Applying polish: brushes or cloth?

[swiego]

I use a cloth. When I am concerned about the finger staining, I tear off a small piece of saran wrap and wrap my finger around that instead. I think I've even used nothing but a couple of layers of saran wrap to apply polish.

 

[JubeiSpiegel]



I don't use the application brushes very often - although they do work if you like them.
Your brushes are simply becoming caked with dried up polish. Wash them with very hot water and dishwashing detergent. All of the wax will come out - they will be like new.

+1

It's really not a big deal people, just wash your brushes after you're done. Although I have heard that some people use their fingers, to get some of that acid from your fingers in with the wax, its suppose to make for a good shine.

 

[Chrenetique]

I polish my shoes with an old Brioni shirt.

 

[ELG]



I don't know if your question pertains to wax or creme, but I use a paper tissue to apply creme. I very rarely use wax, but if I do, I apply it with my finger tips. If I used it more often, I'd use a tissue. My experience suggests a brush is one of the poorer ways to apply either.

What kind of paper tissue? The kind stores use when they wrap up your purchases?

 

[Clifff]

I talked to an old shoemaker once and asked him this specific question. His advice was to always use a dauber when applying cream while really taking your times and moving about gently and consistently in small circular motions. His reasoning was that the horsehair bristles deliver the shoe cream deeper into the pores of leather and that cloth only applied the cream to the surface of leather without penetrating it. But he also told me to use a cotton cloth to apply wax as using a horse hair applicator was simply wasteful when it came to waxes...