Shoe Polish Tricks
Shoe shining not only improves the appearance of your dress shoes and boots but is also necessary in maintaining their condition. Polishing your shoes regularly and properly will protect them from water damage and help the shoes last longer. There are several tools and techniques you can use to keep your shoes looking great while preserving their condition.
Tools and Materials
You will need a clean and smooth cotton cloth such as an old undershirt or white sock for applying the polish. A horsehair brush is great for polishing the sides of heavy duty boots. A bottle of rubbing alcohol is needed to strip the factory coating of a new shoe before polishing. It is also good to have handy any time you are polishing for cleaning purposes. You will need a container of standard black or neutral polish to start off the initial layers and a container of neutral or black parade gloss to use for top coating. Neutral polish can be used as a third top coat on black shoes for added shine and weather proofing. If you are polishing boots you probably will want to use a heel and shoe edge color renew to clean up any discoloration at the edges of your boots.
Technique
Before you start polishing, lay newspaper down where you will be working to protect the area from hard-to-remove polish stains. If you are working with a new pair of boots or shoes, strip the top layer of factory polish to achieve the maximum amount of shine and protective coating. To strip factory polish, make a mixture of part water and part rubbing alcohol and use a clean cloth to generously apply the mixture to the entire shoe. Once the cloth is clear and is no longer picking up color, apply your first layers of polish. Wrap your cleaning cloth around your index and middle fingers, then dip the cloth into water followed by polish. Apply the polish over the entire surface, dipping the cloth back into the water and polish as often as needed. Once you have the first layer completed, allow the shoes to dry before applying the next coat. Repeat this process at least three times when polishing new shoes. The layers need to be as smooth and even as possible, so apply the polish in small, circular motions. If you are having trouble smoothing out your layers, try adding a bit of rubbing alcohol to the water you are using. After you have achieved a good foundation of polish layers, add shine by applying the parade gloss with a cloth that is moistened with water and alcohol. Apply as many coats as necessary to achieve the desired shine. Reapply the gloss every few weeks using the water and alcohol mixture to maintain shine and protect your shoes.
Tags: shoe, polish, tricks, rubbing alcohol, your shoes, factory polish, into water, parade gloss, Polish Tricks, Shoe Polish
