How Can I Save My Wet Suede Jacket?

Use these three steps to save a suede jacket or suede shoes that have gotten wet.

“My suede jacket got soaked in the rain.”

Alexandra, via e-mail

The fix: First let the jacket dry fully at room temperature, says Jeffrey Schwegmann, the general manager of Schwegmann’s Sunshine Cleaners, in Silver Grove, Kentucky. Be patient: This can take as long as 24 hours. Then use a suede eraser (available at shoe-repair shops and most drugstores) or, in a pinch, a damp kitchen sponge to feather the edges of any watermarks you see. Finally, brush the surface with a velvet lint brush to lift the nap and restore the coat’s texture, says Steven Ritt, the owner of LeatherCare, Inc., a cleaning company in Seattle, and a member of the Professional Leather Cleaners Association. Did your suede heels get wet too? Use the same process to salvage them.

Click here for a video on how to clean suede.

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