First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Dust talcum powder on the grease, then brush it off.
- Lift any solid bits with a rounded spoon or dull knife before adding liquid.
- Blot liquid with a clean, dry white cloth; don't rub.
- Keep heat away: no dryer, iron or hot air.
Grease on suede is thickened oil, and water alone won't lift it, so this is a dry-first job where any liquid is a last resort. Heat is off the table, and even water has to be used with care, so most of the work happens with powder, a brush, and an eraser. Fresh grease is far easier to lift than an old spot, and old grease on suede has no reliable home method, so a stain that has been sitting for a while may need a professional.
Brush the grease out of the nap before anything touches it, using the eraser in short, light strokes. Uggs and suede shoes are where people rush, so let the powder sit before brushing again. If an old grease stain on a suede couch still shows after that, stop and call a professional.
Before you start
What suede & nubuck can take
Use with care3
- Water
- Soaking
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Talcum powderAbsorbs as much of the grease as it can before any liquid touches the suede. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoon or dull knifeLifts off solid or semi-solid grease without pushing it deeper.
- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsBlots up liquid, and white avoids any dye transfer. (opens Amazon)
- Suede or nubuck brushLifts loose dirt and brings the nap back up after the eraser. (opens Amazon)
- Suede or nubuck eraser barLifts the stain itself when rubbed gently over the spot. (opens Amazon)
- Cleaner made for suede and nubuckOnly for really dirty items, used sparingly so the color stays even. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Dust the grease with talcum powder
Dust talcum powder over the grease so it absorbs as much as it can. Brush it off thoroughly before going on, so no powder is left in the nap.
Tip. Work over a sheet of paper so the powder falls onto it rather than the rest of the item.
Step 2 of 7
Lift solids, then blot the liquid
Use a rounded spoon or dull knife to lift off any solid or semi-solid grease before any liquid touches it. Blot the rest with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels, pressing gently and moving to a clean part each time.
Careful. Rubbing spreads the stain and can damage the fibers.
Step 3 of 7
Let it dry away from heat
If the suede is wet, let it dry at room temperature, away from direct heat and sun. If it's already dry, go straight to brushing.
Careful. Heat sets stains and can make them impossible to remove, so keep the item out of the dryer and away from irons and hot air until the stain is gone.
Step 4 of 7
Brush off the loose dirt
Brush the whole area gently with a suede or nubuck brush to lift loose surface dirt. Check the stain after each pass so you know how much is left.
Careful. Don't brush the same spot hard or for long, because the nap is fragile.
Step 5 of 7
Rub the stain with the eraser bar
Rub a suede or nubuck eraser bar gently over the stain only, not the whole surface. If the stain persists, wet the eraser bar and repeat, then let the suede dry and brush the nap back up.
Step 6 of 7
Clean only if the item is dirty
Use this step only when the item is really dirty: wipe with a damp cloth, or use a cleaner made for suede and nubuck. Work over the whole panel or both shoes so the color stays even.
Careful. Test any cleaning product in a hidden area first, since it may mark or change the color.
Step 7 of 7
Call a professional if it remains
If the stain remains, or you aren't sure what it is, take the item to a professional cleaner rather than trying household products. Suede you're unsure about shouldn't get more home treatment.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for grease on suede & nubuck
A suede or nubuck eraser bar and a suede brush do most of the work here. Buy a cleaner made for suede and nubuck only for items that are really dirty.
Angelus Nubuck & Suede Kit
Jason Markk Suede Cleaning Kit, Shoe Cleaner, 2-Piece Set, Brush
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on suede & nubuck, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is coming out when grease lifts onto the eraser or the white cloth with each pass. Once the spot is gone, let the suede dry fully and brush the nap back up so it matches the rest.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your suede & nubuck
Boots with suede uppers
Check what the outside of the boot is made of before you start: if it's suede or nubuck, the steps above apply. If it's another material, or you can't tell, skip the eraser and any liquid and take the boots to a professional.
Work on both boots the same way, even if only one is stained, so the color matches across the pair. Let them dry fully at room temperature before you wear them.
Suede shoes
Work on both shoes, not just the stained one, so the color stays even across the pair. Keep the eraser to the stained patch.
