How to Shine Shoes

Good shoe polishing technique not only makes the shoe look better, but also prolongs its life. You will feel more satisfied when you shine your own shoes, and in the long run will save a lot of shoe shine costs. Shoe polishing is easy, as long as you have the right supplies and a little patience.

Table of Contents

Prepare all materials

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Choose shoe polish. Shoe polish comes in three forms: wax, cream, and liquid. Heavier waxes and creams, help condition and protect skin from water damage. Liquid form suitable for quick polishing. Shoe polish comes in a variety of colors — you can buy a specific color that matches the color of your shoe, or buy a neutral color that goes well with a variety of skin tones. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Decide whether to use a shoe brush or an old shirt. You have several options for how to polish your shoes. Most people use an old cotton shirt or a soft rag, but you can also use a shoe brush with stiff, short bristles. This brush is included in most shoe polish kits. You’ll also need an old toothbrush or cotton swab to apply polish to hard-to-reach corners.

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Buy a horsehair brush. A horsehair shoe brush is an essential tool that you should have. It has longer and softer bristles than the aforementioned shoe brush. The horsehair brush is used to sweep excess polish off the shoe, and help the remaining polish to penetrate the leather. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Find a soft, lint-free cloth. If you want to give your shoes shine, you need to buy a piece of leather, which is a soft leather fabric. Or you can use any soft, lint-free fabric, like an old cotton shirt.

Line the work surface with newspaper. Shoe polishing is dirty work, so you need to protect the floors and furniture by lining the work area with newspaper. You can also use brown paper bags. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Steps to play poker

Shoe cleaning. Before polishing, it is important that you clean your shoes to remove accumulated dirt. Otherwise, dust can get trapped underneath the sealant or scratch the surface of the leather. Use a horsehair brush to brush the shoes vigorously to remove dirt. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Instead of using a horsehair brush, use a damp cloth to wipe the entire surface of the shoe. Let the shoe dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
At this point, you should remove the shoelaces. Removing the laces will give you easier access to the tongue, and prevent the glue from sticking to the laces.

Apply the shoe polish in small circles. Dip an old shirt or shoe brush in the polish and apply it to the surface of the shoe in small circles. Apply with moderate force and make sure the polish covers the surface evenly, paying close attention to the toe and heel as that’s where the most wear is. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The easiest way to use an old shirt is to wrap it around your index and middle fingers, then use those two fingers to apply polish to your shoes.
Use a toothbrush or cotton swab to apply polish to hard-to-reach areas, like the edges or crevices in the tongue.
You should also apply polish to the sole of the shoe, in the space between the toe and heel, where it’s not in contact with the ground.

Let the polish dry and apply a few more coats if needed. After applying polish to the first shoe, set it aside on the newspaper and continue working on the second shoe. Each shoe needs about 15-20 minutes to dry. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If you feel the need to apply another coat, apply a second coat using the same technique as above.
Remember to use the minimum amount of polish that is enough to cover the entire surface of the shoe. It is better to apply several thin coats than one thick coat.

Sweep off any excess. After the coats have dried, use a horsehair brush to sweep in short, quick increments to remove excess. Don’t worry about brushing too hard — the heat generated by the powerful sweeping motion helps the polish penetrate the skin.

These sweeping movements are mainly made by your wrist. Keep the rest of your arm stationary while your wrist swings the brush back and forth rapidly.
Remember to sweep your hand evenly over the surface of the shoe. After the scan is complete, the shoe should have a slight shine on the entire surface. If you don’t like too shiny shoes, you can stop here.

Shoe polish

Polish the shoes with a soft cloth. The easiest way to add shine to your shoes is to use a soft cloth, like a piece of leather or an old cotton shirt, to polish the shoes. Grab both ends of the cloth and swing it back and forth on the shoe with quick movements.

Some people like to breathe into their shoes (like misting a mirror) before polishing.
If you like, you can put the first shoe on the rack (or on the foot) to make it easier to hit the ball.

Use the spray-polish method. Spray-polish is the military method used to give shoes a high shine. After applying the first coat, spray a little water on the shoes and let the water soak into the leather surface. Then, dip the towel in warm water and use it to apply a second coat of polish. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Repeat this process until the shoe reaches the desired shine. Be sure to let each coat dry completely before applying the next.
This method can be done with a soft cloth or a few cotton balls to remove makeup.

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Use the burn-polish method. Burn-polish is an interesting but somewhat dangerous method of shoe polishing. You will have to burn the can of poker for a few seconds until it melts and becomes sticky. Then, you apply the shoe polish with the same technique as the spray-polish method.

After applying multiple layers of molten polish, you can level up this fire game by heating the shoe with a lighter evenly, until the wax melts and looks a bit wet.
Don’t let the fire touch the shoe and keep moving the flame as if you were spraying paint. After the polish has melted, let it dry.
Apply a final coat of polish and polish the shoe with a soft cloth to a high shine.

Advice

Always polish your shoes when you first buy them, no matter how new they are. Polishing helps protect the leather for future use.
If the shoe has scratches, you can burn the wax in it. Heat the cement and put a little bit on the scratch. Polish, let dry and repeat.
After the shoes are partially dry, try polishing them with a pair of women’s tights. This method will create a better gloss.
It is important that you do not apply too much polish on the shoes, but apply it in thin layers to create shine.
Unless your shoes are made of special leather, don’t expect to be able to shine like a mirror in the short term, even for the best shoes. However, once the basics are done, and if you use a shoe rack to prevent wrinkles from forming, shoe maintenance should be relatively light.
Do not use a cracked can because it is too dry. You can check by shaking the box of poker; If the poker inside doesn’t move then you can buy it.
If you decide to use cloth, use a stiff-bristled toothbrush to clean the hem, waist, and heel (including soles).
Store polished shoes in a cold room or even in storage. Protect shoes by storing them in a lidded box.
You can purchase a shoe polish kit that includes a box of black polish, a box of brown polish, a towel, a polishing brush, and a polishing brush.
Only buy shoes with a good shine in a reputable store. That way you will know how well the shoe can be polished.

Warning

Be careful with lighters or matches; Avoid burning the shoe as this damage cannot be repaired.

Steps

Prepare all materials

Steps to play poker

Shoe polish

Advice

Warning

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