An integral women's accessory is a bag. Among the many materials for this product, suede stands out for its beauty and elegance. Bags made from this noble material require complex and careful care, otherwise the accessory will soon lose its original appearance.
Suede bags cannot be called practical. First of all, the appearance of bags made of this material is spoiled by various types of dirt. The method for cleaning a suede bag depends on the degree of contamination, as well as the type of contaminant. Methods for cleaning suede can be divided into special and traditional. This article discusses the main types of pollution and methods for eliminating them.
Special means
Brushes for suede.
When purchasing a suede item, you should immediately buy a special cleaning brush. There are several options for brushes for cleaning suede items. The most popular are bristle and rubber brushes, in addition to them there are brushes with metal bristles. The optimal option in terms of functionality is double brushes. One side of the double brushes is made of rubber, and the other side is made of bristles or metallic bristles. Such brushes allow you to remove simple dirt such as dust and raindrops from suede material. Special brushes, when cleaning the material, not only do not crush the pile, but, on the contrary, slightly lift it, refreshing the appearance of the product made from this material. It is recommended to use special brushes for daily care of suede.
Doesn't the brush help? Steam will help!
More complex stains can be removed using steam. This cleaning method is very simple and does not require significant costs. For cleaning, you only need a brush and a container of water (saucepan or kettle). You should bring the water to a boil, hold the bag over the steam for a while, then clean it with a special brush. This method is completely safe and will not damage the material of the product.
Special products for suede.
Such products are available in the form of foam or spray. You can buy such a product in a specialized shoe and accessories store. Special suede cleaning products are accompanied by instructions. Before cleaning, it is recommended to test the product on a small, inconspicuous area. It should be borne in mind that store-bought foams and sprays do not always cope with old, stubborn stains.
Folk remedies
Stationery eraser.
A regular eraser will help get rid of small dirt. You just need to rub the desired areas without excessive pressure. This method is most applicable for products made of light suede.
Soap solution.
Another cleaning option is to use a soapy solution. It is necessary to dilute a small amount of liquid soap in warm water, then clean the suede bag with a sponge or soft cloth soaked in the resulting soap solution. After this, wipe the bag with a clean damp cloth and dry at room temperature. For better results, you can use a special brush, which will lift the pile and improve the appearance of the suede bag.
Milk-soda mixture.
Required:
- 1 tsp. baking soda,
- 1 tsp. skim milk.
The resulting mixture should be applied to problem areas and left for a few minutes. Next, you should wipe the areas with a rag or cotton pad soaked in clean warm water. This method is recommended for bags made of light colors. The milk-soda mixture will help get rid of grease, dirt and dust, and also refresh the color of the bag.
Ammonia.
This method will help remove even complex old stains. It is recommended to resort to this method if simpler and gentler means do not cope with the task.
Required:
- 1 tsp. 10% ammonia,
- 4 tsp. water.
The mixture is applied to the contaminated area. After a few minutes, remove dirt with a special brush, rinse and dry the bag at room temperature. After drying, use a suede brush.
Hydrogen peroxide.
This method is only applicable to white suede bags. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at any pharmacy. You need to mix 1 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide and 50 ml of water (a quarter cup). The product is wiped with a sponge or rag soaked in the resulting liquid.
Removing greasy stains
Grease stains are complex stains that are difficult to remove.
You can remove grease stains with talcum powder, tooth powder or chalk. Chalk must be thoroughly crushed before use. One of these products should be applied to the problem area and wait several hours.
For more difficult stains, you can use salt; just apply it to the contaminated area for 5-6 hours. After this, you need to treat the area with a special brush for suede.
Additionally, you can use a milk-soda mixture or ammonia.Under no circumstances should you use gasoline, acetone or other aggressive agents to remove grease stains, otherwise you can ruin this capricious material.
Wash
There are 2 options:
- Handwash. The bag must be washed in warm water. This should be done very carefully! Under no circumstances should you squeeze a suede bag. For washing, it is recommended to use detergents for woolen items, but regular liquid soap will also work. Dissolve a small amount of the product in a bowl of warm water and begin washing.
- In the washing machine. An easier option is machine wash. You should choose a washing mode – 30-40 degrees, without spin.
How to dry?
When drying items made from this material, avoid heating. The use of a hair dryer, battery and heater is not allowed. The same applies to drying suede in direct sunlight. A suede bag should dry at room temperature. To maintain its shape while drying, you can stuff the bag with something, such as paper or fabric. After drying, the appearance of suede items becomes dull. You can refresh it with a special suede brush.
Cleaning suede of different colors
Dark brown suede.
To clean bags made of this color material, you can use a special brush dipped in coffee grounds. This will help not only get rid of dirt, but also refresh the color of the product.
Light suede.
In this case, you can use soda or a milk-soda mixture. Soda easily cleans various stains without damaging the material.
If there are abrasions on the material, you can use special aerosol paints of the appropriate color.
Pollution prevention
In order to prevent contamination, proper care of suede products is necessary, namely the use of water-repellent agents. As a rule, such products are produced in the form of sprays, which facilitates and speeds up the process of processing suede material. After purchasing such a product, it is recommended to test it on a small area of suede.
The methods listed above deal with fresh stains much more effectively, so it is advisable to act immediately and pay attention to prevention.
Following the basic rules for caring for a suede product and timely cleaning will help maintain its attractive appearance for a long time.