Brush the nap up once the shoes are fully dry, and start with the dry steps before using any cleaner.
Other suede footwear
Other suede footwear follows the same dry steps, from talcum powder through the eraser bar. Keep liquid to a minimum, since suede absorbs water, and blot rather than soak.
Treat the whole panel or both pieces so the color stays even, and skip any cleaner unless the item is really dirty.
Suede couches and car seats
Without a care code you can check, don't wet a suede couch cushion. Use only the dry steps: talcum powder, a spoon, a dry white cloth, the brush and the eraser bar.
If the stain stays, call an upholstery cleaner. If the seat isn't suede, start with our Car Seats guide instead.
Suede jackets and handbags
Jackets get the same dry steps: talcum powder, brushing off, a spoon for solids, and the eraser bar on the stained patch. Keep the eraser to that patch, as with any suede.
For handbags, keep any liquid off the hardware and trim. Take a bag you value to a professional if the eraser doesn't lift the grease.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old grease is harder to remove than fresh grease, and suede has no safe home method for old stains. Don't reach for solvents or bleach to try it yourself. Work through the dry steps gently instead, and expect that some old marks may not come out at home.
If the grease has dried, let the suede dry completely, then brush the spot and go back to the eraser bar, wetting the bar if needed. If the item has already been through the dryer, the grease may be impossible to remove, so a professional is the realistic goal.
If the stain is still there after the eraser and brush, take the item to a drycleaner or leather specialist rather than adding products at home. They can judge what is realistic for the mark.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on grease on suede & nubuck?
Most household remedies are built for fabric, stone or other surfaces, and suede should get as little liquid as possible. The same goes for car grease: dry work comes first, and most remedies stay off suede.
Helps1Skip3Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use leather conditioner on suede
Leather conditioner is meant for leather surfaces only, so it doesn't belong on suede. Use the eraser bar and brush to restore the nap instead.
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid
Gasoline and lighter fluid aren't grease removers for suede, including car grease. Car grease gets the dry steps above, and anything left goes to a professional.
Don't let the grease sit for days
Grease gets harder to lift the longer it stays on suede. Bring the item to a drycleaner as soon as possible, preferably within a few days, so the stain doesn't set.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The nap looks flat and shiny after erasing
Let the leather dry at room temperature, away from heat and sun, then brush gently with a suede or nubuck brush to lift the nap. Don't brush the same spot hard or for long, since the nap is fragile.
The eraser isn't lifting the grease
Wet the eraser bar and repeat over the stain only, then let the leather dry and brush to restore the nap. If the mark is still there once dry, that's the point to take it to a professional cleaner.
A patch looks a different shade after cleaning
Test any product in a hidden area first, and clean the whole panel or both shoes so the color stays even. Leather Naturally notes that color-restoring sprays exist for common shades, and professional leather repair businesses handle color and unusual damage.
When to call a professional
Take suede to a professional cleaner, such as a drycleaner or leather specialist, for any stain the eraser and brush don't remove, any unknown stain, or whenever you're in doubt. Leather repair businesses can also help with unusual stains or damage. If the color changes, they can use color-restoring products made for common shades.
Questions
Can grease come out of suede for good?
Often, if the grease is fresh and you start with the dry steps right away. Old grease is harder to remove, and once it has been through a dryer it may not come out at all.
Is water safe on suede?
Water can be used on suede, but sparingly. Suede absorbs water and is sensitive to moisture, so blot instead of soaking and save a damp cloth for really dirty items.
Can I wash suede shoes in the washing machine?
No. There's no machine method for suede, so keep the shoes out of the washer. Work through the dry steps first, and for really dirty shoes use a damp cloth or a suede cleaner on both shoes.
Will cleaning change the color of suede?
It can, so clean the whole panel or both shoes to keep the color even. If the color does change, a color-restoring spray for common shades may help.
Can I use dish soap on suede?
No, skip it on suede. Dish soap is a fabric mix, and suede should get as little liquid as possible, so the suede cleaner is the safer choice for really dirty items.
Can I rub the eraser over the whole item?
No. Rub it gently over the stain only, not the whole surface, so the rest of the suede keeps its nap.
Grease on other materials
Other stains on suede & nubuck
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.