Ankle boots come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. There’s synthetic leather, faux animal skin, and then there’s suede. Knowing the material from which your ankle boots are made of will help you care for them better. One of the trickiest materials to deal with is suede. Suede ankle boots are fun to wear because they are soft on your skin and they look adorable with almost anything you wear them with. However, they can easily accumulate dirt and moisture and unlike leather, you cannot just wipe away a stain from your suede ankle boots.
Do you have a soiled pair of suede ankle boots? Here are a few tips on how to restore it to its former glory.
1. Water is the number one foe of suede shoes—ankle boots or not. For wet suede ankle boot situations, you have to grab a dry cloth or rag to blot out as much moisture as you can and then let it air dry completely before doing any further damage control.
2. Once dry, you can use several means to remove the dirt from your suede ankle boots, depending on the gravity of the stain. If it’s a small stain, try using a clean pencil eraser. Rub gently and slowly so you won’t destroy the napped texture of your suede boots. For heavy duty dirt, try softening it first with hot steam from a blow dryer (be careful to not “oversteam”) before wiping it with a dry cloth or rag.
3. If you have several pairs of suede ankle boots and other suede footwear, then it is worth investing in a special suede shoe cleaner. Before spraying on the cleaner on the actual soiled area of the shoe, spray it first on an unnoticeable area of your boots to check for colorfastness. Use the brush to loosen the dirt before applying the cleaning solution. Then spray on the cleaner lightly and evenly. Use a dry, clean rag or cloth to remove the dirt.
4. There are also products on the market which are designed to protect suede shoes. Try searching for one made for your suede ankle boots. Some products are said to repel water or dirt, or both. Make sure to carefully read and follow the instructions.
5. For sticky substances like gum, try placing your boots inside the freezer. Frozen gum or other sticky substance will then be easier to remove without damaging the texture of your boots. Use a suede brush to finish off what you cannot remove by hand.
