
Polishing shoes was once a skill that lots of people learned. At some point, it became far more common to have shoes professionally polished, especially for men. Even if you are financially able to hire someone to polish your shoes, it’s still a talent you should master. In fact, you can learn how to polish shoes to a mirror shine and then share that knowledge with others. Why does it matter? Because there’s nothing like walking into a room with leather shoes that have a mirror shine. It will set you apart from the crowd.
Using the Right Tools to Polish Shoes
Learning how to polish shoes to a mirror shine starts with making sure you have the tools of the trade. For starters, you’ll need polishing cloths made of cotton chamois. This is partly how you’ll get amazing results. The next thing you’ll need is a horsehair bristle shoeshine brush. You can’t skimp in this area because you simply won’t see the same results. With this type of brush, you’ll have a better chance of achieving an amazing sheen. Keep in mind that the bristles should be 100% horsehair. There are different size brushes and you can choose the one that feels comfortable.
When it comes to the products used to polish your shoes, leather conditioner should be near the top of your list. Many believe good technique is more important than the products used. Others believe a good conditioner is a game changer. If you truly want a mirror shine, choose a quality conditioner and develop a good technique. The next product on your list should be a shoe polish that’s cream-based. Why? Because it does a great job at camouflaging imperfections and scuffs. To some degree, there is trial and error when it comes to polishing shoes because cream-based shoe polish is often the great option, but wax-based shoe polish is also an important tool of the trade.
Preparing Your Shoes
Before you begin the process of actually polishing your shoes, you’ll need to make sure you prepare them. This includes finding a comfortable place to sit and using the cloth to eliminate any dust or dirt that’s on your shoes. You may need to use a damp cloth to get rid of debris on your shoes. After wiping your shoes, set them aside to fully dry. You should be able to look at the shoes and see that they’re completely clean.
Once your shoes are clean, now it’s time to add conditioner followed directly by polish. The key is making sure you don’t use too much polish. The areas of your shoe that are particularly worn should receive a greater amount of conditioner. After applying the conditioner and the polish to your shoes, you’ll have to let them sit for short amount of time so that both products can set in. By the time you add conditioner and polish to the second shoe, the first one will be ready to polish. You’ll then use your horsehair bristle brush to start the polishing process.
How to Polish Shoes to Obtain a Mirror Shine
Although you are essentially done with polishing your shoes, there’s one more step required to achieve a mirror shine. That step is working in an additional dab of polish into each shoe. This is a tiny amount that’s placed onto the cloth and worked into the shoes in a circular motion. The cloth should be slightly damp. It’s actually the small circular motion that will yield a high shine. You’ll know when you get there because it will be the best shine you’ve ever achieved.