Rough and smooth leather differ in their structure and require different cleaning and care methods. Suede leather, also called suede, suede or nubuck leather, can be recognized by its velvety surface. This effect is achieved by grinding the animal skin. Since suede is always the skin of a wild animal, the skin side of the leather is always used to ensure a high-quality result when manufacturing suede. This is free of natural scarring and is simply more beautiful to look at.
For nubuck leather, on the other hand, the outer skin side is used, which is sanded during the manufacturing process and makes the material very soft and cuddly. However, the natural leather cannot be dyed on the roughened side. All that could be achieved with an additional coat of paint is that the fibers would stick together and the natural effect of the natural material would be lost.
How do you recognize suede leather?
Suede leather is very comfortable to wear. It is very pleasant on the skin and nestles perfectly against the body. Due to the velvety soft, short and finely polished surface, a so-called "writing effect" is created when you stroke it, which makes it easy to distinguish suede from other types of leather. This is due to the roughened fibers, which appear differently to the eye depending on their position.
Cleaning and caring for suede: This is how stains develop!
The rough surface is what makes suede leather so unique and a real eye-catcher. Unfortunately, the structure is also very sensitive and absorbs moisture and dirt. This is precisely why the sensitive natural material has to be protected from external influences such as these in countless everyday situations. Because dirt, grease and water stains appear faster than we would like and are extremely difficult to remove. If aggressive leather cleaners are then used, they destroy the beautiful surface and this in an irreparable way.
Especially in the cold season, when it's wet and uncomfortable outside and salt is strewn everywhere again for safety reasons, you have to protect your chic suede shoes very well and roughen the suede leather and then impregnate it. But even in your own four walls, it is easy for an unsightly grease or water stain to deface the sofa, armchair or other suede furniture. But don't worry: You can also get stains out of suede with the right little natural remedy.
Cleaning suede: home remedies that work!
In contrast to smooth leather, suede and suede have an open-pored and polished surface. Due to the special structure, the material acquires a natural patina over time, which looks beautiful but is particularly sensitive to liquids. Our grandmothers used various home remedies to help them get rid of unsightly stains on the couch and the like, as well as on their favorite suede clothing. The following home remedies make stains disappear forever!
Baking Powder & Cornstarch:
These two home remedies are particularly good for greasy stains. To do this, you have to dust the affected area with the home remedy, let it work in and then carefully brush it out with a suede brush.
Vinegar:
Vinegar also removes grease stains from suede. Dampen a colourfast cotton cloth with a little vinegar and gently work in the natural stain remover. Then wipe with a damp cloth. Important: Always use distilled water for this. Normal tap water would leave unsightly edges due to the lime content.
Raw Onions:
The juice of an onion works particularly well on snow edges. Simply dab the affected areas with the liquid and let it take effect. The unsightly edges should be completely gone after just one treatment.
Natural leather cleaners:
Sustainable leather cleaners like Emma Grün use natural ingredients to combat stains on suede. It doesn't matter whether your favorite items of clothing, shoes, accessories or your leather sofa & Co. need an effective thorough cleaning. With the sustainable suede cleaner from Emma Grün you can do this effectively and without any aggressive chemicals. And this is how it works: Spray on, work into the leather with a brush in circular movements, rub with cold distilled water and you're done! It is also perfect as a leather cleaner/car. Did you know that you can also use our premium leather cleaner as an Alcantara cleaner?
Cleaning and caring for Alcantara: No problem with the sustainable products from Emma Grün!
Our leather cleaner is not only suitable for all types of leather and imitation leather. Also made of Alcantara, you can get dirt and stains out completely without unsightly water marks. But what is Alcantara and what protection and care is appropriate?
What kind of material is Alcantara?
Alcantara has a velvety surface. It is a high-quality artificial suede leather and consists of a non-woven fabric made of microfibers (polyester, polyurethane). Due to its appearance, it is often confused with suede. In direct comparison with natural leather, it has the advantage that it is easy to clean and care for. For this reason, it is often used for car seat covers. But it is also often used as an easy-care material for sofa covers.
How do you clean Alcantara?
A basic cleaning should always be carried out before deep cleaning. That's why you first have to remove the dust that likes to settle in the microfibre fabric with a vacuum cleaner or a soft clothes brush. If you can remove the covers from your Alcantara couch, you can clean them in the washing machine at thirty degrees on a gentle cycle. Important: You are not allowed to spin the fabric! Alcantara has no place in the tumble dryer either. These operations would damage the fabric.
Once the covers are firmly sewn, you can treat your sofa or car seats with an Alcantara cleaner such as Emma Grün's Premium Leather Cleaner. We have already explained in detail how this works at the top of the article under «Application».
Alcantara: How do you get rid of the knots in the fabric?
Alcantara is known for small nodules forming on the surface over time. This is due to the special nature of the material and is referred to as "pilling" in technical jargon. This unsightly effect is triggered when standing up and sitting down. The material wears out over time and some fabric is constantly peeling off, which ends up knotting on the surface. Not a pretty sight, but easy to fix. There are special sanding pads on the market that you can use to sand off the tiny nodules in a circular motion and wipe them off by hand. Don't worry: the fabric will not be affected. You should clean and impregnate your Alcantara sofa afterwards so that you don't have to repeat the process so quickly due to renewed pilling.
