Yesterday I went to TJ Max and found an absolutely breathtaking Maurizio Tauti purse offered for even more amazing price. The bag was only $39.99 (original price was $140) which if you ask me is a pretty darn good deal for an Italian leather purse. The only problem was that the leather was suede and I had no idea how to clean suede if the purse would get dirty (and I don’t have any doubts that it will).

Well, I couldn’t help myself ad I got the bag anyway. I came home, went online, Googled “how to clean suede” and was pleasantly surprised that suede is actually pretty easy to clean and there is no need to take it to dry cleaners. At least for awhile.

I am still in the euphoric state from scoring such a great deal, so I decided to write this post on how to clean suede purses and shoes. I am hoping it will help someone who is either hesitating whether or not to buy a suede item, or who is trying to save on dry cleaners.

1.    If your suede shoes or your purse gets dirty, make sure they are dry before you start cleaning it. Otherwise, you will only make a mess and make things worse.

2.    Use either suede brush (you can get these at any shoe store) or simply an old tooth brush to remove dirt. Brush in the same direction to lift dirt out.

3.    If the dirty spots don’t respond with a brush, use knife. Scrap the area with a knife, but be very gentle.

4.    Many people swear that nothing works better to remove stubborn spots, than a pencil eraser. Make sure it is new or clean though.

5.    If you are not planning to wear your shoes or carry your purse for awhile, wrap it in tissue paper and put them in a box. Avoid light and humidity. Light can destroy the color and suede can get moldy in moist conditions.

6.      As a last resort, apply a small amount of white vinegar a clean cloth and try cleaning dirty spots on your suede. Your suede purse or shoes will smell for awhile after that, because you are not supposed to use water to rinse it off. It might be inconvenient, but in my opinion it is much better than paying 50 bucks to dry clean your $40 purse.

7.    Many recommend treating suede shoes or bags with protective spray or finish. This is supposed to prevent stains and water damage. I was looking for something like this on Amazon, but didn’t find anything. Maybe I just don’t know how to look.

Since I just got the bag, I didn’t have time to get it dirty, so I haven’t tried any of this myself. I do love the purse, so I am hoping that I’ll be able to successfully apply these tips when it is time.