TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham explains how to properly shine shoes.
- First choose an appropriate polish. Wax polish will produce a better shine, but it will make the leather dry out. Cream will make shoes last longer.
- Remove the laces from shoes before polishing. This will make it easier to polish the tongue and prevent staining the laces.
- Wipe off leather shoes with a dry, soft, cotton cloth like an old T-shirt. This will remove dust and prevent scratching or embedding dust into the leather when applying polish. Wipe from the front of the shoe to the back of the shoe, starting with the left side of the shoe first, then the right. Don't forget to wipe between the heel and the sole. Repeat this process on the other shoe.
- If the shoes have a lot of dirt and dust on them, moisten the dirt with saddle soap. This will prevent the shoes from being scratched and will also remove dark spots from light-colored shoes. If you're using saddle soap before polishing, allow the shoes to dry for five minutes before polishing.
- Wrap a small portion of cotton cloth around an index finger when applying the polish. The snug fit around the finger will allow better access into the creases of the shoe.
- Let the shoes dry with the polish on them for 10 minutes.
- Put one hand in the shoe to hold it, and use either a soft -bristled brush or another cloth to shine the shoe. Use short back-and forth strokes, and repeat on the other shoe. An old pair of pantyhose works great for this job and they will leave a fabulous shine.
- Baby wipes can be used to put a quick shine on a pair of shoes. Be sure to shine them properly soon thereafter, because the baby wipe will dry out the leather over time.
