Can You Wash Suede Couch Covers? (Find Out Now!)
We all heard Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes,” but what about your blue suede couch? Suede is one of the hottest options for couches as well as couch covers. It’s satiny, leather, and absolutely gorgeous. It’s a good choice for matte looks. But, how do you wash suede couch covers, or at the very least, keep it clean?
Manufacturers do not recommend washing suede in a washing machine, though synthetic suede is washable on occasion. Microsuede is generally seen as machine-washable. People who choose to ignore the recommendation can try to wash suede in cold water, with a mild detergent.
If you want to get a suede couch cover, it’s going to be very important that you try to learn what needs to be done to keep them looking fresh and clean.
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Before You Begin: Read Your Couch Cover’s Tags
Like with all things laundry, your couch cover tags are going to give you the best possible advice on how to clean them. All modern couch covers have them. Read the tags, and follow their instructions if you want to have the very best outcomes for your specific cover.
I’m just offering general advice here. Your milage may vary, as they say. If you are not sure whether your suede is washable, please go to a professional for your couch cover cleanings.
Is It Possible To Machine-Wash Suede?
So, it’s important to recognize something. Synthetic suedes and microsuede are both considered to be machine-washable by most people. Actual suede, made from leather, is not advised to be machine washable by most manufacturers. However, people still occasionally do it—with mixed results.
How Do You Machine Wash Suede?
It’s best to machine wash microsuede and faux suede couch covers on cold, on a gentle setting. Use mild detergent that has no bleaching additives whatsoever. Once again, we strongly discourage this and encourage professional cleaning instead.
Can You Put Suede In The Dryer?
Real suede should not be put in the dryer regardless of how you washed it. Dryers will make your suede look like trash, and also cause it to permanently stiffen up. Dryers literally dry out the suede, leaving no suppleness to your material. To a point, this is also true about micro-suede and several types of faux suede. Just…don’t risk it.
How Do You Clean Suede Couch Covers?
Believe it or not, the easiest way to clean suede couch covers is also one of the cheapest ways to do it. To clean suede couch covers, grab a microfiber cloth and dunk it in white distilled vinegar. Then, wipe down to the couch cover in long, gentle strokes.
The vinegar contains a gentle acid that is able to break apart grease and grime without damaging the leather. After the vinegar dries, the material becomes totally odor-free and also feels nice and fluffy.
Should You Get Your Suede Couch Covers Professionally Cleaned?
Honestly, suede is one of the few materials where we at Upgraded Home strongly encourage the use of professional cleaning. Suede is tricky to work with, especially if you have a pet stain on your cover. If you can’t find the tag on your couch cover and can’t lift up the stain on your own, call a professional. It’s the best course of action.
What Kind Of Cleaning Agent Works Well With Suede?
If you don’t want to use vinegar, another option that you can use is rubbing alcohol. It has a similar solvent-style method of cleaning. People who want to have a store-bought solvent can often find one. Bickmore makes a good one, and it works on nubuck too.
Want to get the whole kit n’ caboodle? You can. We suggest using a suede cleaning kit, like the one from Jason Markk.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Your Suede Couch Cover Professionally Cleaned?
Getting a professional cleaning is one of the best ways to make sure that your couch cover remains in great shape as years pass. Suede cleaning, though, is not actually as expensive as you might think. On average, cleaning slipcovers of any material will run between $5 to $10.
Due to the fact that suede often requires more tools and physical effort, you might have a higher price tag. We suggest that you sock away $20 per suede couch cover if you want to get them professionally cleaned.
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Related Questions
How do you get dry stains off of suede?
Did you step in mud or have a dry stain hit your suede couch? It’s okay. One of the easiest tricks in the book involves grabbing a pencil eraser. A pencil eraser, rubbed on a dry stain, will lift most of the debris right off the suede. If that does not work, vacuuming and treating the stained area with rubbing alcohol can often help.Of course, if you cannot get the stain off your suede alone, the best option would be to call a professional cleaner. They often have tools we don’t.
Is it okay to soak suede in water?
If you ever had a pair of suede shoes that got dirty in water, you already know the answer is a stern no. Water and suede do not mix. Soaking suede in water will cause the suede to dissolve if the time is long enough. In most cases, dyed suede will also begin to discolor when it gets soaked in water.Most of the time, water-soaked suede is not actually fixable. If you find that your suede has sat in water for several hours, it’s probably no longer of any use.
What should you never use on suede?
Though suede may be a derivative of leather, you should never try to use leather products on suede. You also should avoid trying to use shoe polish on suede. Both of these products will end up turning your suede into stained greaseballs. Neither polish nor leather care products can be removed from suede once they are applied. They permanently stain and ruin the material, making your suede worthless.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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