Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Finding the right tool
• Tips
• Warnings

Taking care of your shoes in the right way not only ensures beautifully shiny shoes, they will also last longer. If you learn to polish your shoes well, you will not only get credit for your work, but you will also save a lot of money over the years. With the right material and a little patience, cleaning shoes becomes a breeze.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Finding the right tool

1. Choose the right shoe polish. Shoe polish is available as a wax, cream and liquid form. Shoe waxes and creams are a bit firmer and will nourish the leather of your shoe and protect it from the elements. Liquid shoe polish is good for making your shoes shine quickly and easily. Shoe polish comes in a variety of colors - you can buy a specific color to match the shoes you want to polish, or you can buy a neutral shoe polish that you can use on shoes of different colors.
2. Choose whether you want to use a shoe brush or an old T-shirt. There are various options for applying shoe polish. While most people will use an old cotton T-shirt or other soft cloth, you can also buy specialty brushes with short, sturdy bristles. Instead, you can use an old toothbrush or cotton buds to apply the shoe polish to difficult areas.
3. Get your hands on a horse hair brush. A good horse hair brush is the most essential means of cleaning your shoes. This one has longer, softer bristles than the brush described above. The brush is used to remove excess shoe polish from the shoe and really bring the shine to the leather.
4. Find a soft, lint-free cloth. If you want to polish your shoes to a shine, you will need a chamois leather or a soft, lint-free cloth. You can also use any other soft, lint-free cloth, such as an old cotton T-shirt.
5. Try using a flame to polish your shoes. This is a fun, but quite dangerous way to polish shoes. It means that the shoe polish is set on fire for a few seconds, until it becomes liquid. This melted shoe polish is then applied to the shoes in the same way as with "wet brushing".
   • If you've applied several coats of the melted shoe polish, you can take this process one step further by spreading the flame from your lighter evenly over your shoes so that the shoe polish melts and starts to look damp.
   • Don't let the flame really hit the shoe and keep the lighter in constant motion, as if you were using a spray can of paint. Once the shoe polish has melted evenly, let it dry.
   • Apply a final coat of shoe polish and polish the shoes with a soft cloth for a sparkling shine.

Tips

• If you don't have patent leather shoes, don't expect to be able to make a shoe really shiny without putting in hours of work. That said, after the foundation has been laid and if you additionally use shoe trees to avoid wrinkles in the leather, it is fairly easy to maintain the shine of your shoes.
• Always polish new shoes immediately after you have bought them; despite being new and looking perfect, brushing helps the shoes to break-in and at the same time prevents wear and tear while wearing.
• If you get a scratch on your shoe, you can try melting shoe polish into it. Heat the shoe polish until it becomes liquid and pour a little bit of it into the scratch. Brush, let dry and repeat. It's hard to get stuck, so if anyone has a tip for this, let others know. In any case, this method is better than doing nothing about the scratch.
• If you choose to work with a cleaning cloth, it is a good idea to use a stiff brush to clean the rim, front, outer heel and heel of the shoe (including the sole).
• The trick is not to put too much shoe polish on the shoe, but rather to build up the shine in thin layers.
• Only buy shoes that have a perfect shine when they are in the store. That way you know what they are worth.
• Another way to polish the edge and heel of the shoe is to polish with a good vinyl protector like Turtle Wax. Use a soft cloth to apply to the rim and heel. Avoid getting on the leather or the bottom of the shoe.
• If you want leather with a fine texture, don't buy pigskin shoes; pigskin looks thinner and often gives a blotchy, scaly appearance, especially around the toe of the shoe. Calf leather is more expensive, but it has an even, deep shine and lasts longer.
• After the shoes have partially dried, try to get an even, extra shine all over the shoe by using tights when brushing.
• In an emergency, you may want to consider putting a silicone cloth over your shoes. It's a handy way to get your shoes even shinier just before your job interview; however, it does not have such a permanent glossy effect as several layers of shoe polish, and because you rub a synthetic material against a natural product, you scratch the shoe leather at a microscopic level. So use it as you see fit.
• Keep your shoes in a cool room or even in the garage to dry. Protect them from dust and moisture by keeping them in a covered shoe box.
• Do not use cracked shoe polish - it will be too dry for use. You can find out in the store if shoe polish is too dry by shaking the can back and forth; if you don't hear anything, the shoe polish is in perfect condition.

Warnings

• Be very careful with the lighter or matches; do not burn the shoe, as such damage is irreparable.