Cleaning suede - need help

Lobelia · January 3rd, 2007, 12:17 AM

I have a suede coat. I was wearing it while eating an egg roll. All of a sudden, grease from said egg roll shot out & hit my coat.

This has never happened to me before.

I took the coat to the dry cleaners & was told that

1) because it's leather, they would have to send it "out" & it would take at least 3 weeks

2) I would have to pre-pay

3) it would cost $55 USD

I said "No thank you" because

1) I don't want to wait 3 weeks

2) I am not keen on pre-paying for dry cleaning services when they are notorious for not doing what you ask

3) $55 seems a little pricey for a spot

Does anybody know of any products and/or techniques that might be helpful?

moomies · January 3rd, 2007, 12:39 AM

Years ago I bought a beautiful vintage suede long coat. It wasn't dirty but since it was secondhand I wanted to get it cleaned. Took it to a dry cleaner and they told me it would be $80 (CAD)... So $55 US sounds ok to me.

One of my roomies had a pair of suede shoes, she would actually handwash them with laundry detergent when they got dirty.

I'd take it to the dry cleaner and wait 3 weeks though if it's a nice coat that you don't want to mess up.

pacific breeze · January 3rd, 2007, 12:40 AM

This is a great British website I came across recently that has lots of useful tips for cleaning all kinds of things. Dry cleaners are not only horrible polluters, they are some of the biggest rip offs going.

http://www.videojug.com/

Lobelia · January 3rd, 2007, 12:46 AM

Well that looks chock-full of information PB - I'm bookmarking it for a Saturday afternoon.

I think it's the pre-pay thing that's irritating me more than the $55. My husband has influenced me with his negative view of dry cleaners, because it's true - they're always overlooking spots, losing buttons, crinkling things that shouldn't be crinkled, damaging things, etc. I just find it pretty cheeky of them to ask to be paid up front when I don't know if I'm going to be satisfied with their service.