There are few materials as delicate as suede leather. Because it’s easily torn and scuffed, it necessitates extra attention if you want to keep it soft and long-lasting. We’ll examine if suede leather waterproof in this post, and if it isn’t, how to make it so.
Is suede leather waterproof or water-resistant? There are a lot of pores in suede, which means the fabric is not waterproof. As a result of the treatments used to create a velvety, textured surface on the leather, it is more porous and prone to water seepage when exposed to moisture.
If you’d like to understand more about why suede leather isn’t water-resistant and how to make it keep reading.
What are the various types of Leather ?
Faux Leather
A popular myth is that faux leather, which is made of polyurethane, has the same waterproofing requirements as real leather, but this is not the case. It’s essentially applying a layer of synthetic plastic between your leather and water to protect it from water damage. It’s waterproof by nature, thanks to the plastic used in the manufacturing process that creates it.
Synthetic Leather
Synthetic leather is lighter and less expensive than genuine leather, and it is just as water-absorbent as genuine leather. This means that a synthetic spray is required to form a watertight barrier between the water and the synthetic layer to make it waterproof.
Nubuck leather
Buffed-down full-grain leather that resembles a very fine but long-lasting suede is known as nubuck leather. Natural water resistance to a small amount of water is present in nubuck, however further waterproofing is required.
Suede Leather
Wetness can quickly damage the surface of the suede, resulting in unsightly stains on the material. It is possible to destroy a pair of suede boots even if it rains. While suede is delicate, it also necessitates careful waterproofing, as wax cannot be rubbed onto its surface. A waterproofing spray is required for suede, and even then, it should not be exposed to excessive amounts of water.
Full-grain Leather
Using the strongest section of the animal skin, full grain or top grain leather is the strongest and most water-resistant leather. However, to make it more waterproof, it needs to be treated with wax or spray, just like other leathers.
Is suede leather waterproof? If not, Why?
A straight answer to is suede leather waterproof is NO and below are three main reasons.
As a porous material, suede is not water-resistant.
Suede is a porous material, which is one of the main reasons it isn’t waterproof. Because of the way it’s produced, suede leather is pliable. To generate the velvety surface of suede leather, the actual leather is split. Now you know the answer to is suede leather waterproof?
This signifies that the grain layer has been split, resulting in a porous fibrous layer of the leather – suede – on the surface of the leather. The skin pores and hair follicles are exposed to water and air, allowing them to permeate.
When suede leather comes into contact with moist or damp surfaces, water can quickly soak into the leather.
It is possible to keep suede leather away from water by taking a few precautionary measures before using it. Wearing the proper footwear or making use of the proper goods are just a few examples of these actions.
Suede Leather Is Unlined and Unprotected
Another explanation to is suede leather waterproof is because suede leather is not covered, it is susceptible to water absorption, which further contributes to its lack of waterproofing. You can get your feet wet because of the outer layer of a pair of suede leather shoes if you wear them in rainy weather.
When it comes to leather, smooth surfaces assist keep moisture from seeping into the leather, especially when the leather isn’t suede. The surface of suede leather, on the other hand, is a napped surface that is extremely porous.
Moisture cannot be prevented from penetrating the leather since there is no protective surface coating. Even though suede waterproof spray exist that make suede leather partially waterproof, the nap or velvet surface of suede leather does not make it easy to apply waterproofing materials to the surface.
Suede Leather is extremely pliable and supple.
Another answer to is suede leather waterproof, is Because suede leather is so pliable, it is also not waterproof. Moisture absorption is increased in suede leather because of its softer texture. This means that water will have an easier time getting through.
Suede leather cannot be included in a list of waterproof products in this circumstance. The nap or velvet surface of suede often makes it difficult to put water-repellent materials to your suede leather, which would be necessary if you wanted them to be waterproof, so keep that in mind.
Because of their softness and high absorption capacity, even high-quality and long-lasting objects constructed of this material will not completely protect them from moisture.
