To clean Puma Speedcats, brush the suede dry in one direction, blot any marks that remain with a small amount of cleaner instead of rubbing them, wipe smooth leather with a damp cloth and mild cleaner, and do the rubber sole on its own. Then stuff them with paper and let them air dry away from heat. They never go in the washing machine: Puma rules that out for every sneaker it makes.
SneakerSalt is not affiliated with Puma. Puma's care advice is general, not Speedcat-specific; the quotes below come from its product-care pages.
Suede or leather? Check before you start
Puma's listings describe three versions this way:
| Version | Upper, per Puma | Other parts |
|---|---|---|
| Speedcat OG, unisex (red, black) | "Leather upper" with a "Suede PUMA Formstrip"; 97% leather, 3% textile | Rubber outsole |
| Speedcat OG, women's | "Suede upper"; same 97/3 split | Rubber outsole |
| Speedcat Ballet Suede | "Suede upper"; 81% leather, 19% textile | "Rubber bands over the foot", textile lining, rubber outsole |
One catch: Puma's composition line lists suede as "Leather - cow", so a high leather percentage doesn't tell you the surface is smooth. Run a finger across the upper. A soft, napped surface is suede; a flat, even one is smooth leather. Some pairs have both, so the Formstrip may need different care from the panel around it. We haven't seen material lists for the Metallic, Glossy or Doelette Ballet, so read the label on those before picking a method.
What Puma says
- Suede: "PUMA recommend the use of a specialist suede cleaner and a brush", and "Suede doesn't respond well to water". Puma also suggests a suede treatment spray before the first wear.
- Leather: "Clean any dirt off your sneakers with a damp cloth and mild detergent, or specialist leather cleaner and wipe dry." Then "let them air dry away from direct heat."
- Drying: stuff the shoes with paper or a dry towel while they dry. Puma's US help page lists radiators, dryers and space heaters as heat to keep them from.
How to clean suede Speedcats, step by step
- Start dry. If they came home wet, stuff them and wait. Brushing damp suede presses dirt in.
- Brush one way. Light strokes along the nap, the whole upper, then the Formstrip on its own.
- Erase small marks. A suede eraser, or a clean pencil eraser if you don't own one, with light pressure. Brush away the crumbs.
- Test inside the heel. Foam a patch the size of a coin, blot it, and wait until it has dried. If the shade matches and the nap is still soft, carry on.
- One light pump per panel. Spread it thinly to the seams so the whole panel is evenly damp, wait ten seconds, then press a folded dry cloth flat and lift it straight off. No rubbing and no circles. Puma's line about water is the reason to keep it this light.
- The sole, separately. Foam along the rubber, a brush along the edge, a dry wipe. Keep the brush below the line where the sole meets the suede.
- Dry, then brush. Paper inside, room temperature, no radiator. Once fully dry, brush the nap back up.
That's how we use SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam on suede, where it's rated "Good, blot only", which is the honest grade. It lifts surface grime; it won't undo a stain that has soaked in and set. On the rubber sole it's rated Excellent, and the brush and cloth come in the box.
Red and black OGs with a smooth upper
If your OG's upper is smooth, follow Puma's leather line: a damp cloth with mild detergent, then wipe dry. Our foam counts coloured leather as leather, so try it on an inside panel first. It has no bleach and no solvents and hasn't lifted dye on anything we've tested, but red is the colour you least want to find out on. Clean the leather before the suede Formstrip, and stop the foam short of the strip's edge so no damp creeps into it.
Speedcat Ballet: straps, pink pairs and silver ones
- The suede body, whether pink, Venus or black, cleans exactly as above. On pale shades a ring from one damp spot is easy to see, which is why the foam goes over the whole panel.
- The bands over the foot aren't on our tested list, so keep the foam off them. A dry cloth for dust; for anything more, check the care label.
- Silver, metallic and glossy Ballets: we don't have Puma's material list for them. Clean by what the label says.
- Satin versions: if the label says satin, our foam hasn't been tested on it. The satin shoes guide covers what makers advise.
Can you wash Puma Speedcats?
By hand, yes, as above. In a machine, no. Puma's words: "PUMA do not ever recommend washing your sneakers in the washing machine, regardless of the material they are made from", because "the glue and other fastenings can be damaged". For suede it adds: "Do not put your Suedes in the washing machine, tumble dryer, or submerge in water, as the fabric will lose its texture, and the colours may run." That rules out the dryer and a soak in the sink as well.
Keeping Speedcats clean
Puma's own prevention step is a suede treatment spray before the first wear; our foam cleans, it doesn't protect. After that, brush them dry after a dusty day, before the dirt settles into the nap. The insole and lining get the same light touch; our insoles and odour guide covers smell.
Questions people actually ask
How do you clean suede shoes without ruining them?
Keep them as dry as you can. Brush first, erase second, then blot lightly over the whole panel, never one spot, and let them dry slowly before brushing the nap back up.
What can I use to clean my white PUMA shoes?
On white smooth leather, Puma's damp cloth and mild detergent, or our foam, which is rated Excellent on white leather. On white suede, the brush, the eraser and a light blot, as above.
Can you put Puma Speedcats in the dryer?
No. Puma names the tumble dryer as off limits for suede, and its US help page lists dryers among the heat to avoid. Stuff them with paper and let them dry at room temperature.
Light enough for suede, firm enough for the sole: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam, $24, free shipping, brush and cloth included, and if it doesn't clean your Speedcats within 30 days, you keep the bottle and get your money back.
