Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

How to Polish Combat Boots

Before the invention of liquid polish and sponged shoe wax, most kids polished their school shoes at one time or another with shoe polish and a brush. But nothing gets shoes as shiny as a good old fashioned "spit shine," which is a common way of polishing combat boots in the military. The process can be time-consuming as you have to add multiple layers of polish to the boots, but doing so protects the leather, making the boots last longer. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

  • Soft brush
  • Saddle soap
  • Cotton duster
  • Shoe polish
  • Water
  • Newspaper
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the boots before polishing to avoid dirt becoming trapped under layers of polish. Put a small amount of saddle soap on a wet soft-bristled brush, and gently scrub the boots and wipe the foam with a clean towel. Let the boots dry.

    • 2

      Wrap the cotton duster around your index finger, dip it in the shoe polish and apply a significant amount of polish. Starting at the toe cap, rub the polish in with small circular motions, applying gentle pressure. Do this to the entire boot, including the tongue, back and sides.

    • 3

      Dip the cloth in small amount of water, or dab the cloth on your tongue to add a little moisture to the polish. When adding polish in circular motions, you'll see swirls of polish on the boot. With constant application of the polish, you'll begin to see the swirls start to disappear.

    • 4

      Apply the next layer of polish in the same manner, periodically adding a little water. When the swirls start to disappear on the boot, it's time to add another layer of polish. Repeat the process until there are no visible scuffs or other marks on the boot and it appears to have a smooth finish.

    • 5

      Dip the cloth in a small amount of water, and wring out the excess. Wrap the cotton duster around your index and middle fingers, making sure it's taut. Dab a little polish and make circular motions on a little section of the boot. Continue to do so until you see a "black mirror" shine appear through the layers of polish.

    • 6

      Move onto the next boot section and repeat the circular motions until you can see your reflection in the boot. Polish the other boot in the same manner.

Tips & Warnings

  • Cover the area in which you're polishing your boots with newspaper to avoid staining the floor or furniture.

  • Maintain the shine by adding a couple of layers of shoe polish every day.

  • After you've finished, rub off any polish that might have gotten on the soles.

Suggest item

Related Searches:

References

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Get a Mirror Shine on Combat Boots

    Getting a pair of combat boots to a mirror shine isn't an easy task. It is, however, something that anyone can do...

  • How to Polish Boots

    Unless you are a working ranch hand, you don’t want to be wearing boots coated with dust and . . . stuff....

  • The Best Combat Boots

    The Best Combat Boots. While combat boots are originally designed to be worn by soldiers during combat, more people are finding them...

  • 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...

  • How to Give Your Leather Shoes and Boots a Military Spit Shine (without the spit)

    When you dress for success, few things speak more than your footwear. If you go into a job interview or on a...

  • How to Polish Military Boots

    Anyone who has been in the Military knows how to polish boots, at least somewhat. But can you make them shine? Here...

  • How to Polish Army Boots

    Army boots are widely available, durable and often cheap. And unlike most hiking or work boots, they are meant to be polished...

  • How to Give Boots a Military Mirror Shine

    While the U.S. military is famous for many things, those shiny boots must be near the top of the list. Regardless of...

  • How to Clean Combat Boots

    Remove the rest of the dirt with a sponge. Dampen the sponge (don't soak it) and then scrub the remaining dirt and...

  • Types of Combat Boots

    The branches of the United States Military have a wide variety of combat boots that serve an even wider variety of purposes....

  • How to Lace Combat Boots

    Though it may seem unlikely, how you lace your combat boots directly affects how they are worn in and ultimately how comfortable...

  • How to Shine Jump Boots

    Jump boots, also known as Corcorans, are a type of boot most often worn in the military. In accordance to strict dress...

  • How to Wear Combat Boots Correctly

    Traditionally designed for soldiers engaging in live combat or combat training simulations, combat boots have recently made headway as a popular fashion...

  • How to Spit Shine Boots Military Style

    Watching a platoon of soldiers march in unison with their shining dress shoes and pressed uniforms is a display of accuracy and...

  • Care Instructions for (ACU) Army Combat Uniforms

    The Army Combat Uniform, simply referred to as ACU within the military community, consists of a pair of pants and jacket with...

  • How to Polish New Boots

    If you want to keep your new leather boots looking new, you need to polish them. New boots are vulnerable to scuffs,...

  • Boot Polishing Tips

    If cared for properly, quality leather boots can last for years. By adhering to a few simple boot polishing tips, ensure a...

  • How to Soften Up Combat Boots

    Nothing takes a dress from saccharine sweet to perfectly delicious like a funky pair of tights and a pair of basic black...

  • How to Blouse a Combat Boot

    The U.S. military has strict regulations on how a military uniform is worn properly. Discipline is ingrained in soldiers from the first...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured