How to Shine Shoes That Would Make a Drill Sergeant Proud

In these days of synthetics, shining shoes may not be at the top of your to-do list, but if you have some great leather shoes, then you need to know the best way to make them look great. You probably already know this, but a very nice, polished pair of shoes will enhance your appearance and also send a message. Either this guy is successful enough to afford someone to shine his shoes professionally, or this guy really cares about his appearance and the time he spends polishing his shoes shows it.

Think about that for a moment. Do you remember the last time you noticed someone with very nice and polished shoes? Didn’t you sneak a peek at yours to see how they stacked up? Well-polished shoes are the exception these days, which means they’re a great way to make a statement and turn heads.

So how do you go about getting that glow you want?

The first thing you need is leather shoes. Everything below only applies to the upper which is made of leather and not a material that looks like synthetic leather.

Second, put together a shoe-shine kit. You will need paste wax the color of your shoes, an old toothbrush, a shoe brush (preferably horse hair), a soft polishing cloth, black liquid shoe polish with a built-in applicator, cotton balls (if you want a spit sheen) some wax rags, latex gloves and a piece of pantyhose. Yes, that is correct pantyhose.

Step 1

Clean your shoes. We live in a dirty world and your shoes are always in contact with it. Clean the dust and then use a little water and then clean again and dry immediately. Use the toothbrush to get into the seams between the upper and the sole. Make sure to rinse your toothbrush when you’re done.

Step 2

Put on the gloves. If you’re like most guys, you’re shining your shoes right before you go out. If you don’t wear gloves, you’ll get polish under your nails and that’s a bad thing. Apply the wax to the shoes and rub it in circular motions. If you want a hard, shiny finish on your toes, use a cigarette lighter and apply heat to your toes. This opens up the spills in the leather and will allow the wax to penetrate deeper into the leather. Let the top dry for 15 minutes.

Step 3

While the uppers are drying, use the liquid black wax to treat the sole and heel. Just apply and let dry. You may need to use the toothbrush to get to the threads that join the sole to the upper.

Step 4

Brush the shoe. When you’re done brushing, use the polishing cloth to bring out the shine. Now for the glitter freaks, take a damp cotton ball and dab some wax on it and apply it to your toe in short circular motions. Do this over and over until you get a really brilliant shine. The good news is that this will last a while if you take care of it. She then takes the pantyhose and, holding the shoe between her knees, uses both hands to polish the shoe. The pantyhose fabric will give off an even more intense shine than the polishing cloth.

That is all. You are good to go and you will look fantastic!