Being made from the skins of real animals, suede leather is not water-resistant. It is possible that a suede leather item will not be waterproof because the hide and skins of genuine animals were used to make it.
So when suede leather comes into touch with water or any other sort of moisture, the suede leather will absorb the water.
As previously said, suede leather is derived from animal skins, which makes it porous. However, there are synthetic suede leathers that are less vulnerable to dampness than natural suede leathers.
Faux suede leather is another name for this material. In contrast to real animal skins, synthetic suede leather does not have the same porous qualities as real suede leather.
This sort of imitation suede leather is constructed of man-made components that can take a lot of wear and tear, making it more durable than animal suede leather.
What Are the Benefits of Preserving Suede and Leather?
Regular re-proofing and conditioning are required for full-grain leather boots. Leather dries out and cracks when it loses its natural oils and moisture. Water seepage, salt, filth, and oil are the most common causes of this. A leather conditioner keeps it soft and prevents water from penetrating the leather. The two-in-one approach to preventing further damage to leather boots is to use a gel leather water repellent and conditioner. With regular application of a fabric sanitiser and water repellent, suede and nubuck boots can be kept in their original colour, softness, and breathability.
When your Suede shoes get wet, What should you do?
Even though it was pouring rain, you had no choice but to wear your favourite suede shoes to a meeting because it would have been impossible to keep them dry. These quick fixes may help your shoes receive a second chance at life assuming you didn’t wait too long to attempt and save them.
Blot the shoes
To remove the majority of the water from the cloth, use a dry microfiber towel or paper towels. If your shoes dry on their own, they will be wrecked, so be aware that this procedure is a race against the clock.
Carefully brush the shoes.
The material in your shoes will clump together if you don’t brush them after you’ve blotted up most of the water. Brush the shoe in circular strokes with a soft suede brush or even a toothbrush.
As the shoe dries, continue to brush it with a bristle brush.
After a few minutes of brushing, the shoe is ready to be dried. While you’re brushing the material in circular motions, a hand dryer would be perfect. To keep the material’s nap from hardening as it dries, brushing is essential in this step.
The shoe should be restored and protected
Even after it has dried, brushing the shoe is essential to restore its original appearance. You can also use a suede cleaning solution to bring back the material’s original nap. You may get the best results and peace of mind by using a cleaning solution that is water, dirt, and stain-resistant.
How to Waterproof Suede Leather
Now that you know why is suede leather waterproof! Certain techniques can be used to ensure that the suede leather of your favourite shoe or other item does not absorb water or any other sort of moisture. Here are a few of my personal favourites if you are interested to know How to waterproof suede boots?
Using Suede Protector
To make suede leather things waterproof, the most common method is to use Kiwi Rain and Stain Protector, a product developed for use on a wide variety of fabrics, but especially effective on clothes made of fragile natural fibres like suede leather.
Your suede leather apparel can be protected from moisture, grime, and other stains by using Scotchgard Fabric Protector.
Waterproofing is achieved through the application of a thin, invisible layer of protective film to the cloth.
If you use a non-toxic spray like Scotchgard Fabric Protector or a comparable product, your suede leather clothing will look cleaner and newer for longer. This spray also protects boots against liquids and dirt.
Using Waterproof Suede Spray
It’s also possible to use spray-on waterproofing solutions like Kiwi waterproof spray on suede leather objects.
If you use a waterproofing spray, it coats your suede leather items with an additional layer of polyurethane, making them water-resistant or even completely waterproof.
There are many advantages of employing the liquid-proofing approach, including the fact that it can be applied to any material and will persist for an extended period.
There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a spray-on product to protect your suede leather goods from water damage:
Using a suede leather item that has been treated with silicone or glue could weaken the fabric, making it unsuitable. As suede materials tend to collect dirt and dust, this might shorten the overall lifespan of a leather item, especially if it is already fragile.
