Restore Worn-Out Suede | Valet.

Shoes

According to the experts at Crockett & Jones, the well-known brand of fine English footwear, “Suede can often be revived using steam from the kettle and gently cleaning with a rubber suede brush.” Start the process by brushing your shoes with a regular shoe brush to remove all surface particles and dirt. Their preferred choice here is to use a horse hair brush.

Now you’re ready for steam. Hold your shoes over the steam from a tea kettle, clothes steamer or even a pot of boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds. (Mind the heat on your hands.) Then brush the shoe with a suede brush as you normally would during a cleaning (soft, short strokes, in one direction). Why does this work so well? The steam dilates the leather’s surface, much like your skin in a hot shower. This not only makes it easier to remove embedded grime and nicks, but it restores the soft, fuzzy texture of the leather.

Jacket

You invested heavily in that suede jacket, so you’re wearing it a lot, right? Good. But now take a look around the pockets and the collar. A little dingy? Maybe some oily discoloration? Don’t worry. Conventional wisdom is that these stains are impossible to remove, so hesitation is understandable. But don’t back down from this fight. Products you almost certainly have at home—baking soda or cornstarch—are the key to working these greasy stains out.

Be sure to do a small patch test in a discreet spot before you dust larger, more conspicuous areas. But once you’re ready, sprinkle a generous amount of the powder directly onto the discolored areas and let it sit overnight before gently scraping it off with a brush. Either product should help with absorbing the oil and grease, so the more time it sits, the better. Then just take your bush and stroke the suede using gentle sweeping motions all over—covering the entire surface evenly.