#1 Prepare the place and the shoe:
I would recommend to do it in a place where you don’t risk to stain the carpet. You risk upsetting your wife otherwise.
Also, it’s preferable to do it with a shoe tree inside.
#2 Cleaning your shoes off dirt/dust:
Brush your shoes with the larger brush
Use the large brush to whip all the dirt off the shoe. Sometimes you’ll have to slightly wet your shoes to get rid of difficult stains. But make sure they dry off first before brushing if you do so.
#3 Applying the shoe polish:
Polish applying
Apply evenly the shoe polish all over the shoe with the small brush. Make sure to respect these three crucial points while doing so:
- The shoe polish MUST match the leather color (or at least be very close to).
- It MUST be applied with the same quantity and manner on every area of the leather (unless you want a heterogeneous look to it).
- The polish should properly attain the seams and the joint between the upper and the sole. This will ensure water resistance for the shoe, which is a key advantage of shoe polishing as it allows the shoe to survive through harsh weather.
#4 Letting the polish dry out:
Let your shoe air-dry for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile go do something productive (No Facebook scrolling!)
#5 Brushing off the polish excess:
Brushing off the shoe excess
Brush the entire shoe vigorously using the large brush. The purpose behind this is to brush off the shoe polish excess, leaving only a small film on the outside of the leather. Be careful when you do so as you risk to stain your clothes or the carpet (you wife/mom will make you sure you remember it for years after).
#6 Shining the shoe:
Rub with the shoe cloth
Our goal here is to bring the gloss out of the polish. For this you can either use a cotton ball (that you need to slightly moisten) or the shoe polish cloth.
Rub the shoe energetically until you’re satisfied with the result.
If you feel that some parts of the shoe still need polishing (if so it’s usually the heal and the toe since they are more exposed to scratching), you can get a little polish on the shoe cloth or a damp cotton and apply it upon the leather using small circular motions.
Finishing the work:
Finally, put the laces back and appreciate your work!
Not polished vs Polished
Don’t forget the second shoe!
