Suede shoes look truly noble and expensive. But in the absence of proper care, it quickly loses its visual appeal. High humidity, dirt and reagents on the roads can seriously damage the material. To maintain the appearance, suede shoes are sometimes tinted. To achieve an even color and not harm your beloved couple, it is important to follow simple but reliable recommendations.
How to dye suede
Today, stores offer a large assortment of paint for shoes, including suede. To choose a quality dye, you should consider the following points:
- The can must be marked “for suede and nubuck.”
- The spray will perfectly paint soft and thin suede. For shoes with coarse fibers, products in the form of a cream or non-spray liquid are more suitable.
- A new pair should be painted in a tone that matches the color of the shoes. For worn boots, it is better to take a dye several shades darker.
- If the desired tone is not found in the store, you can order paint online. Be sure to check whether a return is possible: the color online may differ from the shade in person.
IMPORTANT. You should not buy the cheapest dye, otherwise there is a chance of running into a low-quality product. It is best to give preference to trusted manufacturers such as Salamander, Colorstar, Dividik.
Preparing shoes
In order for the paint to lay evenly and adhere well, it is important to pre-prepare the shoes:
- First, wash the soles, being careful not to wet the boots themselves;
- Remove jewelry and laces;
- Clean your shoes from dust and dirt with a special brush. If possible, avoid water: natural suede takes quite a long time to dry. In addition, wet cleaning may leave streaks.
If you find stains, they must be removed, otherwise after staining they will be very noticeable:
- You can remove small stains with a simple eraser: just rub the stains briefly;
- The following recipe will help against stubborn dust. Dissolve a teaspoon of soda in a glass of warm milk, wipe problem areas with the solution and let them dry;
- Vinegar diluted in water (in a ratio of 3 to 1) is an excellent remedy for combating greasy stains. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, test the fluid on the inside first. If no reactions occur, feel free to use the solution on shiny areas.
Coloring
Suede should be painted outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. To avoid injury to your hands, the procedure should be performed with gloves:
- Lay your shoes out on newspaper;
- Shake the can and spray the product, trying to keep it at the same distance all the time.This is important for uniform staining;
- Let the dye set: leave the boots for a while, ensuring good ventilation;
- To get the desired shade, repeat the procedure as many times as necessary.
If you have liquid or cream paint, the process will look like this:
- Soak a soft sponge in the dye;
- Distribute the product evenly on the surface of the suede, paying special attention to problem areas;
- Leave the boots for a while so that the paint can absorb;
- Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Consolidate the result
After finishing dyeing, dry the shoes. It’s great if you can leave your boots in the air. The main taboo is proximity to heating appliances and radiators. The suede should dry on its own!
Treat dry pairs with a special product to protect them from moisture and dust. This way you will not only secure the result of painting, but also protect your shoes from negative external influences.
Important Tips
- To ensure that suede boots last a long time, wear them only in dry weather. In case of rain or snow, it is better to have a leather pair.
- In winter, be sure to clean your shoes from reagents: they are the ones that spoil suede the most.
- Buy a special brush and cream for suede shoes and don’t ignore daily care.
- If your shoes get wet, dry them away from heating elements.
- Do not forget to periodically use moisture-repellent impregnation.
Painting and caring for suede shoes can seem like a hassle. But having decided on “capricious” boots, it is important to understand in advance: careful treatment is the main guarantee of the long service life of suede products.
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