How to Shine Shoes

Tired of having your shoes look worn-out a few hours after you’ve bought them? Want to keep your shoes looking as good as new? Fear not-- with a few handy supplies, and by following these steps, you can learn the easy way to shine them like a pro.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old Cotton Children's T-shirts
• Shoe Shining/cleaning Kits
• Shokeepers
• Leather Cleaning Kits
• Leather Conditioners
• Leather Protection Sprays

1. 

   Clean dust and dirt from the surface of your shoes or boots with a shoeshine brush or damp cloth.

2. Select a can of wax or creme shoe polish that matches the leather you want to polish.

3. 

   Use a shoe polish brush to apply a conservative amount of polish to the surface of the leather. Brush in circular motions until the leather has a dull coating. Get into tight spots using an old toothbrush.

4. Wait 15 minutes while the polish dries.

5. 

   Brush shoes or boots with a shoeshine brush.

6. 

   Buff to a gleaming shine with a clean cotton cloth, such as an old sweat sock or T-shirt.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're in doubt about how to do the best job for your shoes, talk to a shoemaker, who will usually explain the process for no charge.
• Don't polish suede, roughout or patent leather.
• "Instant" or "EZ" shoe polishes generally do not last and can harm shoe leather.
• Don't try to use black polish to change the color of brown leather. If you want to do this, hire a professional shoemaker to dye the shoes.

[sweetlady2009]

on 9/15/2009 The first thing you should always have on hand is a shoe shining kit. Now, this does not need to be an expensive kit that you purchase all together. You can purchase each piece and throw them all into an empty shoe box if you wish. It really doesn’t matter either way, but keeping everything together will cut down on time. Make sure that you have liquid polish with an applicator built-in, paste polish, a horsehair applicator, a horsehair brush, and buffing cloths. If you are rushed for time you will only need the liquid polish, the brush, and a buffing cloth. However it is great to take the time every now and then to try the paste polish.

for more tips about how to polish the shoe please visit:

http://www.pier55.com/beauty-fashion/fashion-accessories/essential-tips-for-shining-shoes/

[cleon123]

on 8/3/2009 well i will impliment this method,good stuff

[MyJB]

on 6/25/2009 I like your instructions on this article along with the pictures. It is clear and concise. Now, I know how to keep my shoes looking new longer. Thanks.

[lichaem]

on 11/27/2006 if you use leather luster make sure all the waxs are off then apply a thin coat with a one inch foam paint brush that can be bought at lowes for 48 cents then put in the over for five minutes then take them out and put in a place where they can dry in piece after they dry apply apply a somewhat thick coat make sure you don't over lap when you put the coats on or you will get lines that are very ignoring you must go to the very next to the very stroke make sure you don't put to much if you do it correctly that should make it look plastic but if it looks like crap buff the whole shoe with the steal wool and do another some what lite coat if its to thin then it will not be as shiney but ou could just do all thin coats but it would take forever make sure when you clean your shoes use pledge not windex becaus ewindex makes it dule and pledge make it shine due to the oil in it and if it scuffs buff the shoe with steal wool and apply another coat if the shoe is about year old you want to buy a product called zip-strip which can be bough from www.leatherluster.com except for the foam brush do not use the applicator that it came with buy the one inch foam paint brush at lowes if you follo wthese instructions then you should be safe these were taught to be by a marine DI who when i first saw his leathr luster and his spit shines thought that they were plastic so belive me follow these instructions

[lichaem]

on 11/27/2006 I know the best way to spit shine. first you need to apply a coat of leather die to your shoe or boot this works the same the leather die helps the polish stick to the shoe so that polish doesn't crack of then take some regular kiwi and rub it into the whole shoe you should do this in lite coats for about three coats then take a litter then quickly go over the whole shoe make sure the flame touches the polish but don't let the actual litter touch the polish then wait about twenty-seconds then do a very quick coat with parade gloss and your shoe will shine make sure your rag is not dry so it wont scratch the polish and make sure you go fast so you make your own friction after that all you need to do is spit shine into till your shoe is completely smooth I do what i call the tv test if you c an watch tv in it perfectly thet they are done and if done right wour shoes will look like corfram and i can prove it because i've gotten inspected an accused that my shoes were fake and if you need proof of my shoes come down to walter hines page high school at the page njrotc.