Researching how to properly shine a shoe can get weary fast. There are so many advice givers & bloggers with their own thoughts but no step by step method so I wanted to break down the knowledge I found that helped me take these well-worn loafers to well-loved in about 20 minutes.
First, what you need:
- 3 clean rags
- Old toothbrush or a small brush made just for leather
- Large shoe brush
- Leather cleaner or mild soap & water
- Leather protector (spray or cream), I recommend the vasoline-like cream because you don’t have to wait 24 hours for it to set. I got mine from Aldo at a good price and it dried within 5 minutes.
- Shoe polish to match shoe color
- Clear shoe polish (you can use on any color leather)
- You may find a few of these items around your house. I already had black shoe polish so I just needed to make a quick run to Aldo for 3 products, which were all well priced & did the job just right! I bought Clean(leather cleaner & conditioner),
- Protect(weather proofing), & Shoe Shine(clear polish).
Here’s how to properly clean & polish a shoe
- Unlace shoe and wipe down entire shoe leather with clean, dry rag. Use toothbrush to brush dirt from leather seams & between shoe & sole.
- Clean shoe with leather cleaner(follow instructions per product label) or a pea size drop od mild hand soap & just a touch of water. You do not want to get the shoe soaking wet. Evenly, wipe off the entire shoe with your cleaning solution & wait to dry. You will notice both shoes have gone back to their original color when dry.
3. Apply leather protector to a corner of your second clean rag and in a circular motion begin to apply to surface of shoe & sides of the sole(not to the bottom of shoe sole). Your shoes will look moisturized. There should not be excess product on shoes but if there is wipe off and wait to dry for about 10 minutes.
4. Dip another corner of your same rag in colored shoe polish for quarter size drop of polish. Begin smoothing over the toe’s surface in a circular motion making your way around the entire shoe. Don’t forget to give some polish love to the tongue if the shoe has one.
5. Without polish, I used another corner of the same rag giving the shoe a second round of circular motion really smoothing in the colored polish & shining up the side of the soles as well.
6. Using the Shoe Shine product, I dab the sponge in a circular motion on the toe getting some product onto the shoe then taking my last clean rag & shining the whole shoe with the clear shoe polish for that finished look. Make sure side of sole & heel also look polished.
7. Lace the shoe.
8. Look sharp walking out the door, in the boardroom, and on the dance floor.
