How to Fix Bald Spots on Suede Shoes?

To fix the bald spots on suede shoes, you simply need to use items that will re-fluff the naps in the bald area, or opt for dyeing the spot with a suitable suede dye. The methods you’ll see in a moment range from using suede care products like suede brushes to applying household solutions like a hot stream from a kettle!

You’ll all agree that bald patches can make your suede shoes appear out-of-style and worn, whether they are the result of constant use or a stain that was insufficiently removed. The sight of those unpleasant bald spots prevents most of us from taking our shoes out of the closet and trying them on, and eventually, the shoes are thrown away.

Don’t worry, you won’t have to discard your favorite pair of shoes just like that – you can always restore the appearance of your shoes at home with just a little patience and time!

Ready to know about some productive methods to fix bald spots on suede shoes? Let’s get started!

How to Fix Bald Spots on Suede Shoes: (10 Methods)

Thankfully, removing bald patches from suede shoes is not that challenging or labor intensive, you simply need some suede care products, and few methods require easily available household items too!

Method 1: Brushing the Spots with a Suede Brush

In this method, you can fix bald spots on suede shoes. Just use an appropriate brush for your suede shoe to help re-fluff the naps by aligning them and thus covering up the bald spot. A brass suede brush works best for this, it gives good coverage and helps restore the nap of your shoes effectively. 

We find the Saphir Beauté Du Cuir Brass Suede Brush one of the best among the various brushes, its tough bristles can reach the deeper naps and fix the volume to bring back the original look.

• Use your suede brush to gently brush the bald spots in one direction. Use lengthy sweeping strokes to make sure the naps are uniform
• Apply firm to moderate pressure, it is more than sufficient; applying too much pressure could potentially harm the suede
• Brush the area repeatedly until the bald areas match the rest of the suede

Method 2: Treating the Spots with Suede Eraser

A suede eraser used in conjunction with a suede brush can do even more to fix the bald spots! It is a slightly more rigorous approach to restoring the original volume of the naps on the bald spots. 

We like to use the Kiwi Suede Eraser, but you may also use the Saphir Suede Eraser in combination with the Sahir suede brush stated earlier. 

Using a suede eraser is a lot like using a pencil eraser: locate the bald spot you are trying to restore, then take the eraser and rub it into the area using moderate to firm pressure. Brush along the suede until the fibers seem to lift up. 

Method 3: Dyeing the Spots

Suede dyeing may be your next course of action if brushing is not enough to completely fix the bald places. Before approaching this method, give your suede shoes a good clean and brush them with a fresh shoe brush. This will help in better color penetration and evenness. 

• Pick a shoe dye color that closely matches the color of your shoes. You may explore the color ranges offered by Fiebing’s Suede Dye, their ones penetrate uniformly and easily inside the shoes. 
• Now, apply it to the bald spots of your shoes using a dropper or a sponge applicator.
• Let the dye fully dry.
• When the dye dried out, use a soft brush or cloth to gently buff the dyed area until it matches the rest of the surface of your shoes.

Method 4: Using Suede Cleaner

Suede cleaners are made to clean the entire shoe, and they sometimes succeed in removing bald spots as well. They can help in conditioning and softening the suede surface, and often lift the naps and bring back the original texture of your shoe. Use any suede cleaning spray like KIWI Suede Cleaner and then follow the process below.

• Before applying the spray, lightly brush off any loose dirt from the shoes, you may use your suede brush.
• Now, thoroughly shake the can and position it 10-15 cm away from your shoes. Spray all over the surface to evenly coat.
• With a clean and soft cloth, wipe the whole surface, paying special attention to the bald spots.
•  If required, repeat the process again. 

Method 5: Raising Suede Naps with Sandpaper

Martina McKeough shares a cheaper alternative to using a suede brush for lifting the naps, in case the bald spot has appeared due to flat grain. In this method, you use sandpaper to repair your shoes. 

• Start with a fine-grit sandpaper or one that’s less abrasive, and switch to medium-grit afterward if the former one doesn’t seem to work.
• Use the sandpaper to lightly buff the bald spot, brushing it over the region in an even circular motion for a uniform appearance.
• While some of the fibers may flake out, the nap will hopefully rise.

Method 6: Steaming to Lift the Suede Fibers

Hot steam and a suede brush make a great pair if you need to remove marks on your suede shoes, and it applies to bald spots as well. All you need for this is your kettle, some water, and a suede brush.

• Boil some water on a kettle and hold your shoes over the steam for a minute or two. The goal is to warm the suede for moisture to seep into the material without causing it to become soaked.
• After the steam relaxes the naps, brush your shoes in soft and short strokes in one direction as you would normally do during a clean. 
• Let the surface dry and relax. Hopefully, it will cover the spots

Method 7: Applying Heat with a Hair Dryer

You can use this method as an alternative to the steaming process, particularly for bald sports that are not too severe or large. 

