Groom - Shine Your Wedding Shoes
Giving your shoes a good polish will not only keep your shoes waterproof but will clean up their appearance and also extend the life of your shoes.
Everyone has heard the phrase 'spit and polish' which is a way to describe how to get maximum shine on your shoes.
This term is not always taken literally of course (although some military men will swear by a good spit on the shoe) so instead, why not try the following guidelines:
- Make sure you remove any dirt or dust from your shoes, including the heels and the under section of the soles, the best way to do this is with either a damp cloth or a shoe brush.
- Dry the shoes slightly by rubbing over with a dry cloth.
- Once you have your chosen polish or cleaner ready, add a very small amount of water onto the cloth and dip into the polish and using tiny little circles, rub the polish onto the shoe. By dipping your finger into the water you can add the polish and water together and continue repeating this action until each section of the shoe has been covered.
Some people like to use a little oil on their shoes. Rub a little into the shoe and rub it into the leather gently using a soft white cloth. Once it has been absorbed rub the shoe further till they shine. Others might like to use a little Vaseline, repeat the procedure of adding the jelly onto the shoe and buff gently. This will prevent the shoes from cracking and keep the material supple.
Some shoes will not require polish at all and all that is needed is a good brushing down but you might have a preference to brush your shoes after you have polished them but this is definitely optional.
Tips for Shining Shoes
Items that will come in useful for making your shoes shine include:
- A good polish that should match your shoe colour and material.
- Cloth or towel (preferably white), you could even use an old t-shirt that you no longer use, cotton wool pads or even an old pair of tights.
- Vegetable or olive oil (optional).
- Vaseline or petroleum jelly.
- Warm or tepid water but never hot.
Polishes Available
There are many brands and types available and everyone will have their own preference. The easiest way to find out your preferred choice is to use a couple of types beforehand and test them to see which you find most suitable.
Types include:
- Creams: great for adding moisture and covering up any imperfections within the leather.
- Leather cleaners: for use before the polishing procedure.
- Liquids: not one for adding moisture but easy to use and good for those quick fix shines.
- Sponges: usually for convenience as they can make tired looking shoes look like new instantly.
- Sprays: another quick fix option to help hide scratches or creases.
- Wax: good for waterproofing but can dry the shoes out.
- Wipes: a bit like wet wipes for babies but not usually recommended to give your shoes as shine as the result is not long lasting.
Some more untraditional options, which are not highly recommended are:
- Banana skin: using the inside of the skin and rub all over the shoe followed by a good rub will give you a lovely shine.
- Floor wax which can be used as a wax substitute but not something you should use regularly.
- Furniture polish which can be great for emergencies.
- Linseed oil.
- Milk.
- Toothpaste.
Other tips of advice are:
- As you rub, make small circular motions with the cloth.
- Buy a brand new pair of shoes if of course you do not want to polish your current shoes.
- Do not over rub your shoes or you will lose your perfect finish.
- For the perfectionist of polishers, you could use que-tips to get into the more awkward areas of your shoes.
- Lay some newspaper down on the floor before you start polishing to protect your flooring.
- Some people like to add the polish to the shoe and then leave for a few minutes before they start rubbing it in, this allows the polish to settle into any creases in the material.
Shoes may seem like an unimportant part of your wedding outfit, but like your finger nails they are a small thing that can make a big impression!
