Aside from the obvious aesthetic reasons for wanting to keep your shoes clean and polished, shining your shoes also extends their lifespan. Good polishing helps to protect the leather and prevent scuffs, water damage, and other forms of wear and tear.
Giving your own shoes a regular shine can be a relaxing activity. The shoe shining process is not that complex, and shining shoes only requires a few supplies. It doesn’t take long to learn how to polish shoes and make sure that your shoes are shining.
The Essential Shoe Shine Supplies:
- Shoe polish: You’ll need a high-quality shoe polish that matches the color of your shoes. You can find shoe polish in most drugstores or online. I usually go for wax polish.
- Shoe brush: A soft shoe brush helps to evenly apply the polish and remove any dirt or debris from the surface of the shoe.
- Polishing cloth: A lint-free polishing cloth helps to buff the shoe and give it a nice shine. You can find polishing clothes online or in some stores that sell shoe care supplies.
- Shoe horn: A shoe horn helps you to avoid creasing the leather when putting your shoes on, which can cause premature wear and tear.
- Clean Rag: A clean rag can be used to remove any excess polish from your shoes.
- Horsehair Buffing Brush: We recommend using a horsehair shoe brush to give your shoes a final shine. A horsehair brush is soft enough to avoid scratching the leather but tough enough to remove any residual polish.
- Welt Brush: A welt brush helps to clean the area between the sole and upper of the shoe, which can often be difficult to reach.
- Leather conditioner (optional but recommended)
How to Shine Your Shoes
Gather your shoe shining supplies:
First, you’ll need to gather all of the supplies you’ll need to polish your shoes. Make sure you have everything on hand before you begin.
Prepare your workspace:
Next, find a well-lit workspace where you can spread out all of your supplies. An old towel or piece of newspaper placed underneath your shoes will help to protect the surface beneath them from any stray shoe polish.
Remove any dirt or debris:
Use a soft brush to remove any dirt, dust, or debris from the surface of your shoes. If your shoes are particularly dirty, you may want to use mild soap and water to remove any tough stains.
Apply shoe polish:
Next, apply a small amount of shoe polish to the surface of your shoes. Use a polishing cloth or your finger to rub the polish into the leather in a circular motion.
Remove the excess polish:
Once you’ve applied a thin layer of polish, use a clean rag to remove any excess polish from your shoes.
Buff the shoes:
Use a horsehair buffing brush or a polishing cloth to buff the shoes and give them a final shine.
Best Products for Maintaining and Shining Leather Shoes
There are a few key products we recommend for maintaining and shining your leather shoes:
Shoe trees: Shoe trees help to keep the shape of your shoes while they’re not being worn. This helps to prevent creases and premature wear.
Shoe cream: Shoe cream is a type of shoe polish that’s specifically designed for leather shoes. It helps to protect the leather and keep your shoes looking their best.
Waterproofing spray: Waterproofing spray helps to repel water and prevent stains. This is a good option if you live in a rainy climate or if you’ll be wearing your shoes in wet conditions.
Can You Use Vaseline to Shine Shoes?
Vaseline can be used as a temporary shining solution for leather shoes. Simply apply a small amount of Vaseline to the surface of the shoe and buff it with a polishing cloth. However, Vaseline does not provide the same level of protection as shoe polish and should not be used as a long-term solution. Never apply Vaseline to suede shoes, as it will stain the leather.
How Often Should You Shine In Your Shoes?
How often you need to shine your shoes depends on how often you wear them. If you wear your shoes regularly, you’ll need to polish them every few weeks to keep them looking their best. However, if you only wear your shoes occasionally, you can get away with polishing them less often.
How to Polish your Leather Shoes Without Using Shoe Polish
If you don’t have any shoe polish on hand, there are a few other household items you can use to shine your leather shoes:
Beeswax: Apply a small amount of beeswax to the surface of your shoes and buff it with a polishing cloth.
Vinegar: Create a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and use it to clean the surface of your shoes. Apply a small amount of the mixture to a polishing cloth and rub it into the leather in a circular motion.
Olive oil: Apply a small amount of olive oil to the surface of your shoes and buff it with a soft cloth. You can also use a 50/50 mixture of olive oil and water.
Lemon juice: Create a 50/50 mixture of lemon juice and water and use it to clean the surface of your shoes.
Salt: Create a paste using equal parts salt and water. Apply the paste to a soft cloth and use it to clean the surface of your shoes. Rinse the shoes with water and buff them dry.
Banana Skin: Rub the inside of a banana skin on the surface of your shoes to clean and polish them.
How Do You Make Homemade Shoe Polish?
If you don’t have any shoe polish on hand, you can easily make your own using a few household ingredients:
Ingredients:-1 tablespoon of coconut oil-1 tablespoon of vinegar-1 tablespoon of lemon juice instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until they’re well combined.
