You recently acquired a much-desired new pair of shoes.
You can smell the quality construction and fresh leather as soon as you pull them out of the package.
For a shoe enthusiast, there are few things more enjoyable than taking a brand-new pair of shoes out of the box for the first time.
The finish is flawless right out of the factory, but it isn’t quite ready for its first journey outside.
Should I Polish New Shoes Before Wearing?
We advise polishing new shoes before wearing them for the first time because they are likely to have little to no shine on them and won’t be as shiny as they might be.
The leather on most shoes that are bought “off the shelf” has no protection after being finished at the factory.
While other stores provide shoe polishing as a client service, I personally hand-polish every pair of shoes before they are mailed to or picked up from consumers.
For various browns, consider utilizing the color that is closest to the leather.
Black is black, therefore that’s the color you use.
Use a lint-free cloth and one or two fingers wrapped in it to polish the leather for a high shine.
Apply some polish to the cloth and rub it into the leather in a circular motion.
Then, very lightly dip the cloth into some water and continue polishing until you begin to see the shine through.
By doing this, you will give your shoes an excellent layer of protection and significantly improve their appearance.
How To Shine Shoes?
Even while polishing shoes isn’t very complicated, certain methods just yield better results than others.
Additionally, the items you use have a significant impact on the outcome, so it’s not as simple as slathering on whatever polish you found in the clearance section.
But if you follow these instructions, you won’t ever look back or, for that matter, down at your shoes in dreary disappointment again.
- If the shoes have laces, take them off and clean the surface with a brush. If the shoes are damp, let them air dry naturally before exposing them to any artificial heat. You can clean the shoes down with a moist towel if they are very soiled.
- Apply shoe cream with an old rag, covering the entire surface, and let it dry. The leather is nourished, kept supple, and prevented from breaking as a result. Make sure the color of your shoe cream matches the color of the leather, or use a neutral cream, which won’t offer as deep a shine to enhance color but will still work.
- When dry, polish with a soft brush or by gently rubbing with a towel. The shoes will now have a light shine.
- You must thoroughly clean the shoe’s welts. This is where higher-quality shoes will have visible stitching where the uppers are linked to the sole. They need to be dusted frequently since they are dust catchers. If the sole margins are scratched, you can fix them using the methods outlined above, shoe lotion, or a marker pen.
- Use a brush or cloth to apply wax polish, paying close care to the welts. In addition to creating a barrier that will protect your shoes from the weather, this will give your shoes a great shine. The same as with cream, you may either use the same color as your shoes or a neutral one.
- Remove any extra wax polish using a brush or cloth once it has dried. To produce a decent shine, this should be done rather energetically. Now that you’ve completed your task successfully, you can lace the shoes once again.
Why It’s Important to Shine Your Shoes?
Although shoes may last a lifetime with appropriate maintenance, the uppers frequently degrade first.
Regular polishing feeds the leather, keeps it soft, and stops it from breaking, extending its shelf life.
It’s important to keep in mind this fact when wearing your leather jacket.
Beyond that, well-polished shoes inherently complement tailoring; the formality of the sheen is a perfect match for tailoring worn throughout the workday.
However, polished shoes are not just for tailoring; a well-polished pair of dark brown Chelsea boots will elevate your weekend jeans and sweater.
Even the most costly tailored suit will be spoiled by unclean shoes.
Unfortunately, there is no actual shortcut to getting perfectly shined shoes; you must work hard for it.
It takes patience to get a parade ground military polish, and there are rumors that floor cleaner has been used as a shortcut.
There are also stories about transparent nail polish being used to keep the flawless toecap.
Never attempt that at home. Stretch instead since your forearms will be working hard.
Products to Shine Your Shoes
Cream
If your shoes are looking worn out, you may apply a good shoe cream to replenish the leather, add color, and bring them back to their former glory.
Creams give moisture to shoes similarly to conditioner, but unlike conditioner, they also leave behind a protective top layer.
Have the appropriate color for each pair of shoes.
Polish
A high-quality wax polish is an essential accessory.
Although Kiwi is a fantastic all-purpose brand, it is also worthwhile to spend more money on luxury brands like Saphir since polish may last for years and can even be used after it has dried out.
Different colors of polish applied on non-black shoes, like a pair of tan wingtips, may provide an intriguing patina, and the sporadic use of black varnish on light shoes can give character and depth.
Use caution when applying certain “high gloss” polishes and coatings since they may include silicon, which may eventually cause the shoe to dry out and shatter before its time.
Clothes
In the jewelry industry, some of the best clothes for shoe polishing are also employed.
When folded into a pad, those made by companies like Selvyts, which are standard issue in the British Army, are great for restoring shine between polishing.
They may be used for bulling shoes to a military sheen.
When polishing shoes, yellow household dusters are useless; instead, use an old white cotton T-shirt or, in a pinch, a straightforward universal microfibre polishing cloth.
Brushes
The best buffing tool to use after polishing is a high-quality shoe brush.
There is no need to spend a lot of money because traditional versions made from horsehair are pricy and do not produce a noticeably better effect than more affordable alternatives.
To maintain the appearance of suede or nubuck shoes, such as chukka boots, a specialist brush is essential.
Try holding the delicate fibers over a boiling kettle while brushing to revive them and bring back their nap.
Shoe Trees
Any man who wants his shoes to last must make an investment in shoe trees.
These are best constructed from moisture-absorbing cedar and aid in preserving the form of the leather, avoiding creasing, and maintaining the freshness of your shoes.
However, they are also useful for cleaning since when inserted, they reveal any shoe fractures.
They are available in shoe sizes, widths, and toe shapes at the high end, but the generic ones are as effective.
As soon as you take them off, place them in your shoes, and wait at least a day before wearing them again.
FAQs
Does Cream Polish Condition the Leather?
To us, this is a hypothesis that is debatable. It’s frequently asserted that using a cream polish will condition your leather, but we don’t believe this to be true.
It could at least be helpful, but it cannot in any way take the place of the qualities and results that the Mink Oil Renovator will deliver.
How Frequently Should My Shoes Be Shined?
To inquire how long a piece of string is is analogous to this.
The answer depends on a wide variety of circumstances, including whether you use shoe trees and brush your shoes on a regular basis, how often you wear them, what you do in them, and the weather.
I would argue that as a general rule, one should only shine their shoes once a week.
You need to polish your shoes less frequently the more pairs you own.
How Long Should It Take To Polish Shoes?
Depending on the desired result, a shoe polish might take anywhere from 5 minutes to 2-3 hours.
Mirror finishes should not be tried quickly since they take a long time and need a lot of drying time between phases.
But a 5-minute condition and color renewal shine is plenty for individuals who only desire minimal upkeep.