A suede sneaker is the ultimate all-rounder – it will take you from work to play with cultured style and in complete comfort. But keeping suede looking its best can be tricky and it’s easy for your favourite pair of kicks to become stained out on the street.

Founder of Sneaker LAB – the world’s first environmentally-friendly sneaker care product that refreshes and restores sneakers and shoes – Jo Farah suggests the following tips to keep your suede sneakers in top form:

Prioritize protection

It’s never too early to start taking care of your new suede babies – as soon as you take them out of the box, spray on a protector product to prevent them from getting sullied. Using a sneaker protector will make caring for your suede shoes easier in the long run – after use, all you’ll need to do is give them a brush to remove any soil or dust.

Hone your brushing technique

If you’re invested in your sneakers, purchase a specially designed soft bamboo brush to help remove scuffs and dirt. When cleaning, brush in the same direction if you’re taking off dust, but scuff marks will need vigorous brushing back and forth to lift the fibres back up.

Clean up your act

If you’ve already got a stain on your suede, don’t despair – a bit of care can get those sneakers looking as good as new. Suede does not dig water and getting them too wet can destroy your sneakers, so rather stick to a cleaning solution that won’t damage the fibres. Stubborn stains might not be removed by brushing your shoes, but Sneaker LAB’s range of products clean at a microscopic level to clean, care for and protect your suede shoes.

Keep them cool

When you’re not showing off your suede game, you should keep your kicks out of direct sunlight. Dry heat or sun exposure can cause the suede to fade, harden or shrink. Choose a cool, dry place to store and try stuffing your shoes with newspaper to keep them dry and maintain the shape. Avoid wrapping them in plastic, as the suede needs to breath. Rather keep your kicks in tissue paper and in a shoebox.

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