First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the wine with a clean, dry white cloth. Don't rub.
- Sponge the spot with cool water or club soda if you have it.
- Keep the suede away from heat, including the dryer, iron and sun.
- Sprinkle table salt on a fresh spill to absorb some of the wine.
Red wine on suede is a tannin stain, and suede is one of the hardest surfaces to treat at home. Fresh spills can be lifted with light blotting and a little water, but old or dried marks are riskier, and this is where a professional is worth the call. Use as little moisture as you can and keep the suede away from heat.
Suede shoes and bags need the same light touch, so test a hidden spot before you work on the stain. Brush the nap gently with a suede eraser, and stop the moment you see any color change. If the surface starts to look flat or shiny, hand it to a cleaner rather than pushing on.
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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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsBlotting lifts the wine without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Cool water or club sodaA light, prompt sponge is the first rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Table saltOn a fresh spill, it absorbs some of the wine. (opens Amazon)
- Suede or nubuck eraser barIt lifts the stain from the nap without soaking the suede. (opens Amazon)
- Suede or nubuck brushIt clears dirt and restores the nap once the stain is gone. (opens Amazon)
- Suede cleaner (optional)Only for really dirty suede, and only after a hidden-area test. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot up the wine
Press the liquid up with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels, working from the edge of the spot toward the middle. Blot until little more comes up onto the cloth.
Careful. Don't rub. It spreads the stain and can damage the fibers.
Step 2 of 7
Salt a fresh spill
If the spill is fresh, sprinkle table salt on the stain right away so it absorbs some of the wine. Blot the salt up before going on.
Step 3 of 7
Sponge with cool water
Sponge the stain promptly with cool water, or with club soda if you have it. Blot thoroughly so the spot isn't left wet, since suede absorbs water.
Step 4 of 7
Let the suede dry naturally
If the suede is wet, let it dry at room temperature, away from direct heat and sun. Wait until it is fully dry before you start on the stain with the brush or eraser.
Careful. Heat sets the stain: keep the suede away from the dryer, iron, hot air or direct sun.
Step 5 of 7
Brush off loose dirt
Brush the surface gently with a suede or nubuck brush, moving across the nap rather than in one spot. This clears loose dirt around the stain so the eraser works on the stain itself.
Step 6 of 7
Erase the stain gently
Rub the eraser bar gently over the stain only, not the whole surface. Stop as soon as the spot lightens, since more rubbing can thin the nap.
Tip. Test the eraser bar on a hidden area first, since cleaning products may mark or change the color.
Step 7 of 7
Repeat and restore the nap
If the stain is still there, wet the eraser bar and repeat, then let the suede dry and brush the nap back up. For really dirty suede, a cleaner made for suede and nubuck can be used, cleaning the whole panel so the color stays even.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for red wine on suede & nubuck
Choose a suede and nubuck eraser bar and a brush made for suede. The brush is what restores the nap, so it matters as much as the eraser.
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.
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 should lighten as the eraser lifts it, and the nap should look even once it is brushed back up. If the spot stays dark or the color looks uneven, stop repeating the steps and take the suede to a professional.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your suede & nubuck
Suede shoes
Clean both shoes, and the whole panel on each, so the color stays even. Only use a cleaner made for suede and nubuck when the shoes are really dirty, and only after the water and eraser steps.
Let them dry at room temperature, away from direct heat and sun, then brush the nap back up.
Nubuck
Nubuck follows the same method as suede, with the same dry eraser bar and brush. Test the bar in a hidden area first, since it can mark or change the color.
Keep the water light, because nubuck absorbs it just as suede does.
Suede bags and purses
A suede bag can take the same eraser and brush steps on its suede panels, with the same test first. Work on one panel at a time so the color stays even across the bag.
For the rest of the bag, see the Bags, Purses & Backpacks guide.
Color change after cleaning
If the color changes after cleaning, stop rubbing and don't repeat the eraser. Color-restoring sprays exist for common shades, and that is the one product type to consider here.
For unusual color loss, a professional leather repair business is the safer call.
Old, dried or set-in stains
If the stain is old and has never been treated, there is no tested home method for suede. The steps above are the realistic limit at home, and a stain still visible after them needs a professional. Don't try soaking or stronger products to make up for it.
A stain that has dried is harder to lift, but it is still worth a careful try with the eraser bar and brush once the suede has dried naturally. Let it dry fully, away from heat, before you start.
If the suede has already been through a dryer or a hot iron, removal may no longer be possible. If the stain is still there after the eraser and brush, take the suede to a professional cleaner within a few days.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on red wine on suede & nubuck?
Most home remedies for wine are built for fabric or hard surfaces, and several are unsafe on leather. The ones below cover the rinses and cleaners that matter for suede, plus the ones to leave alone. Before reaching under the sink, check what each option can do to suede, since most household bottles are too harsh for it.
Works2Skip4Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bar soap or natural soap
Soap makes a tannin stain like red wine permanent or at least more difficult to remove. Check any detergent's ingredient list, and skip it entirely on suede.
Don't put leather conditioner on suede
Conditioner is made for leather surfaces only, and it will change the look and feel of suede. Stick to the eraser, the brush and the water or club soda rinse.
Don't brush the same spot hard or for long
The nap is fragile, and a hard brush on one spot can flatten or mark it. Move the brush across the surface and let the eraser do the work on the stain.
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 stain you can't identify, or whenever you're in doubt. Bring it in within a few days, since older stains are harder to lift. Professional leather repair businesses also handle unusual stains and damage.
Questions
Is vinegar safe for removing wine from suede?
No, skip vinegar on suede. Cool water or club soda for the first rinse, then the eraser bar, is the method to follow.
Does club soda work on suede?
Yes, club soda is a good first rinse on a fresh spill. Sponge lightly, then blot thoroughly, because suede absorbs liquid quickly.
Can red wine be removed from suede after it dries?
Sometimes, but dried wine is harder to lift. Let the suede dry naturally, then try the eraser bar and brush, and take it to a professional if the spot stays.
Can I wash suede with water?
Only a light sponge with cool water on the stain itself. Suede absorbs water and is sensitive to moisture, so keep the wet work small.
Should I use a suede cleaner on wine?
Only when the suede is really dirty, after the water and eraser steps. Test it on a hidden area first, and clean the whole panel so the color stays even.
What if the color changes after cleaning?
Stop rubbing and don't repeat the eraser. Color-restoring sprays exist for common shades, and a professional leather repair business can help with unusual color loss.
Red Wine 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.