Using Waxes
You may also protect your suede leather goods from water damage by applying waxes that coat the cloth with a coating of wax that repels water.
This approach has the advantage that it can be used in conjunction with other ways and that your suede leather clothing items will be more durable and repel dirt and liquids.
When it comes to waterproofing suede leather, applying waxes is a great option to consider. Beeswax, petroleum jelly, and liquid shoe polish can all be used to improve the waterproofing of your suede leather goods.
A coating of wax protects the fabric, making it water-resistant and protecting your suede leather goods from filth and damage.
This procedure has the problem of making the final product look spotty instead of smooth, which defeats the objective entirely if done incorrectly.
Use an All-Purpose Sealant to Prevent Water Damage
You can also use an all-purpose spray sealer to protect your suede clothing before it is worn or used in damp weather circumstances for the first time.
In this case, there is no need for another application, which might be tedious and time-consuming. To keep your products watertight, you must reapply the sealant regularly because it wears off over time.
A buildup on the surface of the material may cause it to become stiff and sticky, as well as ruin the nap and colour of the suede leather, all of which defeats the purpose of the material. Suede must, after all, remain soft to be comfortable.
But if you do it right, you may avoid using water repellent sprays and other things to keep your clothes looking nice. It saves money since spray treatments are more expensive than an all-purpose sealant application.
How to Clean a Suede Jacket smell?
To deodorise suede, use this approach first because it does not put the item at risk of damage.
You’ll want to stock up on:
- A box
- A serving dish or bowl
- Choose an odour absorber from the following list:
- White vinegar
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Ground coffee
- Briquettes of charcoal
How to Get Rid of the Smell:
- Put the object in a box if it’s little.
- Put one of the above odour absorbers in a plate or dish. If you use coffee to remove the stench, be aware that the item will be left smelling like coffee.
- When you’re done, put the dish in the box with the suede item. Make additional bowls and place them on or around larger items, such as a couch. If you’re using this approach on shoes, you can put the baking soda in there as well, but don’t put anything else in there.
- Allow the deodorizer to sit on the suede item for the entire night.
- Repeat the method as many times as necessary if the suede item still stinks. It may also be beneficial to rotate the item.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to soften a suede jacket?
Always moisten your suede jacket to prevent it from becoming stiff. Due to the harsh weather conditions, applying a leather conditioner and moisturiser to your jacket regularly will help keep it in good shape. Brush the suede in various directions to increase the nap and restore the velvety feel. Keep your jacket in a warm spot (not in direct sunlight) to allow the moisturiser to penetrate the pores and soften the material.
Suede vs. nubuck leather: what’s the difference?
The key distinctions between suede and nubuck are the quality, texture, tanning method, price, and durability. As a result of its thicker and more durable texture, nubuck is more expensive. Unlike nubuck, which comes from the outside layer of animal skin, suede is made by sanding down to the skin’s inner layer, making it a lot thinner and less durable than nubuck.
In the rain, can you wear suede shoes?
Because suede shoes are not waterproof, you cannot wear them in the rain. You must waterproof your suede shoes if you plan on wearing them during rainfall to keep precipitation from soaking into the suede shoes and also to preserve the original nap, texture, and colour of the suede leather shoes.
How to protect suede shoes perfectly?
Apart from knowing is suede leather waterproof! It’s protection is also important. When storing your suede shoes, make sure the area is well-ventilated and shielded from direct sunlight. Dust Bags or paper towels can be used to store items like suede hiking boots in a shoebox when they aren’t worn frequently. In addition, inserting the shoe tree is the greatest option for preserving the shoe’s form.
Conclusion about Is suede leather waterproof?
You’ll need a suede leather waterproofing spray for your suede shoes if you want to keep them dry. Use a gentle brush to remove dirt and debris from your shoes. Apply a coat of waterproofing spray after that. Allow your suede shoes to air dry for at least 24 hours before wearing them. After that, you can spray on a second coat if you’d like. I hope that now you know is suede leather waterproof!
