How To Care For Your Luxury Suede Garments
Suede. A rich material which not only looks fantastic, but is fantastically "high maintenance" when it comes to keeping it looking fresh and clean. Keeping your suede garments in like new condition does require a good amount of care; however, follow these tips and you'll be able to minimize your maintenance headaches by a good amount. Preservation starts with prevention
Keeping your suede in top condition begins with proper everyday storage and care. Start by treating your garment with a suede protection spray prior to wearing for the first time. A light coating of protectant goes a long way to protecting your garment from small amounts of moisture and stains. Be sure to test your suede protectant on the underside of your garment before apply however, as some sprays will darken/discolor your garment on contact.
The second stage of protection is proper storage. When not wearing them, be sure to keep your suede garments in a dark, dry, cool place with adequate airflow and low humidity. Light and moisture are major enemies of suede; the former fades your material, while buildup of the latter will quickly degrade it. In addition, be sure not to store your suede garment in plastic, as the lack of airflow plastic creates will trap moisture inside with you garment, and promote growth of mildew on it's surface.
Perform regular maintenance
Just as you would with your luxury car, your high end suede garments require maintenance to keep them from falling into dis-repair. For suede, this means carefully soaking out moisture mishaps with a clean towel, and letting the garment dry naturally. Using a hair dryer or other heat source will likely cause irreparable damage to your garment, so take your time.
For stains which have set in, purchase a suede bar/eraser and gently rub the affected area. For dirt stains, purchase a suede brush and gently brush away the dirt and dust particles. If stained with oil, apply talcum powder to the affected area ASAP, let dry for 6-8 hours, then brush away with a suede brush. Due to the persistence of oil stains, you may need to repeat this process a few times.
Even if your garment has no stains, regularly brush it with your suede brush, and gently rub with a fine grit sandpaper to restore nap.
Elements to avoid
As suede is so temperamental, there are a variety of substances which are best to avoid to keep your suede garments from being ruined, including:
Liquids, rain, snow, oils, aerosols, grease, dirt, and virtually any other substance which may soak, stick to, or stain your suede garment.
When all else fails, consult a professional
For extra tough to remove stains, or a simple but time consuming reconditioning, consult a professional dry cleaner who specializes in suede. Having a professional maintain your garment every so often can add many years to the life of your garment, and many more occasions with which to enjoy it!
Although it can be a chore, proper care of your suede garments is well worth the effort involved. Need proof? Put on that coat and look in the mirror; there's all the proof you need.
This post was contributed via Seed.com, AOL's new platform for freelance writers.
