How to Polish Shoes
You don't have to know how to get them Army-regulation shiny, but you should have some basic training.
Up next in How to Buy & Maintain Shoes & Boots (19 videos)
Love shoes? Then take good care of them with the footwear tips in these Howcast videos.
You Will Need
- Newspaper
- A shoe brush
- Clean rags
- Shoe polish that matches your shoes
- And a lighter or matches
- A mild cleanser, like saddle soap
- And a shoebox
Steps
-
Step 1
Put down newspaper
Put down some newspaper where you are going to work.
-
Step 2
Brush away dirt
Take out the laces and use the shoe brush to remove any dirt from the exterior of your shoes.
-
Step 3
Wipe shoes down
Wipe down your shoes with a damp clean cloth to make sure they're clean.
-
If your shoes are especially dirty, you can use a mild cleanser such as saddle soap.
-
Step 4
Open the polish
Open a canister of shoe polish.
-
Use a wax polish for a stronger shine—the wax will protect the shoes and help prevent water damage if you wear them in the rain.
-
Step 5
Ready the rag
Wrap a clean rag around your index and middle fingers, making sure that the rag is tight against the pads of your fingertips.
-
Step 6
Apply polish
Dip your rag-covered fingertips into the shoe polish and apply them to your shoe with a circular motion, about one to two inches in diameter.
-
Apply the first layer liberally, with lots of shoe polish on your rag.
-
Step 7
Spit
Spit on your shoe where you've just applied polish.
-
If the concept of spit-polished shoes revolts you, sprinkle water on instead.
-
Step 8
Rub
Rub the polish into your shoe with your rag-coated fingers, moving them in a circular motion. Apply the polish evenly, and be sure to get into all the creases.
-
Step 9
Watch the swirls
As you rub the polish, you will notice "swirls" appearing in the polished areas. When these swirls disappear, its time to move on to a new area.
-
Step 10
Apply, wet, and rub the polish on all the other leather areas, until the whole shoe has had a layer of polish applied.
-
Step 11
Add more layers
Add more layers of polish to your shoe, each time using less polish, until your shoes are mirror shiny.
-
If your shoes become dull again as fast as you polish, you're likely adding too much water. This is easily corrected by adding more polish to absorb the water.
-
Step 12
Brush lightly
Brush the shoe very lightly with the shoe brush to bring out the best shine.
-
Step 13
Let them dry
Re-lace the shoes and let them dry in a cool room or a shoebox, if available.
-
In 2002, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted new boots for its members that don't require polishing.
