Brossage d'une mule en velours vegan camel avec la brosse d'entretien

How to use a suede brush on suede, microsuede and velvet

A suede brush is the simplest tool for keeping suede, microsuede or velvet shoes looking new. You still need to use it properly though: brush too hard, on a wet shoe or in one direction only, and the result can be disappointing. Here's the complete guide.

The essentials

Always brush dry, on a shoe free of mud.
Small, light strokes, one way then the other, to lift the nap.
On a mark: let it dry completely, then brush.
A crepe rubber brush suits suede, microsuede, nubuck and vegan suede.

Which brush to choose?

There are three main types of brush for napped materials:

Crepe rubber brush: its slightly tacky surface catches dust and lifts the fibres without pulling them out. The most versatile and the gentlest.
Soft-bristle brush (horsehair or fine nylon): for quick dusting.
Metal or brass brush: reserved for thick, heavily marked suede, to be used with care. Avoid it on velvet and fine microsuede.

Our suede care brush combines a beechwood back with a crepe rubber face. It was chosen for the vegan suede of our styles and also works on the suede and nubuck of your other shoes.

Breya suede care brush, beechwood back and crepe rubber face

How to use a suede brush in 5 steps

1. Let it dry

Never brush a damp shoe: wet fibres flatten and tangle. If your shoes got caught in the rain, let them dry at room temperature, away from radiators, with some paper inside to keep their shape.

2. Remove dust and dirt

Start by tapping the soles together, then pass the brush lightly over the whole surface to remove dust. If mud has dried on, knock it off first with the back of the brush or a dry cloth.

3. Brush one way, then the other

With short strokes, brush with the nap, then against it. It's this back-and-forth that lifts the fibres and restores the matt, even look. No need to press: repetition does the work, not force.

4. Focus on marked areas

The toe, the sides and the top of the foot flatten faster. Go back over them with light circular movements. On a dry mark, rubbing a little harder with the crepe rubber is often enough to erase it.

5. Finish in one direction

End with a few strokes in a single direction for an even finish. That's it: two minutes is enough.

How often should you brush?

For a pair worn every day, brushing once a week keeps the nap even. Add a pass after every outing in the rain, once the pair is fully dry. For the rest of the care routine, our guide caring for microsuede and vegan suede shoes covers everything.

Care brush in front of a pair of camel Varenna loafer mules

Mistakes to avoid

Brushing a wet shoe: the fibres flatten and felt.
Pressing too hard: you wear the surface down instead of lifting it.
Using a metal brush on velvet: it can tear out the fibres.
Drying on a radiator or with a hairdryer: direct heat stiffens the material and can deform the shoe.
Rubbing a fresh stain: you spread it. Better to blot, let dry, then brush.

What if the brush isn't enough?

For a grease stain, a water ring or a stubborn mark, the brush is still the last step, but you need to treat the stain first. We explain it all, case by case, in how to remove a stain from suede or microsuede.