How often to polish and condition shoes?

[mr monty]

I got this info from "A Suitable Wardrobe". I found it to be a bit much to condition my shoes each time I polished them. I usually use conditioner every 2nd or 3rd polish.

http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/...r-at-time.html

1) Apply a conditioner (e.g. Saphir Renovateur).
2) Let shoes dry a few minutes.
3) Rub shoes briskly with a polishing cloth.
4) Apply the appropriate color cream to the shoes
5) Let cream dry/haze for a few minutes.
6) Use a horsehair brush and brush along the sides and across the top of the shoes.
7) Repeat steps 4,5 and 6.
8) Apply a coat of wax polish
9) Brush along the sides and across the top of each shoe
10) Apply one more coat of conditioner and allow each shoe to dry
11) Buff each shoe with a cloth

 

[bleachboy]

Shoes should be polished and conditioned weekly, or at least a couple times each month. For men that wear a pair only once or twice a month, that means after every wearing.

Yeah, this is insane. I only polish my shoes a few times a year, and that seems to be enough.

 

[Manton]

When they start to get dull, I polish them. Whether one week or ten, two wearings or twenty.

 

[Newcomer]

I normally polish my shoes after every wearing... But I don't do all of the steps that Will goes through. I normally just condition and apply some sort of polish, whether wax or cream. I also do not wear my dress shoes every day, and I do not really have many responsibilities, so I probably would not be so anal about them if I had something better to do with my life

.

 

[Bellum]

Some people have a lot of time on their hands.

 

[cptjeff]

That's excessive.

First, cream and conditioner? You don't need to use the latter if you use the former. That's the point of using cream rather than paste or wax. Sure, condition every couple of polishings. But it's nowhere near necessary.

Second, IMO the need for polish depends on wearing, not time.

If you follow that method, you're going to have a cm thick layer of polish in no time.

 

[Macallan]

Shoes should be polished and conditioned weekly, or at least a couple times each month. - Agree, although this depends on how often the shoes are worn.

For men that wear a pair only once or twice a month, that means after every wearing. - Disagree.
For my work shoes, I go through a full routine every 2/3 wears and between wears, just use a brush.
For casual shoes, I go through a full routine every 4 times; unless required.
However, for my more expensive shoes that worn once a month (if at all), I do polish every time.

 

[Montauk]

Polishing after every wear?! Especially with a shoe stable like Will's, that's nonsense.

A good brushing before and after each wear is enough to keep shoes looking great for up to a dozen wears. The brushing redistributes the polish so the leather stays lustrous without getting build-up.

I go through my entire rotation maybe 2-3 times a month, so with that method, one good deep cleaning/conditioning/polishing lasts me a season.

Leather is a skin: wax/polish/creme is like makeup. You just don't need that stuff everyday.

 

[ter1413]

Originally Posted by Manton

When they start to get dull, I polish them. Whether one week or ten, two wearings or twenty.

I do this^^^.

 

[moseytan]

usually after about 10 - 15 wears.

 

[D Yizz]

Originally Posted by Manton

When they start to get dull, I polish them. Whether one week or ten, two wearings or twenty.

Exactly. Some shoes need polishing more often than others.

 

[Fashion Camelion]

Hello all this is my first post to the Forum Yay!!

I shine shoes for Nordstrom, and it all depends on how often you wear them, and if you take care of your shoes. I polish mine all the time because it is very zen for me and I love it. But if you only wear a pair every once in awhile, then check 'em out and see if they really need it. Depending on the leather and how porous it is here are the steps it take.

You'll need:3 rags (old T'shirt works great, or if you've got an extra dress shoe bag rip the seams and use that), a buffing cloth, polish (I favor Kiwi), Leather Conditioner (I use Dyo) and spray bottle

1. Put DYO on a rag about a nickle size per shoe. Rub it in and cover the whole shoe. Set it down and do the other (allowing the first shoe to dry a bit).

2. Now this is key. Most people apply TOO MUCH polish!!! If your shoes are a very hard leather non-porous, or a very soft leather, very porous. You don't want to use too much. Here's why. Ever put too much wax on a car? You'll spend hours just pushing the wax from place to place and it never buffs out. Also mind the wing tips, polish gets stuck in the holes and you'll spend a lot of time re-buffing. I shine a lot of shoes and have for many years and over time have learned a thing or two.

