How to Clean Suspenders/Braces

I started wearing elastic suspenders at work. As a custodian, I wanted to make sure I knew how to clean them. Here is what I got from the internet. Remember, these tips are for ELASTIC SUSPENDERS ONLY. Any cloth suspenders should be taken to a professional cleaner.

Also, you will notice that there are no links or pictures with this Instructables. To this point, I have only done the research. I have not yet tried any of the steps listed below. As I test the steps, I will post product links and pictures to show the results. Please "favorite" this page and come back to check on my progress.

The first thing to know is that unless they get stained you should clean them infrequently. They don't need to be tossed in the wash every day. That would stretch and fray the elastic, not to mention what it would do to any leather or metal parts. There are several levels of cleaning for suspenders that I will touch on below.

The first line of defense is surface cleaning, for when you want to wipe off any sweat or grime. Believe it or not, the recommendation is to use either make-up removing cloths or butt wipes.

To take care of the occasional stain without going the full wash mode, use a stain-removing wipe. The recommendation I found on-line was Shout wipes, but it looks like those no longer exist. Therefore, I have ordered up some Tide stain wipes {Amazon affiliate link} to see how well they work. When I clean a stain, I'll update this Instructables with before-and-after pictures.

To clean the leather bits (rabbit ears, industrial ends, etc.), you need to use a two-step process: Clean and condition. Fortunately, I found this product {Amazon affiliate link} that is both. Simply rub the soap with a damp (NOT WET) cloth or sponge to work up a little lather (I used an old cotton dishcloth), then rub this into the finished leather bits of the suspenders (do not apply to unfinished leather or suede). When the leather is dry, use a soft, dry cloth to polish the leather, if you so desire.

UPDATE: I did this for the first time today. I could NOT get a lather going on the saddle soap. Maybe the cloth needs to be a bit wetter. Also, this seemed to take quite a bit of the dye off of the leather (as seen on the picture of the rag). I'll update this again the next time I do this.

Sometimes you just need a little more power to get the buggers clean. This is when you use a washing machine on the gentle cycle using a gentle detergent, like Woolite. Put the suspenders in a mesh bag to prevent the metal bits from clanging around. You could also add other items, such as towels, to the same load.

Once the suspenders are washed, pat them dry, especially around the metal bits; lay them flat on a towel; and allow them to air dry. At this time, you should condition any leather bits.

If you are worried about putting suspenders in a washing machine, you can also hand wash them in a sink with about a teaspoon of Woolite. Personally, I bought a collapsible travel washing machine that has been useless for everything else. I'm going to test using that the next time I have to deep wash my suspenders.