How to get an oil or grease stain out of suede
For an oil stain on suede, blot off what you can, then cover the spot with a thick layer of cornstarch (or Fuller's earth on dark suede) and leave it for several hours or overnight so it draws the oil out of the nap. Brush the powder off with a suede brush and repeat until the dark spot stops fading. Suede is uncoated leather that soaks up oil instantly, and water and soap can stain or stiffen it, so dry absorbents are the safest home method.
- Best method
- Blot, absorbent powder for hours, brush, repeat
- Time
- 10 minutes of work; several hours to overnight per round
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Stain type
- Oil and grease
You will need
- Paper towels or a white cloth
- Cornstarch, cornmeal or talcum powder (light suede)
- Fuller's earth (dark suede)
- A suede brush or soft toothbrush
- A suede eraser
How to remove grease and oil from suede
- 1
Blot, don't rub
Press a paper towel or white cloth onto fresh oil to soak up what's still on the surface. Scrape off any thick grease gently with the edge of a plastic card. Don't rub.
Why: Suede's open nap absorbs oil immediately. Rubbing spreads it wider and presses it deeper into the leather.
- 2
Cover it with an absorbent powder
Pile a thick layer of cornstarch, cornmeal or talcum powder on the stain on light suede, or Fuller's earth on dark suede. Press it lightly so it touches the nap.
Why: Absorbent powders draw oil out of the leather by capillary action. The University of Georgia's guidance for grease on leather and suede uses Fuller's earth, or cornstarch or cornmeal on light colors, because Fuller's earth can show on pale suede.
- 3
Give it time
Leave the powder for several hours, or overnight for a heavy stain. Keep the item somewhere it won't be knocked.
Why: Absorbents work slowly. Extension guides advise giving them plenty of time, two to three hours at least, to pull oil up out of the fibers.
- 4
Brush the powder off
Brush the powder away with a suede brush or soft toothbrush, brushing lightly in one direction. Check the spot: if it's lighter, repeat the powder and wait again.
Why: Caked powder holds the oil it absorbed. Fresh powder keeps drawing more out until no more comes.
- 5
Use a suede eraser on what's left
Once the powder no longer lightens the spot, rub a suede eraser gently over any remaining mark, then brush the nap back up.
Why: An eraser lifts surface residue and restores the nap without adding liquid.
- 6
Protect it once it's clean
When the suede is clean and dry, spray it evenly with a water-and-stain protector made for suede, outdoors or in a ventilated room, and let it dry fully.
Why: A protector slows oil and water from soaking in next time, which gives you time to blot.
Why oil stains suede so easily
Suede and nubuck are leathers with a brushed, napped surface instead of a smooth, finished one. With no coating, the fibers are exposed, so oil soaks straight in and spreads into a dark, slightly shiny patch. Oils are non-polar, so water won't lift them, and water itself can mark suede and leave it stiff and shrunken if it isn't dried properly. That's why the cleaners you'd use on fabric, detergent and water, are risky here.
Absorbent powders get around that. They pull oil out without wetting the leather, and you can repeat them as often as needed. The University of Georgia is frank that cleaning stains from suede is always risky and advises consulting a professional when in doubt. The grease stain guide covers oil on other surfaces.
Oil on UGGs and other sheepskin boots
Sheepskin boots are suede on the outside with wool fleece inside. UGG's care instructions rule out the washing machine, dry cleaning, heat and sun, and its cleaning method wets the entire boot evenly and uses a sheepskin cleaner, because spot-wetting leaves a ring. For oil specifically, no maker-verified home method was found. The dry absorbent method above is the lowest-risk option because it adds no water, and a professional suede cleaner is the next step for a stain that won't lift. Not every stain can be removed from sheepskin, and the maker doesn't guarantee it. See how to clean sheepskin boots for water and salt marks.
By situation
Fresh oil on suede shoes
Blot immediately and get powder on it as soon as you can. The less time oil has to spread through the nap, the more of it an absorbent can pull back out.
Old or set-in grease stains
Old oil has spread and may have darkened. Absorbents still help, but give each round overnight and expect several. If the mark stops fading, take it to a professional leather or suede cleaner.
Suede jacket, bag or furniture
Iowa State Extension advises taking stained suede garments to a professional leather cleaner promptly, because leather is very absorbent and home stain removal can also remove dye. A gentle absorbent round is reasonable first, but stop there for anything valuable.
Light-colored suede
Use cornstarch, cornmeal or talcum powder rather than Fuller's earth, which is a darker clay. Brush thoroughly afterward so no powder stays in the nap.
Suede shoe cleaner
A commercial cleaner made specifically for suede and nubuck, used as its label directs, is the next step after absorbents. Test it on a hidden area, such as the inside of the heel.
What not to do
- Don't wash suede with soap and water or put it in the washing machine. Suede isn't meant to be washed: water and soap can stain, stiffen and shrink it.
- Don't use heat to dry or 'melt out' the oil. Heat damages suede and leather, and a hair dryer or iron can spread oil further.
- Don't rub the stain. Rubbing spreads the oil and flattens or mats the nap.
- Don't use leather conditioners, oils or waxes on suede. They're made for smooth leather. On an open nap they're absorbed directly and leave their own dark patch.
Other methods that work
Dry-cleaning solvent on a cloth
The University of Georgia's leather method follows the Fuller's earth paste by blotting lightly with a cloth dampened with dry-cleaning solvent, used sparingly.
Caution: On suede it can change color or texture. Test on a hidden spot, ventilate, and leave it to a professional on valuable items.
White vinegar or rubbing alcohol on a cloth corner
Footwear care guides suggest a small amount of either on a cloth corner for spots on suede shoes.
Caution: Not specific to oil. Test first, use very little, and let it dry fully before brushing.
Dish soap
Often suggested because it cuts grease. On suede it's a traditional method with weak evidence and real risk, since care guides say not to wash suede with soap and water.
Caution: It can leave a water ring or soap residue that's harder to fix than the oil.
Stain still there?
The spot faded but a shadow remains
Repeat the powder overnight a few more times. If it stops changing, the oil has bound to the leather and a professional suede cleaner is the next step.
Powder is stuck in the nap
Let it dry completely, then brush firmly in one direction with a suede brush, and use a suede eraser on any white residue.
Water or a cleaner left a ring
On sheepskin boots, the maker's method is to moisten the entire outer surface evenly with cold water so it dries one color, then dry it slowly away from heat and brush the nap.
Safety
- Use solvents only in a ventilated area, away from flames.
- Spray suede protector outdoors or in a well-ventilated room.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do you get oil out of suede?
Blot it, cover it with cornstarch or Fuller's earth, leave it several hours or overnight, then brush it off. Repeat until the spot stops fading, and finish with a suede eraser.
How do you get a grease stain out of UGGs?
Use the same dry absorbent method, since it adds no water. UGG's own care guidance doesn't cover oil, so a professional suede cleaner is the next step if powder doesn't lift it.
Does cornstarch remove oil from suede?
It draws out oil that hasn't bonded to the leather. It doesn't break oil down, so fresh stains respond best and old ones may only lighten.
Can you use dish soap on suede?
It's risky. Care guides advise against washing suede with soap and water because it can stain, stiffen and shrink the leather.
Grease and oil on other surfaces
Other stains on suede
Sources
- Remove Stains From Oil-Based Foods, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
- Leather Care Tips, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (AnswerLine)
- How to Get Your Suede Shoes Looking Brand New, Nike (manufacturer care guide)
- UGG Sheepskin Cleaning and Care Instructions, UGG / Deckers Brands (manufacturer)
- Remove Stains From Grease (Automotive, Cooling, Vaseline), University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.