going to leave a stain, so I just stuck with the toothbrush and eraser!
So, do you guys have this problem too!? Luckily if you snag any of those fun pairs above, you will know JUST how to fix ’em up when they need it. Happy cleaning!
p.s. How to frost a cake!
Michelle says
That’s a wonderful tip, thank you for that! Never thought about using an eraser, I usually use bile soap. Oh and I definitely love that number 5!
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