shoe care supply checklist

[ziggyosk]

What does everyone find is the best surface to polish your shoes on? I use my kitchen counter, I just put some newspaper down. The problem is it can be a real pain when I want to use both hands to hold a cloth and buff my shoes because they end up flopping around.

Does anyone use those stands that come on the top of some Shine Boxes like this: http://www.kiwishoeshine.com/pics/HR...e_box_wood.jpg

I especially like to give the toes and heels of my shoes mirror shines what is the best thing to use?

[happy hooligan]

Here's my kit...

polishes for most colors... horsehair brushes and creams...





more pics on my blog

[Style Pontifex]

What's your favorite polish, Hooligan, and why?

[why4009]

I need some clarification please.

I have some shoes that I have neglected for a while and I want to get them ready to wear. I have seen some people recommend lexol and some have not. I understand that Lexol can darken shoes but I have mainly blacks and lexol has a product that supposedly does nto darken.

To those that use lexol to condition your shoes, is this the lexol product you buy?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...estyleforum-20

And have you tried the non-darkening version?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...estyleforum-20

Also, I plan on getting some crema alpina (I think it has been renamed) how long does a bottle last? Trying to figure out how many to get. I plan to use this product, after I "cost effectively" condition my shoes so that the shoes don't "drink" all of the crema alpina.

Thanks.

Why4009

[Wrigglez]

my regime consists of:
1. Wipe whole shoe with a damp cloth.
2. Soft brush dampened and use pure soap to clean off previous wax .
3. Clean off soap with a damp cloth
4. RM. Williams leather conditioner
5. Buff off excess conditioner
6. RM. Williams Wax(no alcohol in it)
7. Buff with soft brush
8. Second buff with nylon stocking

Each time i wear them they get done.

[why4009]

Bump...can someone answer my lexol question please?

[Boston Tweed]

Originally Posted by why4009

I need some clarification please.

I have some shoes that I have neglected for a while and I want to get them ready to wear. I have seen some people recommend lexol and some have not. I understand that Lexol can darken shoes but I have mainly blacks and lexol has a product that supposedly does nto darken.

To those that use lexol to condition your shoes, is this the lexol product you buy?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...estyleforum-20

And have you tried the non-darkening version?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...estyleforum-20

To answer your question I am a regular Lexol user and I use the leather conditioner at the top (the brown bottle one). While it darkens the shoe as it is put on, as it dries on lighter brown shoes I've seen virtually no darkening. Maybe half a shade, but that's it. I highly recommend the product as it works wonders on well worn leather.

[82-Greg]

In the U.S. we call it spit shining--ironically no spit is actually involved.

In the U.K. it is called bulling. The explanation here is very good and in English--though with a weird accent

The critical ingredient is time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDF18Ob8bhc

[adeft]

Originally Posted by Boston Tweed

To answer your question I am a regular Lexol user and I use the leather conditioner at the top (the brown bottle one). While it darkens the shoe as it is put on, as it dries on lighter brown shoes I've seen virtually no darkening. Maybe half a shade, but that's it. I highly recommend the product as it works wonders on well worn leather.

Do you wait for the shoes to return to normal color before polishing? I started using Lexol on my black shoes recently because there's no real risk there and I don't really let it settle for awhile, generally just 20-30 minutes. I tried it on some horrid Stacy Adams tan shoes that I was willing to sacrifice and they essentially turned close to black and I more or less frantically sprayed water, took some cloth, and used a blow dryer to get rid of it, or I guess just force it down into the shoe more realistically. I think it may have left a black spot on the side of one shoe but I haven't worn them in a year and can't say I carefully inspected them before trying. I would be interested in hearing if anyone with chestnut colored or similarly light colored shoes uses Lexol without any ill effects, otherwise I'll keep it for my black shoes and leather jackets and look into conditioners specifically for shoes.

[Edicron]

Originally Posted by adeft

Do you wait for the shoes to return to normal color before polishing? I started using Lexol on my black shoes recently because there's no real risk there and I don't really let it settle for awhile, generally just 20-30 minutes. I tried it on some horrid Stacy Adams tan shoes that I was willing to sacrifice and they essentially turned close to black and I more or less frantically sprayed water, took some cloth, and used a blow dryer to get rid of it, or I guess just force it down into the shoe more realistically. I think it may have left a black spot on the side of one shoe but I haven't worn them in a year and can't say I carefully inspected them before trying. I would be interested in hearing if anyone with chestnut colored or similarly light colored shoes uses Lexol without any ill effects, otherwise I'll keep it for my black shoes and leather jackets and look into conditioners specifically for shoes.

I used lexol on a pair of chestnut coloured shoes just last week without any ill effects. Just make sure you spray it onto a cloth, not onto the shoe directly, so as to get a nice even application. Depending on the condition of the leather you might have to do two coats a couple of hours apart. I wait 24+ hours before polishing afterwards.

[why4009]

Originally Posted by Edicron

I used lexol on a pair of chestnut coloured shoes just last week without any ill effects. Just make sure you spray it onto a cloth, not onto the shoe directly, so as to get a nice even application. Depending on the condition of the leather you might have to do two coats a couple of hours apart. I wait 24+ hours before polishing afterwards.

Edicron, just to confirm you used the normal lexol (brown container) and not the other one (in the tannish container), right? Thanks!

Why4009