Questions and answers

Gentle care for wild looks: Your guide to suede

Posted on by Theresa Habermann
21
Feb

Suede is a special type of leather that is given a soft and velvety texture by sanding its surface. In contrast to smooth leather, it has a roughened surface, which gives it a luxurious feel. Suede is usually made from the underside of animal skins. For this reason, raw materials with poor surface quality can also be used for the production of suede, as this is sanded off. In the meantime, there are also vegan leather alternatives that look the same and also have a velvety-soft surface. Probably its name comes from the French velours, which means “velvet”.


In normal parlance, the words suede and suede are often used interchangeably because both materials have the same typical, soft texture. In reality, however, these terms refer to two different types of leather.


Suede is the generic term for a leather with a soft, velvety surface with short, fine fibers. This special texture is created by sanding the leather on one side.
Various animal skins can be used for production, such as cattle, pigs, goats or deerskin. Most commonly, suede is used for garments, shoes, and accessories.


In contrast, suede is a specific type of suede that is obtained purely from the skin of wild animals such as deer, deer, or other wildlife. Suede also has the characteristic velvety surface and is mostly used for garments, shoes and accessories that are intended to have a rustic or natural look.

Because suede is made from the underside of the animal’s skin, which is open-pored and soft, it is quite delicate. Its structure has some advantages, such as the velvety look and the pleasant feel, but on the other hand it makes the material more susceptible to external influences and deserves special care.

Read more about the reasons for the sensitivity of suede here.
Its porous surface makes it easier to absorb moisture, dirt and oils. For this reason, the material reacts more sensitively to, for example, water stains, grease and salt stains. Because, unlike smooth leather, there is no natural smooth grain as a protective layer, these stains can also penetrate directly deeper into the material. At the same time, the lack of a protective layer makes it more sensitive to rain, snow and sunlight. For example, the leather could harden due to water and UV rays can cause it to fade easily.
In addition, suede is sensitive to heavy abrasion due to its velvety structure and can therefore look worn out quickly.

Normal cleaning methods, which we have already described several times on our blog, such as rubbing with a damp cloth, can damage the sensitive fibrous layer or destroy the characteristic velvety structure by smoothing it. For this reason, you need a special suede brush to remove dirt for gentle cleaning.
To ensure that it is well protected from moisture and stains, it should also be treated regularly with a suitable mild impregnation that does not affect the natural breathability of the material.
The surface can then be refreshed by brushing it with special brushes. Thus, the leather regains its matte, soft look.

Since suede is relatively delicate, it requires special care so as not to damage the surface.

First, coarse dirt and dust should be removed with a suede brush. The Tapir suede brush with brass bristles is particularly gentle and gentle on the suede, while at the same time effectively removing stubborn dirt and deposits. Unlike traditional brushes, the brass bristles offer a fine cleaning effect that does not damage the material while maintaining its natural softness and smoothness.

For stains and dirt, our suede eraser is suitable. This cleans thoroughly and without water, without damaging the sensitive leather. The application is also very simple here. The eraser must be gently rubbed over the dirty areas, for stubborn stains the harder side made of natural rubber can be used. Then the loosened dirt can be wiped off with a soft gloss brush or a cotton cloth. To protect the leather from further dirt and moisture afterwards, a waterproofing spray for suede and suede should be used. After this has dried, the fibers should finally be put back up with the suede eraser.

With these instructions and the right tools, your suede will stay beautiful and well-groomed for a long time.

If you want to remove stubborn stains from your suede shoes, all you need is a little patience, the right equipment and the right methods to avoid damaging the delicate material.

For the dry cleaning of dirt stains, the Tapir suede brush with brass bristles is an important care tool for suede, suede and nubuck leather. It allows these delicate materials to be thoroughly cleaned and refreshed without damaging their structure or texture. Thanks to the specially developed brass bristles, the brush cleans particularly gently and effectively. Even stubborn dirt and deposits are removed, while the natural softness and suppleness of the material are preserved.
With gentle, circular movements, impurities can be effortlessly removed, so that the suede shines like new again.

In addition, the suede eraser can also help to remove the stains. This also simply has to be rubbed dry gently over the dirty areas, for stubborn stains you can use the harder side made of natural rubber.

Then the loosened dirt can be wiped off with a soft gloss brush or a cotton cloth. Finally, the leather should be cared for with the tapir impregnation and after drying with the suede eraser, the fibers should be put back up.

