How to Polish Leather Dress Shoes
Everyone has an opinion as to what is the best way to shine a shoe. Suggestions range from conventional to the unconventional, such as spiting and burning the top coat off with a lighter. There is a vast variety of suggestions floating around, but this is a tried and true way to get a great shine on your shoe. Learn how to polish leather dress shoes to give your footwear that extra special shine.
First: Protect your surface
Grab an old towel or newspaper, and spread it over your work surface. Shoe polish is messy and gets smeared everywhere easily. Use caution, as shoe polish is hard to remove from carpet and other surfaces.
Second: Clean off your shoes
Get a horsehair shine brush or a damp rag, and remove the dust and dirt from your shoes. It is important to allow ample drying time if the shoes are wet before applying the shoe polish.
Third: Cover with polish
Using a shoe polish brush, cover the entire shoe generously. Kiwi shoe polish is a good brand to use. Match the polish to the color of the shoe as closely as possible - especially for formal brown shoes that have shades of black. Remember to get into the shoe's creases and seams, and cover it evenly. The polish dries in about 15 minutes.
Fourth: Brush the surface
Brush the shoe with a horsehair brush to remove the excess polish from the shoe. A small film on the outside is all that you should leave.
Fifth: Apply extra shine
Once you are satisfied with the polish amount, focus on the heel and toe to add a bit of extra shine. Lightly dampen a cotton ball or pad with water, then add a little polish to the cotton ball. Use small circular motions to apply polish to the heel and toe. If you did not achieve the desired look with this first attempt, repeat this step. Each time you repeat, use a new cotton ball to remove any excess polish before adding a new coat. The first shine is the hardest to achieve. The more times you apply a new coat, the easier the application becomes.