- Apply the polish to your shoes using a polishing cloth or your finger.
- Buff the shoes with a clean cloth to remove any excess polish and enjoy your shiny shoes!
How To Get A Mirror Shine On Your Shoes
There are a few things you can do to get a mirror shine on your shoes:
Use a higher quality shoe polish: Higher quality shoe polishes contain more wax, which will help to create a higher shine.
Apply multiple coats of polish: Apply multiple thin coats of shoe polish rather than one thick coat. This will help the polish to adhere to the surface of your shoes and create a more even shine.
Buff your shoes: Use a polishing cloth or brush to buff your shoes after applying the polish. This will help to remove any excess polish and create a high-shine finish.
Use a shoe shines: A shoe shine is a type of wax that’s specifically designed for creating a high-shine finish on shoes. Apply a small amount of shoe shine to your shoes and buff it with a polishing cloth until you’re happy with the results. There you have it! A few simple tips for shining your shoes.
Spit Shine Your Military Boots
The spit shine is a traditional method for polishing boots that dates back to the early days of the military. While it’s not the easiest method, it is the best way to get a high-shine finish on your boots. To spit shine your boots, you’ll need:-
- Shoe polish
- Polishing cloth
- Water or Alcohol
How to Apply a High-Gloss Spit Shine
- Start by applying a small amount of shoe polish to your polishing cloth. Rub the polish into the cloth until it’s evenly distributed.
- Next, hold the polishing cloth against your boot and spit on it.
- Use your fingers to work the spit into the polish. Continue working the polish into your boot until you’re happy with the shine.
- Use a clean cloth to remove any excess polish and enjoy your shiny boots!
Tips for the Best Results
Below are a few tips to help you get the best results from your spit shine:- Use a higher quality shoe polish for the best results.
- The reason you need to use a higher quality shoe polish is that it contains more wax. The extra wax will help to create a high-shine finish.
- Use water or alcohol instead of saliva. While saliva does contain enzymes that help to break down the wax, it can also leave behind residue that can dull the shine.
- Apply multiple thin coats of polish instead of one thick coat. This will help the polish to adhere to the surface of your boots and create a more even shine.
- Use a polishing brush to work the polish into your boots. A polishing brush will help to evenly distribute the polish and create a high-shine finish. Remove any excess polish with a clean cloth. If you don’t have a polishing brush, you can use an old toothbrush. Just make sure to rinse it thoroughly before using it on your boots.
5 Best Shoe Polishes for a High-Shine Finish
1. Kiwi Shoe Polish
KIWI Shoe Polish is a high-quality shoe polish that’s specifically designed for creating a high-shine finish. The polish is available in a variety of colors, so you can easily match it to your shoes.
2. Lincoln Shoe Polish
Lincoln Shoe Polish is the perfect solution for creating high-shining finishes on all of your shoes. With a variety of colors available, you can easily find one that matches what you’re looking to do with it!
3. Meltonian Shoe Cream
With Meltonian shoe polish, you can easily achieve a high-gloss finish on your shoes. It is suitable for the majority of shoes, and it’s available in a wide range of colors.
4. Saphir Médaille d’Or
Saphir is considered the gold standard when it comes to shoe polishes. The Medaille line is their top-of-the-line product and it will definitely give you the high-shine finish that you’re looking for!
5. Tarrago Shoe Cream
Tarrago Shoe Cream Polish is the perfect treatment for your leather shoes and boots! It nourishes, moisturizes as well as maintains their natural beauty. A soft wax-based cream that smooths out any imperfections in seconds without leaving behind residue or stains – can’t you just feel like a new woman after using this stuff?
FAQ’s
Q. Is shoe shine good for leather?
A. Yes, shoe shine is good for leather. It helps to protect the leather and keep it looking new.
Q. How often should you shine your shoes?
A. How often you shine your shoes depends on how often you wear them. If you wear them daily, you should shine them weekly.
Q. What can I use instead of shoe polish?
A. You can use a variety of things instead of shoe polish, such as Vaseline, olive oil, or even baby wipes!
Q. How do I get a high-shine finish on my shoes?
A. The best way to get a high-shine finish on your shoes is to use quality shoe polish and apply multiple thin coats. You can also use a polishing brush to help evenly distribute the polish and create a more even shine.
Q. Can you make dull leather shiny?
A. Yes, you can make dull leather shiny. The best way to do this is to use quality shoe polish and apply multiple thin coats. You can also use a polishing brush to help evenly distribute the polish and create a more even shine.
Q. How do I remove shoe polish from my shoes?
A. You can remove shoe polish from your shoes by using a clean cloth and rubbing the shoes in a circular motion. You can also use a toothbrush to help remove any stubborn areas of polish.
