HOW TO SHINE YOUR SHOES

Photos by baju24

Finishing Touches: Shining Your Shoes

       It always surprises me when I see a man who has obviously made a significant investment and put a considerable amount of effort into dressing nicely for an event, and then I look down and see dull, scuffed shoes. All too often, men think that the shoes aren’t a notable part of the look. Yet, when the rest of your ensemble is stylish and well-fitted, it draws the eye all the way up and down the length of the body. The two features at the ends of this up and down sweep have to keep pace with the rest of the look. You’d never consider dressing up and not making sure your hair looks perfect, why would you do less for your feet?

       Of course, it is also surprising when I realize how many men don’t know how to properly shine their shoes. Shining shoes is a useful skill to have and can make even inexpensive shoes look better and last longer than they might otherwise. So let’s take the bull by the horns and look at the basics of shining shoes.

What Shoes Will Shine

       Obviously, you can only shine shoes with a leather or vinyl finish – in other words, shoes designed to have a shiny finish. And be aware that different types and grains of leather will only polish to specific levels of shine. Leather shoes with a grain pattern that is designed to be ‘matte’ in finish, only shine to a satiny glow at best. However, patent leather shoes that have a smooth glossy finish can be polished to literally have a glass-like shine.

       Of course, the glossier the finish, the more likely it will show scuffs and abrasions, which makes shoe shining more important, so that you can cover and hide these marring incidents.

What You Need

       There are some basic supplies for shining and polishing the shoes that require a small investment, but pay off big in the long run. Here’s what you need:

      • A shoe brush (with semi-firm, natural bristles) to remove dust and dried-on dirt.
      • A few soft, lint-free cloths (old tee-shirts work wonderfully)
      • Wax-based polish in a paste or cream form (the color to match your shoes)
      • Polish applicator swab or brush.
      • Leather conditioners and protective oils.

       The shoe brush is your universal cleaning tool for your leather shoes. It lets you get into the creases, crevices and seams to remove dirt and dust from the shoes. It will generally have a wooden handle and should be made of semi-firm, natural-fiber bristles. Do not use a brush with hard or plastic bristles as these can actually scratch the surface of the leather (especially patent leather) or snag on the fiber in the seams and weaken them and ruin the look of your shoes.

       Soft cloths used for shoe shining need to be lint free, since the polishes and other products generally used on leather shoes generally make them a magnet to little loose fibers. Old tee-shirts are great for this purpose, since they are generally lint-free and are generally found readily in your closet or dresser.

       The shoe polish you choose should be your personal preference. Just remember that the wax-based paste polishes are generally longer lasting and give a better finish with a REAL shoe polishing process. You want the color to be as close to the shade of leather your shoes are made of as possible. Black is basic for black leather, but when choosing a polish for brown, if you are unsure, always err on the lighter shade of brown.

       Many polishes are available with their own applicator brush, but if yours doesn’t come with one, look for a swab or brush that is meant specifically to be used to apply polish. Whether it’s a brush or sponge tip, it should be designed to allow you to apply polish in all the nooks and crannies on the shoe.



 Leather conditioners and protective products (like waterproofing) are always great to have. Generally these have their own specific instructions for use and will say whether they are intended to be used before or after polishing the shoes. They are mentioned here because they are a great addition to a shoe care routine and need to be a part of your shoe care kit. Proper use of leather conditioners and protective products can dramatically increase the lifespan of your shoes.

How To

       Shining the shoes takes a few simple steps, but the interval between those steps can vary depending on drying times and setting times for the products involved. Even with the wait time in between the steps, the results are always worth the effort involved.

Step One

       Use your shoe brush to remove dirt, and dust from the surface of your shoes. If you have substances like dried mud on your shoes, you may want to take them outside and carefully tap the soles and sides against a solid surface to knock such things loose. After that, follow with the brush to remove loose dirt and dust, then use a damp cloth to finish the cleaning step.

       Remember that you want to avoid making the shoes any wetter than absolutely necessary, since you need to make sure the leather is completely dry. If you’ve needed to use enough moisture that you leave the leather feeling damp, allow the shoes to dry fully before you continue.

Step Two

       Apply your shoe polish in a thin, even coating all over the shoes, using a circular motion. If you have a difficult time reaching into creases, seams and crevices with your applicator, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach these areas.

        Allow the polish to dry on the shoes for at least 15 minutes (or according to package directions if longer). The result should be a dull-looking finish at this stage.

Step Three

       Use your shoe brush again to remove the excess (now dried) polish. Obviously, the object isn’t to completely remove the polish, but to make sure that the polish is thinly and evenly spread over the leather surface. Then, take a soft cloth and buff the shoes using small, circular motions to a glossy shine.

       The result should be a gleaming finish that makes the shoes look like new.

Polishing in a Pinch

       Okay, so sometimes you find yourself needing to polish your shoes, but you don’t have products specific to the purpose. You may be traveling and not have your shoe shine supplies with you, and it’s not really practical to go out and buy a whole new kit. Whatever the reason you need to “make do”, there are a number of things you can use to polish your shoes in a pinch that you can find in most households.

Banana Peel

       I know that the first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think of banana peels and shoes is the pratfall comedies where someone slips on a peel left on the floor. But the interior of a banana’s peel contains extremely emollient fruit oils that make it a wonderful polish and conditioner for leather.

       Simply use a damp cloth to remove any dust and dirt then rub the shoes with the inside of the banana peel. Finish it off using a dry cloth to buff the shoes to a shine.
Lemon and Olive Oil

       Take one-half teaspoon of lemon juice and add three drops of olive oil to it. Use a small piece of cotton cloth and apply the mixture all over the shoes. Use a dry cloth to buff the mixture into a smooth look.

       The mixture of lemon and olive oil helps break-down wax built-up from previous polishing, and redistributes it to aid in the polishing effort.

Petroleum Jelly

       A good “quick-fix” for polishing your shoes in a pinch is petroleum jelly. Rub a little petroleum jelly onto the shoes with a cotton cloth, and buff it to a high shine using a dry cloth. The petroleum jelly is great for softening leather and preventing cracking. It also helps to provide extra moisture protection in damp weather.

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