Shoes are an essential part of our wardrobe, and they also require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking their best. For this reason, many people choose to have their boots professionally polished when they need them done. It is not practical or affordable for everyone, though. Learning how to polish your shoes is a great alternative. Polishing your boots is a great way to save money and feel accomplished. You can polish your footwear at home, saving you time and resources in the long run. This article describes how to polish shoes with a shoe polishing kit that has everything you need. From the essentials you’ll need to the best techniques, we’ve got it all here.
Polish Materials
- Polish
- Polishing Brush
- Soft, lint-free cloth
- Newspaper
Let’s take a sharp look at the material mentioned above and choose it.
Polish
Shoe polishes come in a variety of colors to match your boots. Some people prefer cleaner with a dark luster, while others choose a matte finish or shiny look. Knowing what color you want ahead of time can save you from making another trip to the store for an alternate choice. Liquid polishes are suitable for people who are not patient enough for waxy polishes. Liquid shoe cleaner is easier to apply, but it does not last as long. On the other hand, Wax polishes need a little more patience and time than liquid ones because they take longer to dry and require multiple applications before achieving maximum shine. Waxes can also darken your boots, so be sure to use the suitable color polish.
Shoe Polish Brush
The next thing you need is a brush to apply the polish. Shoe polishing brushes are made from natural bristles and have a metal stem to ease your choice of color. Strokes should go lengthwise across the shoe because you brush out dirt and dust collected on it after walking around. Make sure not to brush too hard or fast. It damages the leather of your boots by wearing them down. Most people just use a regular brush to apply polish, but a pair of cleaning kits with multiple brushes will make the job easier.
Soft, lint-free cloth
Polishing your shoes is the finishing touch that will get you ready for your next big date, job interview, or other important occasion. A chamois leather cloth is a soft leather product with many uses. If you want to add a shiny finish to your polished footwear, you will need to get your hands on a chamois, which is a type of soft leather cloth. Alternatively, you can use any soft, lint-free cloth, such as an old cotton t-shirt. To achieve the desired effect, the surface of the boots must be completely dry before polishing with either material.
Newspaper
The newspaper will catch all the boot polish that falls off your footwear. It also will protect the floor from being damaged by shoe polish. Polishing boots is the final step in getting your boots ready for important events. Newspaper is an excellent tool when polishing because it protects the floor while catching all of the polish that falls off during this process. It’s also essential to make sure that the surface of your footwear is dry before polishing.
Applying Shoe Polish Brush
Now, you can brush on some of your chosen colors onto the pair, constantly going from heel to toe and back up again in continuous motions until all parts of the leather have been covered with an even coat of color.
Applying shoe polish
Now that your footwear has been covered in a nice layer of shoe polish, you need to let the leather rest for about ten minutes so it can absorb all the different elements and dry without leaving any residue on them. It is essential not to speed up this drying process because doing so will cause your pair polish to crack and wear away unevenly. Take a cloth and dab it around the boot until you have enough proofer on your brush, and then apply this liberally all over each shoe, constantly going back and forth in long strokes. You should do three or four coats of proofer so that they are evenly covered with as much as possible without any dry spots.
Timing for applying the Shoe Polish
Take a clean cloth and wrap it around each of your index fingers, then rub them together vigorously until they make a soft white leather from all the leather-covered in polish rubbing against one another. The lather should be made up of both polish and leather residue. Besides, you can begin applying the proofer, which will give your color a nice shine and protect it from wear, making them last longer by keeping dirt off of them. It also helps prevent future staining on your shoes if they are ever exposed to water or other liquids. Make sure that your footwear are thoroughly dry before applying another layer of polish because having wet leather will cause them to sit in spots when they have brushed over again, which looks terrible and can leave streaks on them if not done correctly. You may need to use another color of polish for this step if you want your boots to be darker than they were original.
Small circular motions method
Apply the polish using small circular motions. It will give your pair a nice shine and make them look even better than before they were polished, allowing for maximum protection when exposed to rain or other liquids that can harm them. You should also use another clean cloth to help you apply the polish and remove any excess from your shoes. It is best to allow for a few hours or even overnight so that your first layer can dry properly without leaving residue on them; otherwise, it will make it difficult to get an accurate shine.
Additional layers
Apply a top coat of polish which should contain some form of wax or protection that will keep your shoes looking new for as long as possible. This layer also helps give them their shine and protects the leather from stains, water damage, and any other elements you might expose to daily wear. You can use this layer on top of the proofer, and you should apply it after it is completely dried.
Final Touch of Polishing
Now that all of the shoe polish has been applied and dried take a cloth and rub it against each shoe until they are nice and shiny. After finishing up with another color or proofer, you should always do this because there will be no streaks on them, and they will look great. Make sure not to rub too hard because this can cause damage or wear away the polish you just finished up with. You should always apply your boots when they are dry so that there is no water residue left behind, which may affect how long it takes for them to fully dry off after brushing on another layer of the proofer.
Final Words
Finally, it no more mystery about how to polish shoes when polishing your shoes. You’ll need to have the following items on hand: polish brush, boot polishing cream or wax, paper towel, and a small bowl. The next step is to choose which type of product will work best to clean up any scuffs or stains on your boots. You can use either creams or waxes; just make sure it’s appropriate for leather.
Once determined, go ahead and apply some of the desired substance provided onto each spot until it disappears. It would be better to pick the proper brush because the poor quality brush may cause damage like scratching on leather. Also, applying the average amount of polish as too much or too short will not provide you the expected results, and your whole struggle may go unfruitful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I polish new shoes?
Polishing new shoes is not worthy because they are still very susceptible to wear and staining. It’s best to wait until the leather has hardened up a little before applying polish; otherwise, it may leave marks on them, which can ruin their appearance.
What color shoe polishes should I use?
It depends on your preference of color. If you want a more subtle look, choose lighter colors like brown or tan. Black is the most popular color for darker shoes that look tasteful and sophisticated with any outfit.
What else do I need to know?
It’s important to remember not to polish your leather too often because this will cause it to crack and wear away unevenly. You should only do so when you start seeing some surface blemishes on your shoes because this means they are beginning to wear out from regular use and need a little more protection for them.
How often should I polish my shoes?
Shoe polishing isn’t necessary every day, but people who spend their days walking in dusty areas, working on their feet, or playing sports will find it very good to polish them every few days. It’s also important not to wear the same ones for two days in a row because this can cause your shoes to retain too much moisture, leading to staining and rotting.