Shoes, bags and other items made of suede are easily subject to water damage. Unlike other absorbent materials, suede objects sustain permanent damage after contact with water. Their porous nature makes them more absorbent to water and less able to dry quickly. This makes belongings made of suede very fragile and irreplaceable.
Water damaged suede often exhibits stains and dullness. The water can also destroy the brushed texture of the suede material, making it lose its original form. What also makes this more devastating is that suede items cost more than those made of other materials. Thus, once the material is damaged, the item becomes aesthetically unpleasant and even unusable.
Suede objects that have come in contact with water must undergo water damage restoration at once. The longer you put off treating them, the greater the loss will be. If you want to save your belongings from being permanently damaged, you must take the following water damage restoration steps as soon as possible:
1. When your suede bags or boots become wet because of rainfall, flooding or liquid spills, you have to be careful not to rub or wipe the damp material as this may cause further damage. Grab a dry cloth and gently pat the suede object to absorb the water. Make sure you cover all the areas to ensure even dryness and thorough cleaning. If there is still more water to be absorbed, use another dry cloth. Repeat this water damage restoration procedure until the object is now free of any excess water.
2. Try drying the suede object naturally before resorting to the use of drying equipment. Leave it to dry in a warm room or outdoors. However, do not leave it under the sunlight as this may cause discoloration and dryness. If the object has absorbed too much water and is still damp after having been left to dry for a day, you can use a blow dryer or an electric fan to speed up the drying process.
3. If the dried parts of the suede object have been deformed because of the wetness, you can brush these areas so that they go back to their original shape. Use a brush with soft bristles so that it also does not damage the suede surface.
4. To avoid any water damage in the future, you can apply a water protecting solution on your suede items at home. Before you spray on the solution, keep the windows and doors open for proper ventilation. Allow the suede object to properly dry after application before using it. The solution will make the suede material repel water more effectively.
