Can you machine wash suede shoes? No. Nike's advice is not to put suede shoes in the washing machine, and not even to hand-wash them in soap and water, because suede absorbs water and washing can set stains into it rather than lift them out. Clean suede dry first, with a brush and an eraser, and use only a little moisture, blotted, on whatever is left.
That goes for suede trainers, boots, loafers and the suede panels on mixed shoes. SneakerSalt is not affiliated with Nike or any other brand quoted here.
What a washing machine does to suede
Suede is leather with a raised, napped surface, and a wash cycle attacks it in three ways at once.
- Water. The nap soaks it up. Nike's explanation is that washing suede with water "can actually cause stains to set in the fabric." Timberland says too much water leaves porous suede and nubuck stained and warped.
- Agitation and detergent. The American Cleaning Institute notes that most makers discourage machine washing because the tumbling and the detergents may damage many leathers and the adhesives that hold shoes together.
- Drying. Suede that has been soaked commonly dries stiff and hard, and if it then goes in the dryer, Nike's warning is simple: "throwing your shoes in the dryer can damage them."
The result people describe after a wash is suede that has gone darker or blotchy, feels stiff, and has a flattened, matted nap. Results vary from pair to pair, and you only find out after the cycle.
Is there a safe setting for suede?
No. A cold, gentle cycle reduces the agitation, but the suede still gets soaked, and soaking is the main problem. A mesh bag doesn't change that either; we found no source that tests whether a bag protects shoes at all. The same goes for suede boots: UGG, whose boots are suede on the outside, says hand wash only and not to use a washing machine.
Mixed shoes follow the most delicate material. A sneaker with suede overlays on a mesh body, a suede Converse, a suede Nike or a suede pair of Hey Dudes counts as suede for washing purposes, even if the canvas or mesh parts could cope. Hand only, and keep the water off the suede.
Faux suede, suede jackets and bags
Faux suede is a synthetic, not leather, so the leather rules above don't automatically apply, and none of our sources cover it. The care label is the authority. For suede jackets and bags, the reasoning about water and agitation is the same, but our sources are about shoes; follow the label or ask a specialist cleaner.
Suede shoes after the washing machine: how to rescue them
If a pair has already been through a wash, here is how to give it the best chance.
- Take them out straight away. Don't let them sit wet in the drum.
- Press, don't wring. Squeeze the water out with a towel pressed against the suede.
- Stuff them. White paper towels hold the shape and draw moisture out. The American Cleaning Institute prefers paper towels to newspaper, because newsprint ink can transfer.
- Dry them naturally. Room temperature, out of direct sun, away from radiators. Dr. Martens says to let suede dry naturally; Nike suggests newspaper or a fan instead of a dryer.
- Brush once fully dry. Brush in one direction to lift the nap and even out the colour.
- Deal with water lines. If tide marks have formed, dampen the whole panel evenly with a barely damp cloth so it dries as one, then brush again. UGG's care text warns that uneven wetting leaves visible water lines.
If the suede has dried hard or patchy after all that, more brushing is the main tool you have. Beyond that, a cobbler can tell you whether it's recoverable.
How to clean suede shoes instead
Nike's sequence is a good one: a dry suede brush, working with the grain; a suede eraser or pencil eraser on marks; then, for anything stubborn, a small amount of suede cleaner, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol on the corner of a cloth. "Be sure not to drench the shoe," Nike adds. Test vinegar on a hidden spot first, because it can change some dyes.
A pump foam does the last step with less water than a cloth. SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam is rated "good, blot only" on suede and nubuck: one light pump, ten seconds, blot with a dry cloth, never rub, and brush the nap up once dry. It comes with a brush and a cloth. Spread over a whole panel, one light pass usually evens out water marks too; on set-in oil the result is partial. Our suede and nubuck guide goes through the blot method in full, and the sneakers and the washing machine guide covers the shoes that can take a wash.
Questions people actually ask
Is suede ruined once it gets wet?
Not necessarily. Let it dry naturally, away from heat, brush it, and even out any water lines by dampening the whole panel so it dries as one. Nike also suggests a suede protectant to help prevent water stains in the first place.
Can you clean suede with washing up liquid?
Nike advises against soap and water on suede. If you do use it, keep it to a drop in water on a barely damp cloth, and blot rather than scrub.
How to clean suede shoes at home without a suede brush?
A clean, dry, soft toothbrush or a dry towel lifts surface dust, and a pencil eraser handles small marks, which Nike suggests. Brush in one direction, gently.
How do I dry shoes after washing?
Stuff them with white paper towels and leave them at room temperature, away from direct heat and sun. Nike says many shoes take at least 8 hours to dry fully. Never the tumble dryer.
Skip the drum: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam cleans suede with a pump and a blot, $24 with a brush and cloth, free shipping, and keep the bottle if it doesn't work.
