How I shine my shoes

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I had a day off today, and after lunch I decided to shine my black split toe shoes. I remember reading about the woes of seeing un-shined shoes, so I thought I'd put up my method. This isn't quick, but it'll give you a good mirrored shine.

First, I'll wash the shoes with gentle soap & water. Let them dry.

Next I take an old toothbrush and load it up with black Kiwi shoe polish. Before you apply the polish you want to spit a tiny bit onto the shoe. I find making a "t" sound over the shoe gives just the right amount of splatter. The spit lubricates the wax of the polish.

Get a nice thick layer over the shoe so it looks really hazy. Keep loading the brush to make sure you have enough. Do this a couple of times.

Then move to a soft (microfiber) cloth. I guess those dusting rags at the grocery would be good. I use the ones that came in the shoe shine kit my mom got me for Christmas. Wrap the cloth around your finger and load up some polish. Apply it in a circular motion. Go over it again and again using less polish each time.

You know you're done when you can see yourself in your shoe. It should take about an hour for each shoe. It took me 1:45 for the pair, but I've been doing it this way a while.

How about you? Does anyone out there have a special method for shoe shine?

[xena]

I haven't spit-shone since I had to when I was in the Forces.

My advice, don't use saliva. It has digestive elements that break down the polish. Use cold water instead.

Start with a base of anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen brush shines (depending on the type of leather used in making the shoe/boot).

Take the polish cloth and soak it in cold water, wring out the excess - basically you want the cloth damp. Then wrap it tightly around your first two fingers of your dominant hand. Dip that in the polish to get a bit of it on the cloth and work it into your footwear with small circular motions. The amount of pressure used is determined by trial and effort - I really can't describe it in words.

The goal was to be able to see individual teeth in your smile when you looked at your shoe.

One trick I used to do was to do the last coat in Neutral rather than Black. It gave the reflection good "depth".

And stay away from these liquid spit shine things - they're all con jobs! They end up ruining the job you've done on your shoes forcing you to start all over again.

[Chas]

I haven't spit-shone since I had to when I was in the Forces.

My advice, don't use saliva. It has digestive elements that break down the polish. Use cold water instead.

Start with a base of anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen brush shines (depending on the type of leather used in making the shoe/boot).

Take the polish cloth and soak it in cold water, wring out the excess - basically you want the cloth damp. Then wrap it tightly around your first two fingers of your dominant hand. Dip that in the polish to get a bit of it on the cloth and work it into your footwear with small circular motions. The amount of pressure used is determined by trial and effort - I really can't describe it in words.

The goal was to be able to see individual teeth in your smile when you looked at your shoe.

One trick I used to do was to do the last coat in Neutral rather than Black. It gave the reflection good "depth".

And stay away from these liquid spit shine things - they're all con jobs! They end up ruining the job you've done on your shoes forcing you to start all over again.

I agree, more or less.

Kiwi black polish, cold water, yellow duster and cotton wool for final coat.

My service shoes were of the 'Oxford toecap' type, so a clearly defined polished area and a highly polished toecap.

I wear my bulled-up shoes for evening wear only and I have other Oxfords for day wear. Still well polished, but not bulled-up. Longish grass is the worst thing for polished toecaps - it can strip the polish off, back to bare leather in minutes. So polished for day wear and bulled for evening.

Regards

Chas

[Computergeek]

my two cents-
to do a final polish I am a big fan of using a pair of my wife's old pantyhose used with a little cold water. ( just make sure they are old ones, new ones get you in trouble)
cheers,
Jeremy

[English Bloke]

Yellow duster? Pah!

Get one of these... it's 1000 times better.

http://www.globalmilitarysupplies.co...c/sdetail/2234

[NCMC]

Build up a good base while using applicator and brush, then use the cold water (no spit). Heat the kiwi in the can, I usually just warmed it up with a lighter. Then work the polish with finger and cloth. Alternate with water and then go over it a few times with a heat gun and do it again. Drill Sergeant loved it.

[Santa Kona]

Sorry but after having to have mine shined everyday...that was the first thing I lost interest in when I retired from the Army.

[Chas]

Yellow duster? Pah!

Get one of these... it's 1000 times better.

http://www.globalmilitarysupplies.co...c/sdetail/2234

A must for everyone going to Sandhurst and RAF Cranwell.

Well the Rodneys might be able to afford £4.49 for a Boot Cleaning cloth for their batmen to use. Meanwhile back in the real world the squadies and the erks will continue to use a yellow duster. And I bet the batman used a yellow duster as well!

Regards

Chas

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Next I take an old toothbrush and load it up with black Kiwi shoe polish.

I see you are using our nuggets over there...also, is it just standard "Kiwi" black nugget, or the 'Parade Gloss" nugget that they produce as well, it gives a much better finish. (seen in pic below)

My advice, don't use saliva. It has digestive elements that break down the polish. Use cold water instead.

Agreed, I put a wee bit of water in the lid, and use that.

To get rid of any of those wee scratches, i just use an old soft cloth, made into a bag stuffed with other cloth.

Heat the kiwi in the can

ARGGHHH!!!!

Are you eating our native birds over there?

[NCMC]

This I believe is an even better brand to get a shine with instead of Kiwi. It worked for many inspections. Lincold Stain Wax Shoe Polish - Black
http://www.lincolnshoepolish.com/

Or pay someone else to shine the shoes/boots for you - there are enough of them near any military base.