While brushing the spot with a shoe brush in short strokes, hold the hair dryer over the area keeping a few inches distance, and apply low to medium heat on the area based on the effectiveness of heat on the nap. Hopefully, it will help lift the naps up and fix the spot.

Method 8: Treating with Rubbing Alcohol

If the bald spots on your shoes are caused by a stain, you may use rubbing alcohol or distilled white vinegar to remove the spots. You won’t need to worry about purchasing a special product just for suede because it’s both affordable and widely available.  

It is recommended to use 90% rubbing alcohol since it is powerful enough to remove stains without compromising the quality of the suede leather or affecting the nap. 

• Before starting, test the rubbing alcohol in a hidden area of your suede for discoloration or damage. Also, ensure that the suede’s surface is completely dry
• Now, pour a small amount of it into a clean cloth and rub it on the stain.
• After the chemical has evaporated, let your shoe air dry
• Finally,  use a suede brush and lift the naps.

Method 9: Freezing the Shoes

This one by Jiskcosn is an uncommon approach to removing bald spots from the suede surface.  For this, you have to freeze your shoes. 

Place your shoes in a plastic bag, and then put the bag in the freezer for about an hour or so. In general, it’s advised to only freeze leather shoes for a total of four hours at a time. The suede’s fibers will compress in the cold, which can be helpful in raising the nap and removing bald spots.

Method 10: Applying Suede Patches or Embellishment Objects

Design blogger Patricia Merken shares this unique method for fixing bald spots that are too large to be fixed using the above methods. 

One, you can get suede patches that match your shoe color and attach them to the bald spot.  And then brush the naps on the patches to blend them with the rest of the shoe naps once the glue has dried.

Two, you can add some embellishments to cover up the spots, it may be beads, stone, or any cut-outs that you like. Glue them using a strong adhesive suitable for suede leather and glam the shoes up.

Why and How Do Bald Spots Form on Suede?

Improper cleaning, improper storage, and wear and tear, are the main reasons for bald spot formation on suede shoes. 

When abrasive cleaning tools are applied on a leather nap, it can leave the cleaned areas bald. Again, suede being humidity sensitive, improper storage can also result in bald spots as the fibers gradually split. Moreover, the friction from wear and tear can result in bald areas too!

Are There Risks Involved in Fixing Bald Spots at Home?

If the methods stated above are not done properly, they may actually damage your shoes more instead of fixing the spots. 

The leather may incur additional damage if the wrong glue or adhesive is used to stick the suede patches. Also, using abrasive sandpaper or isopropyl alcohol during the fixing procedure can change the suede’s color or texture, which you definitely don’t want. 

How to Care for Suede Shoes to Prevent Bald Spots from Forming?

Here’s how to care for your suede shoes to minimize the possibility of bald spot formation or peeling off of the suede.

• After each wear, use a suede brush, and eraser if necessary,  to remove any soil or dirt from the shoes.

• Keep your shoes out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources like hot radiators to prevent the color from fading.

• Try to use your shoes in favorable weather to preserve their quality. Water stains can result from getting them wet, which can eventually lead to bald spots. So avoid wearing them in the rainy season.

• Before wearing your shoes, spritz some suede protection spray on them. It will provide an essential layer of defense against water and other stains. You should ideally do this step while your shoes are still pristine and haven’t been exposed to dirt. If they have recently been worn, give your shoes a cleaning treatment before spraying them.

• Put your shoes in a shoebox or a specialized shoe bag made for suede shoes after wrapping them in tissue paper if you won’t be wearing them for a long time. Also, since suede can grow mold in humid conditions, store them somewhere cool and dry.

What is the Best Way to Clean Suede Shoes?

You can mostly clean suede shoes by rubbing them with a slightly damp lint-free towel or an approved suede brush. Just move the brush/cloth in straight lines but in different orientations and remove dirt effectively. 

If there are particularly difficult stains you’re having trouble getting rid of, a specialized leather cleaner, such as Lincoln E-Z Cleaner specifically designed for suede, is a more effective choice It thoroughly cleans the shoes making them look fresher, and also helps to preserve your shoes for a longer period.

For grease or oil stains on your suede shoes, use cornstarch or baby powder right away to remove the wet spots that haven’t yet seeped inside your shoes, and keep them for an hour or so on the spot. If the oil stain has set into the shoe, you may try using a dishwasher cleaning agent, but professional cleaning is more recommended. 

It’s crucial to note that suede shoes should never be washed in a washing machine.

Watch this video and find out how to clean and care for suede shoes!

Final Thoughts

Hope our advice and methods on how to fix bald spots on suede shoes will come of help to you. Put these suggestions into practice, and let us know whether they were successful for you.

Before ending, here is a final piece of advice for you. the bald area will become more challenging to treat the more time you wait. Therefore, you should try to fix the issue as quickly as you can. 

Good luck!