Suede couches will class up any room, given their attractive finish and luxurious texture. To keep it this way, you need to maintain it by cleaning regularly. However, the material is also popular for being difficult to maintain, especially given its particular sensitivity to excess water. This leaves many people asking how to clean a suede couch. Several people ask, “Can I steam clean a suede couch?”
We answer this question and enlighten our readers more about suede and how to maintain it by effectively cleaning in this article.
We also tell them more about cleaning other related materials so that they can keep their couches looking neat and increase their longevity. But before we delve into the details, here’s our straight answer to the big question of today:
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Can I Steam Clean A Suede Couch?
Sure, steam cleaning suede couch helps you loosen dirt and kill bacteria. Steaming is safe for suede because it doesn’t use a significant amount of water that could otherwise mar the material’s appearance.
How Do You Clean a Suede Couch Yourself Using a Steam Cleaner?
Step 1: Clear The Couch
Remove everything that might cause a distraction while steaming your suede couch, like clothes, remote, money, and other things. Also, take away the cushions, if any. You’re doing this to remain with a clear working surface.
Step 2: Vacuum The Couch
Start vacuuming the couch to eliminate smaller debris like torn paper, dust particles, and crumbs, to mention a few. Vacuuming sucks up all the debris to make steaming more convenient and effective.
Step 3: Pre-treat All Stains
If you have any stains on the couch, spray a little stain remover on it, taking care not to make the surface damp. Next, let the upholstery absorb the stain remover for a while (about 1 minute) and use a soft brush to rub the sprayed surface so that you enhance its absorption.
Step 4: Prepare The Steam Cleaner
- First things first, we recommend that you use a steam cleaner with low steam settings. But if you can’t find one, there’s still a way to do it. Anyway, this is how to prepare your steam cleaning machine:
- Add water to the unit’s tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Plug it in to allow the water to heat.
- Set the unit to low steam settings to use less steam to clean your sensitive suede surface.
Step 5: Steam The Couch
Keeping the unit’s nozzle at least 4 inches away from the surface of your couch, steam the suede surface in back-and-forth movements. Ensure that you hold steam over the surface long enough to kill all bacteria and loosen all dirt. If the unit runs out of steam, let it cool for about 20 minutes, add water and continue until all your couches are clean. Let the couch dry.
Can You Steam Clean Microsuede Couch?
Steam cleaning is the best option for making dingy and dull microfibers like micro suede spotless. The high-pressure steam penetrates the material’s nooks and crannies to remove all dirt, kill bacteria, and deodorize the material. Do this regularly to extend the life of your couch while maintaining its appeal.
Before the actual steaming, consider doing a spot test to ensure that your suede leather doesn’t have a problem with steam. Then, vacuum the couch to get rid of paper, hair, dust, and other debris. If there are stains, you may want to use a stain remover to pre-treat the material before starting the actual steam-cleaning process.
Does Steam Ruin Suede?
Steam doesn’t damage suede as long as you use it correctly. Instead, it deep-cleans the delicate material and removes all dirt, and kills bacteria without leaving spots. Follow the steps described above to realize the best results.
Other Ways To Take Care of Suede
Apart from using a steam cleaner as described above, you can also use the following methods to ensure your suede couch is always clean:
1. Blotting Wet Stains
Instead of a beverage spill, immediate blotting is the best solution. A delay could give time for the couch to absorb more of the spill and get damaged because of its sensitivity to moisture. Blot the affected spot gently to absorb the stain and moisture associated with it. If some stains remain, use a damp cloth to get rid of them and do spot treatment before using a hair dryer to dry the affected area.
2. Erasing Old Stains Using An Eraser
Old stains on suede can be removed using suede or an ordinary pencil eraser. Simply rub the area gently to get rid of the old stain. Then, use a gentle suede brush to get rid of excess dirt. In case the trick doesn’t work, you may need to call in a professional old stain remover to intervene.
3. Freshening Up The Couch Using A Damp Cloth
If your suede sofa looks a bit dingy, you can simply wipe its surface using a clean piece of a slightly damp cloth. While doing this, please take care not to get the surface wet, as you already understand that suede is highly sensitive to water. Finally, use a hair dryer to blow it dry.
4. Brushing The Sofa After Cleaning
Brushing suede upholstery, especially after cleaning, reveals its beautiful surface pattern. To do it, let the sofa dry, then brush it gently using a suede brush. To avoid damaging the surface, take care not to apply excess pressure in the process. Remember that suede is a delicate material.
Can You Steam Faux Suede?
Faux suede is a man-made fabric that imitates original suede leather. Made of microfiber polyester and a polyurethane binder, faux suede is usually less expensive yet more resistant to damage than original suede. It’s also easier to clean and maintain. You can steam-clean faux suede couches to get rid of stains, kill microorganisms, and deodorize them.
The Bottom Line
So, is it safe to steam clean the suede couch? The accurate answer is yes, and we have revealed a godsend guide that will help you navigate the process correctly for the best results. We’ve also recommended brushing your suede couch after steaming it to reclaim its signature raised look. It’s now upon you to ensure that you keep your couches in good shape using these tips and tricks.
