Having perfectly polished shoes is a great detail that makes any outfit complete. Polishing shoes is easy and can be done by anyone quickly, easily and correctly. Here is a guide that will walk you through the steps of an optimal shoes polishing experience: from the set, the tools you need and how to do it to make it effective and the least dirty it can get.
Set (How to make preparations)
Here is the set you need to put together when you want to polish your shoes.
- First of all, you need a newspaper or an old towel on which you will work on.
- Then, bring your shoes and take the shoelaces off.
- Gather all the tools you need (you will read about them in the second step) and place them on the newspaper or around it. Things tend to become dirty when someone polishes shoes, so it’s best to keep the the things that make a mess on the paper.
- Don’t decide to shine your shoes after you are all dressed up or anything like that. You might get… you guessed it, dirty! On another note, you can polish your shoes even after you’ve bought them and generally try to polish them a little while before wearing them. It can be a good idea to polish your shoes at least once a week and if you get them wet or dirty, more often.
Ready (What you need)
Here is what you need to give your shoes a great shine:
- horsehair shine brush
- buffing cloths
- shoe polish
- all-purpose leather cleaner and conditioner
Tips:
Make sure that you have a different brush for each color, you don’t want to mix the brown equipment with the black one.
Also, make sure that the color of the polish is as close as possible to the color of your shoe. When you first test a cream, apply it to an area of your shoe that is not very visible. This way, you can decide whether the color is good or not without issues.
Go (How to do it)
1. Use the horsehair brush to remove possible stains, dirt or dust from the shoe. Pay attention to the heel and sole. In case your shoes are very dirty, use leather cleaner. To make sure it all goes well and you don’t affect the shape of the shoe when doing this, keep the shoe tree in the shoe while you polish it. This is the step where you can also use conditioner if you choose to do so. Conditioning your leather shoes reacts on the leather by softening and moisturizing it.It also protects it from drying out and eventually cracking. Some types of leather, and generally shoes used in dryer climates might need to have conditioner applied more often.
2. When the shoes are clean and dry, apply a good amount of polish using your shoe polish brush. Afterwards, spread it at a level on the whole surface of the shoe.If you have trouble getting to some ares, use a toothbrush or a cotton swab. Afterwards wait around 20 minutes until the polish is dry. Remember this say when applying polish: “Thin coats + Many coats = The highest of high shines.”
3. When the shoe is completely dry, take the shoeshine brush and carefully wipe off the polish. Make sure to use a clean cotton swab or a toothbrush in case you have issues with some harder to reach areas.
4. The last step is the buff job. For this, you need a clean, lint-free chamois or a shine cloth so that your shoes shine in all their glory. When doing this, use both long strokes as well as smaller circular strokes.
Cream, paste or wax polish?
There are several types of products you can use to shine your shoes. What you need to know is that they act in different ways. Cream or paste polish for example soak and moisturize leather but also allow the leather to breathe. Wax leather usually results in a finer shine but it seals leather and might cause dryness. Liquid polish usually offers shine but it can crack leather.
Why you should keep your shoes polished
There are a few reasons which we think are big enough for which you should keep your shoes polished. First of all, we all know that looking good is a good part of feeling good in everyday life. Second, keeping your shoes in shape will make them last longer and third, having a good pair of shoes ready at any time will save you the “which shoes should I put on” problems.
So, have a look at your shoes and if they’re not in shape, go ahead and shine them; we’re sure you’ll enjoy the results.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. What is your shoe shining ritual? How often do you polish your leather shoes? Do you have any tips? Share your comments below!
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