How to Shine Shoes Like a Pro - Easy Tips & Tricks
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Tired of passing up the perfect shoes because you don’t know how to shine them? There’s nothing worse than letting the inevitable discourage your purchase and stunt your style.
But wouldn’t learning how to shine shoes change just about everything? (Like confidence, knowledge, and overall unstoppability?) We think so.
Here, we’ll cover:
- Why shoe shining matters
- Types of shoes to polish
- How often to shine your shoes
- Proper shoe shine supplies
- A step by step guide to shine shoes like a pro
Let’s do it! One step at a time…
Why Is Shining Shoes Important?
In this corner of the web, we genuinely believe shoes sport both their own personality and yours at once. In other words, shoes are a vehicle for a co-creative relationship.
If you’re still in the process of discovering your look, shiny shoes can be the statement piece you seek. Whether for your company’s seasonal gala, you want to strut your stuff at Times Square, or simply need to lift your own spirits at work, knowing how to polish shoes can help you do all of this and more.
Achieving that fresh, polished look:
- Shows that you care
- Improves professionalism
- Enhances self-esteem
- Brings more intention to your wardrobe
- Extends shoe lifespan
- Maintains shoe color
- Maximizes your purchase
Ultimately, when you look good, you feel good. And proper shoe care is sure to get you there.
Types of Shoes to Polish
Now, we know you might be thinking, Well, athletic shoes don’t need to be polished, so which shoes do? Great question.
Leather shoes are the number one candidate for shoe polishing. This means leather dress shoes, but also includes leather boots, slip-ons, patent leathers, and more.
It’s easy to categorize all dress shoes as shoes to be polished. Truthfully, other delicate materials like suede require a different protocol, so stick with leather to avoid an additional DIY project.
How Often to Shine Shoes
Despite what your mind may say, shining shoes doesn’t have to be a rigorous commitment. Depending on how often you use them, aim to polish once every four to six weeks.
If you use them daily, simply inspect them after use and see if you can get ahead of the scuffs and scratches. There’s no exact science here so be intuitive about what helps you look and feel your best.
As is true for any new habit, you’ll want to make this a practice. It’s far too easy to let things fall to the wayside, but learning how to polish your shoes can help you wake up feeling ready to conquer the world, one shoe shine at a time.
Shoe Shine Supplies
Before you start shining, here’s a quick shoe shine supply list to keep you prepared. It may help to allocate a particular cabinet or storage space for these supplies so they’re ready to rock when you need them.
- Shoe polish
- Welt brush (or an old toothbrush)
- Horsehair brush
- Polishing cloth and additional clean rag
- Water
- Newspaper or scrap rags
If you’re wondering about the difference between a welt brush and a horsehair brush, welt brushes help get into the nooks and crannies that horsehair brushes can’t reach.
Our recommendation? Get these supplies at the time of purchase or immediately after so you don’t have to put an extra to-do on your list.
We also recommend getting excited as you compile these supplies. While learning how to polish shoes isn’t quite a home renovation project, it still lives in the DIY category—and few things feel better than learning a new skill.
How to Shine Shoes Like a Pro: Step by Step
Ah, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s how to polish leather shoes to keep you looking sharp.
1. Prep Your Space
To polish your shoes effectively, lay some newspaper or old rags on a table or floor surface. No mess, no stress!
2. Remove Laces and Fill Shoes
Remove the laces to get every angle. Then, fill the shoes with extra newspaper or a small towel to firm up the top of the shoe. This lets you polish without bending the leather or fighting with it.
3. Remove Dirt and Debris
To avoid a mess, take that welt brush to remove dirt and debris that may be stuck or dried to the shoe. You can also use a rag, but the welt brush is more effective due to its bristled texture.
Take a moment here to examine your shoes well to target all problem areas moving forward.
4. Polish Away
Take a dab of your shoe polish on your polishing cloth and begin! Use small, steady, circular motions to address every area of the shoe. The polish will create a matte, waxy look.
5. Buff It Up
Now, take the horsehair brush to buff. You can do this with quick, horizontal movements (like a scraping motion) to integrate the polish further. Afterwards, use a clean rag to gently smooth the surface.
6. Spit-Shine Success
Add a dab of water onto the shoe (or apply onto a rag first) and wipe all around. This will enhance the polish for that sweet, shiny finish.
7. Wipe Again and Put Laces Back
Give everything one last good wipe down and put the laces back into place. Take out the filler newspaper and revel in the glory that is freshly shined shoes.
Repeat as needed and enjoy that newfound pep in your step!
Make That Leather Shine
Whether this is your first go at shining shoes, or you seek more effective methods, knowing how to polish leather shoes is a game-changer!
So visit Zappos for your next pair of leather shoes and shoe shine products, then check out some of our other tutorials for longevity like never before.