In the case of grease stains , dry cleaning is not sufficient. Speed is the top priority here, because the longer the stain is left on, the more difficult it is to remove from the leather. First, the stain should be carefully dabbed off with kitchen paper. Rubbing must be avoided at all costs! After that, a sufficiently thick layer of baking soda or baking soda can be applied to the stain, which is best left on the leather overnight. The residue can simply be shaken off or brushed out with a brush. The powder sucks the grease out of the leather.


After stain removal, you should roughen the suede with a suede brush to renew the structure. Finally, impregnate the shoes with a suede spray to protect them from future stains.

The simple answer to this question is yes, suede should be groomed regularly, even if it looks clean. Here are the reasons why.

Since suede is a sensitive material that can lose its appearance and structure due to everyday stresses such as friction, dust and moisture, its velvety surface is preserved through regular care and premature wear is prevented.

Even if no visible stains are visible, you should regularly treat your suede with a suitable waterproofing spray. This protects it from water, dirt and stains and also makes it easier for you to clean it if it does get dirty.

Even if the suede is clean, its fiber can be flattened over time and it will lose its characteristic look. With a suede brush or the suede eraser, you can easily roughen the fibers again so that the leather looks beautiful and even again.

Another reason why suede should be cared for regularly is that dust and tiny dirt particles often settle unnoticed in the material. If this is ignored for a longer period of time, it could lead to discoloration or stains, which in turn are more difficult to remove.

Below you will find a recommendation for maintenance intervals:

About once a week and especially for frequently used items such as shoes or bags, you should brush and roughen them.

After each thorough cleaning or about every 2-3 weeks with regular use and especially after contact with rain or snow, you should impregnate your suede shoes. Thorough cleaning should take place as needed, but at least once or twice per season .

In summary, it can be said that even if the leather looks clean – it is still worthwhile to regularly pay attention to whether the first signs of wear, loss of color or shine formation due to friction can already be seen. With early care of tapir, your suede will stay in good condition for longer!

The impregnation of suede in the shoe care routine as protection against external influences is of great importance due to several factors.

Since suede is naturally open-pored and can therefore easily absorb water, unsightly stains or hardening of the leather can often occur. A water-repellent layer is applied to the leather by impregnation, so that moisture such as rain or snow rolls off it instead of penetrating. Water stains can also be avoided because the liquids cannot penetrate the leather fibers in the first place.
In addition, impregnated surfaces are much less susceptible to dirt. Dust or grease cannot settle as easily and are easier to remove, which greatly reduces the amount of maintenance required.

Regular impregnation also preserves the velvety, even surface of suede because the fibers cannot stick together due to moisture.

All in all, the suede also lasts longer, as the sensitive material is protected from external influences. Thus, regular care keeps it nice and supple for years.

Impregnate your suede as follows:

  1. New velour products should be impregnated immediately before wearing them for the first time . This should be renewed after each cleaning, as cleaning often removes the protective layer.
  2. Finally, your suede should be renewed regularly, depending on use, about every 2-3 weeks, and especially after contact with rain or snow.

Are you now curious and looking for impregnation to refresh, care for and protect your suede for a long time? Our natural Tapir impregnation with pump atomizer is highly water-repellent and has a slightly cleansing effect. Best suited for regular use and a fresh and protective result for your suede shoes or bags. Spray on – massage in evenly – let dry and roughen again with the suede eraser.

With our impregnation, your suede items will not only remain beautiful, but also well protected from the challenges of everyday life.

Since suede is rather sensitive due to its open-pored surface and requires special care, it is best to use a special suede brush or the suede eraser from Tapir.

Our Tapir suede brush with high-quality brass bristles is ideal for thoroughly cleaning and refreshing delicate suede – without damaging the fine structure or texture. The specially designed brass bristles effectively remove stubborn dirt and debris while retaining the natural softness and suppleness of the material.

The brush is perfect for a wide range of suede products from shoes and boots to jackets and bags. Whether coarse dirt or fine dust: With its precise cleaning effect, the brush ensures that your favourite pieces will look like new again. The ergonomic shape allows for easy handling, so that even hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned effortlessly. The material can be gently refreshed by gentle, circular movements.


The Tapir suede brush is not only effective because of its effectiveness, but also durable. After use, it is easy to clean under warm water and air dry, keeping it ready for use in the long term.

The suede eraser can also be used for dry cleaning suede . This has two sides, on the one hand harder side for stubborn surfaces and a soft side to roughen the fibers again after impregnation.