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How to Clean, Restore, and Repair Shearling Suede Garments

How to Clean, Restore, and Repair Shearling Suede Garments

Posted by Roger Koh on 3rd Feb 2026

Shearling suede garments are prized for their warmth, softness, and timeless appeal — but they are also among the most misunderstood and easily damaged leather materials. Improper cleaning, washing, or neglect often leads to dryness, fiber weakness, rips, and irreversible damage.

This guide explains:

  • What shearling suede really is
  • Why it deteriorates and tears
  • When should it begin

  • And how Leather Doctor® Shearling Suede Repair and Care Kit SS7 safely restores both the wool and suede faces before professional-grade repairs are performed.

What Is Shearling Suede?

Shearling suede is a double-face natural material made from sheep or lambskin:

  • Outer face: Suede (buffed flesh side)
  • Inner face: Soft, sheared wool (fleece)

Unlike split suede or lined garments, both sides of shearling are functional and exposed, meaning care must address two completely different fiber structures without compromising either.

Why Shearling Suede Requires Specialized Care

Shearling suede is not fragile by nature — it becomes fragile when its original fat liquor (fat and oil) is lost.

Common causes of deterioration:

  • Natural aging and oxidation
  • Dry cleaning solvents and alcohol-heavy cleaners
  • Washing with water without reconditioning
  • Skipping proper rinsing and fatliquoring

Early warning signs:

  • Creases and wrinkles are forming quickly on the sleeves
  • Collapsed, tired-looking suede
  • Increased stiffness and loss of elasticity
  • Rips and tears occurring under normal movement

Once the suede dries internally, stress concentrates at weak points, making ripping almost inevitable.

When Should Suede Repair Begin?

A common mistake is attempting to glue or patch suede before restoring its strength.

Professional repair begins only after:

  1. Cleaning
  2. Rinsing
  3. Hydration
  4. Fatliquoring
  5. Exfoliation

These steps reveal a clean, flexible, and stronger surface, allowing repairs to bond properly and last.

Leather Doctor® Kit SS7 is designed around this exact sequence.

What Is the Leather Doctor® Shearling Suede Repair and Care Kit SS7?

Shearling Suede Repair and Care Kit SS7 is a complete Shearling-Safe™, pH-balanced (3.0–5.0) system developed to:

  • Clean and rinse both wool and suede safely
  • Restore moisture, fat, and oil to weakened fibers
  • Improve tensile strength before repair
  • Perform discreet, durable rip and tear repairs

All products are supplied in concentrated form, mixed with distilled water for freshness, longevity, and shipping efficiency.

Why Are Leather Doctor® Products Concentrated?

Concentrates offer several professional advantages:

  • Indefinite shelf life
  • Will not freeze
  • Reduced shipping weight
  • Less handling damage
  • Mixed fresh for each project using distilled water only

Step 1: Cleaning, Rinsing, and Conditioning the Wool Side

Shearling restoration always begins from the wool (fleece) side.

Dry Soil Removal

Brush wool at an angle using Sheepskin Wool Brush 4, followed by vacuuming.

Cleaning

Apply Sheepskin Wool Cleaner 5.5, brush gently, and extract suspended soil using towel folding until the towel remains clean and dry.

Rinsing

Repeat using Sheepskin Wool Rinsing Conditioner 4.0, then allow to dry fully and brush to restore bloom.

Conditioning

Apply Sheepskin Wool Smooth Feel Conditioner S, brush evenly, allow to dry, and brush again for softness and uniform appearance.

Step 2: Cleaning, Hydrating, and Restoring the Suede Face

Dry Soil Removal

Brush and erase surface contamination using Suede Napa Brush 2 and Suede Eraser 5, followed by vacuuming.

Cleaning

Apply Suede Soft Cleaner 4.5, brush, erase, and towel-extract until new towel folds show clean.

Rinsing

Repeat with Suede Rinsing Conditioner 3.0 to remove residues and prepare the fibers for hydration.

Step 3: Hydration and Fatliquoring — Restoring Strength

Hydration

Spray Suede Hydrating Conditioner 3.3 and brush into the structure until the suede visibly plumps.
When gently pressed between fingers, moisture should ooze out — indicating full internal hydration.

Stretching and massage manipulation while relaxed further restores flexibility.

Fatliquoring

Apply Suede Fatliquoring Conditioner 5.0 over damp suede.
Allow each application to dry naturally and repeat until full saturation is achieved.

During the final near-dry stage, staking, flexing, and massaging produce noticeably softer suede.

Step 4: Exfoliation — Preparing for Repair

Once dry, Suede Eraser 5 is used to:

  • Remove dry rot and weakened fibers
  • Refresh the nap
  • Restore a clean finger-writing effect

At this stage, the suede is clean, flexible, and structurally ready for repair.

How to Repair Suede Rips and Tears

Repairs are performed using Leather Glue 3D, a translucent-drying, flexible adhesive engineered for suede.

Professional Repair Method:

  1. Split Fit Test
    Ensure edges close cleanly with no missing fibers. Prepare donor fibers if required.

  2. Glue Application
    Apply a thin layer of Glue 3D using a tool smaller than the split (bamboo skewer, teaspoon tip). Remove excess.

  3. Close and Align
    Close the split carefully, smooth the edges, and leave undisturbed to dry.

Repairing Holes with Missing Fibers

Holes require:

  • Donor suede fibers harvested from hidden areas
  • Glue 3D used as a fiber-binding medium

The repair follows the same principles as rip and tear restoration.

Repairing Weakened Seams and Structural Rips

Weight-bearing seams require additional reinforcement:

  • Increase hydration and fatliquoring first
  • Apply Leather Patch 4S as a sub-patch from the wool side
  • Shave ½ inch around patch edges for direct bonding

Optional Camouflage

A second thin layer of Glue 3D may be used to partially press donor fibers into the surface.
Always practice on scrap material before final application.

Final Thoughts: Why Proper Preparation Matters

Most failed suede repairs are not caused by glue — they fail because the leather was weak before repair began.

Leather Doctor® Shearling Suede Repair and Care Kit SS7 restores:

  • Moisture balance
  • Fat and oil content
  • Flexibility
  • Tensile strength

Only then does repair become durable, discreet, and long-lasting.

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