Has anyone washed a Suede Gel-Filled Seat Saver?

[MrWoof]

My HM Seat Saver, on which there is very little of the suede finish left (now quite smooth), is leaving serious black marks on what I sit-upon.
Has anyone tried washing theirs - with no adverse after effects?
I was going to try it on a Silk or Wool Wash with Fabric Conditioner in the rinses.
I don't really want to wreck it but I am getting to stage where I am considering buying shares in the Company which produces Vanish.

 

[Chico Mio]

I use suede cleaner for shoes on mine and rough it up a bit with a wire brush (for shoes, not the real heavy duty ones!). I suppose if it has gone shiny, it is basically leather - how about a damp cloth and some leather sofa cleaner? I think any kind of soap and water cleaning will make the suede go rock hard when it dries.

 

[MrWoof]

[ QUOTE ]
I use suede cleaner for shoes on mine and rough it up a bit with a wire brush (for shoes, not the real heavy duty ones!). I suppose if it has gone shiny, it is basically leather - how about a damp cloth and some leather sofa cleaner? I think any kind of soap and water cleaning will make the suede go rock hard when it dries.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you but have tried suede and leather cleaner - to no avail. It seems as if the dye has now decided to plaster itself all over my breeches.
I thought maybe if I washed it and then used leather cleaner to soften it??

 

[Chico Mio]

Ah, OK. Washing it by hand might get some of the dye out of it then, but perhaps if the dye is so willing to part company with the suede it might just keep on bleeding out. Alternatively, could you make it some sort of cover? I know it sounds a bit twee, but at least then you only have to wash the cover every now and then and not your trousers every time.