January 19, 2024
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From big job interviews to the first day at school, well-polished shoes are your perfect companion when looking smart is all-important. Learning how to polish shoes correctly is a useful skill that can prolong the life of your favourite dress shoes and give them that all-important shine.
Well-shined formal shoes can make or break an outfit, helping you stand out from the crowd and feel confident in your look. Whether you're buffing out scuffs and scrapes or rubbing new life into your beloved brogues, find out how to properly polish shoes below. Don't forget to browse our collection of men's formal shoes.
Follow these simple steps for polishing your shoes.
Remove the laces
First off, you'll want to remove the laces to prevent any polish staining them. At this point, you may notice how much your laces have deteriorated. If your laces are worn and thinning, you could consider replacing them with a new set.
Pack out your shoes
Place old newspaper or a shoe tree inside the shoe to fill it out and ensure you can clean all areas.
Clean off the dirt
Next, take your welt brush and scrub off any dirt and dry mud from the shoe. Don't press too firmly as you don't want to scratch the leather. You can always dampen any mud with a little water to make it easier to remove.
If you have black shoes, you could use a little baking soda to help release any stuck-on dirt.
Tackle tougher stains, such as those left behind by snow and slush, with a teaspoon of warm water and white vinegar rubbed directly onto the problem area.
Apply the polish
Start by applying a little polish to your polishing cloth. Use a wax-based polish if you want to shine and protect your leather shoes, or a cream version if your shoes are cracked and dry. Remember, cream polish can stain your shoes, so it's best only to use a little amount.
Wrap the cloth around your fingers and rub it into the shoes in a circular motion, making sure to apply it evenly across the exterior leather.
Remember to use a welt brush to apply polish to the welt and leather rims of your shoes.
Buff those boots
To give your beloved brogues or dress shoes that famous glint, you'll need to take a bristled brush and buff your footwear with a fast scrubbing motion. Don't press down too hard as you don't want to scratch the leather.
Continue to buff for around five minutes until you've thoroughly rubbed in all the polish and the leather has a distinctive, smart shine.
Shine your shoes
To give your shoes a factory-fresh shine, you'll want to first rub them over with a rag or paper towel to get rid of any excess polish or dirt.
Then, apply a few droplets of water to the top of the shoe and then proceed to rub it in using the polishing cloth. By working the water into the leather with a fast, circular motion, you can add a spit-shine effect for your footwear.
Afterwards, leave your shoes to dry and thread through your laces.
When it comes to polishing and protecting black shoes or other leather materials from the elements, there are several types of oils and creams available which can help.
You can apply a waterproof spray once you've finished polishing your shoes to protect your leathers from rain and damp. Alternatively, a little beeswax or Vaseline carefully rubbed into the shoe will add an extra layer of protection.
Read more in our full guide to caring for black leather shoes.
You can polish black and brown leather shoes. Most leather-based shoes will benefit from good protective polishing every couple of weeks.
When it comes to cleaning other materials, such as suede or canvas, there are other methods and materials that better fit these more delicate materials.
Specially formulated sprays designed for cleaning canvas and protecting suede are the best tools for tackling stains and returning old trainers and pumps to a brighter look.
Here's what you'll need in your shoe-shining kit:
Polishing your shoes every month or so will help prolong their life, add extra protection from the elements and keep them looking fresh for when you want to look your best.
Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.