What Kind of Suede Cleaner Do I Use to Clean My Suede Furniture?

Routine Cleaning

• To routinely clean suede furniture, use a steam cleaner and a brush attachment. Apply steam approximately 6 inches away from the piece to minimize water penetration. Clean the surface with the brush when the water reaches the appropriate temperature. Dust is another enemy of suede furniture; it needs to be promptly and repeatedly removed. To do so, vacuum the piece with a brush attachment. Accumulated dust causes suede furniture to become discolored. As with heavy stains and soiled areas, discolored areas must be treated only with chemicals specifically designed for suede.

Removing Stains

• The headrests and armrests of suede furniture are highly susceptible to body oil stains. Carefully and routinely inspect the areas for marks. To clean, use a leather degreaser according to the manufacturer's instructions. Carefully use leather degreaser to also clean grease and oil stains. Ink stains are difficult to remove from suede. Apply a dry cleaning solvent, which will evaporate with the stain, for best results.

Maintenance

• To revitalize suede furniture that has lost its rough appearance, rub the surface with sandpaper. Rubbing the paper on the piece causes the fuzzy look to re-appear. The fuzzy texture often diminishes due to worn grains and friction.

Protecting Suede

• To minimize the wear on suede and the loss of its texture, protect clean suede pieces with chemicals designed specifically to protect the material. For maximum protection, re-apply approximately every six months. Place suede furniture pieces in areas where they are least likely to receive rough use, which often results in scratch marks that are difficult, if not impossible, to remove.