So let's just say we have a hard leather, not too beat up, shoe tree'd, and well maintained shoe. Like an Allen Edmond apply a healthy amount to the whole shoe evenly set it down and do the next, once again allowing the first to dry (get the theme here).

3. Spray a small amount of water onto your brush and brush the entire shoe. Your done when you can see any brush strokes of polish left on the shoe and it even has just the slightest bit of shone to it.
Now do the other.

4. Take a clean part of the cloth and give it a spray about a foot and a half away, so its just ever so lightly dampened. VERY IMPORTANT!!! Just touch the cloth to the polish so just the smallest amount of polish gets on the cloth. Re-spray from the same distance. Now in small quarter sized circles, polish the entire shoe making sure never to touch the same spot until you've done the entire thing. So if you're starting at the toe, you shouldn't be back at the toe until you've completely touched every other part of the shoe. Time away from each part of the shoe in this part of the shining process is allowing the polish to dry a bit and set (holy, theme again).

Repeat this part as many times as you want. The more times you do it the more of a shine you'll get.


5. After you are satisfied and this it is the best you can do.... do it once more. Trust me folks will notice!!

6. Spray your buffing cloth about 4-5 times both sides and roll it up and squeeze it so that it is evenly wet throughout. Short fast strokes all over the shoe to buff sit back and enjoy!!!!


Side notes: Keep a small spray bottle of 1 parts vinegar 3 parts water in the car or in the shine box. It is the perfect mixture to neutralize salt, and it doesn't hurt the leather.

 

[edmorel]

Am I the only person who uses a shoe shine guy (and just gets them cleaned and creamed, no shine)

Where do you people find the time for these 15 step shoe cleaning processes??

 

[gnowad]

Originally Posted by Fashion Camelion

Hello all this is my first post to the Forum Yay!!

I shine shoes for Nordstrom, and it all depends on how often you wear them, and if you take care of your shoes. I polish mine all the time because it is very zen for me and I love it. But if you only wear a pair every once in awhile, then check 'em out and see if they really need it. Depending on the leather and how porous it is here are the steps it take.

You'll need:3 rags (old T'shirt works great, or if you've got an extra dress shoe bag rip the seams and use that), a buffing cloth, polish (I favor Kiwi), Leather Conditioner (I use Dyo) and spray bottle

1. Put DYO on a rag about a nickle size per shoe. Rub it in and cover the whole shoe. Set it down and do the other (allowing the first shoe to dry a bit).

2. Now this is key. Most people apply TOO MUCH polish!!! If your shoes are a very hard leather non-porous, or a very soft leather, very porous. You don't want to use too much. Here's why. Ever put too much wax on a car? You'll spend hours just pushing the wax from place to place and it never buffs out. Also mind the wing tips, polish gets stuck in the holes and you'll spend a lot of time re-buffing. I shine a lot of shoes and have for many years and over time have learned a thing or two.

So let's just say we have a hard leather, not too beat up, shoe tree'd, and well maintained shoe. Like an Allen Edmond apply a healthy amount to the whole shoe evenly set it down and do the next, once again allowing the first to dry (get the theme here).

3. Spray a small amount of water onto your brush and brush the entire shoe. Your done when you can see any brush strokes of polish left on the shoe and it even has just the slightest bit of shone to it.
Now do the other.

4. Take a clean part of the cloth and give it a spray about a foot and a half away, so its just ever so lightly dampened. VERY IMPORTANT!!! Just touch the cloth to the polish so just the smallest amount of polish gets on the cloth. Re-spray from the same distance. Now in small quarter sized circles, polish the entire shoe making sure never to touch the same spot until you've done the entire thing. So if you're starting at the toe, you shouldn't be back at the toe until you've completely touched every other part of the shoe. Time away from each part of the shoe in this part of the shining process is allowing the polish to dry a bit and set (holy, theme again).

Repeat this part as many times as you want. The more times you do it the more of a shine you'll get.


5. After you are satisfied and this it is the best you can do.... do it once more. Trust me folks will notice!!

6. Spray your buffing cloth about 4-5 times both sides and roll it up and squeeze it so that it is evenly wet throughout. Short fast strokes all over the shoe to buff sit back and enjoy!!!!


Side notes: Keep a small spray bottle of 1 parts vinegar 3 parts water in the car or in the shine box. It is the perfect mixture to neutralize salt, and it doesn't hurt the leather.

Thanks for the great tips, I'm still a beginner at shining my own shoes but this will be very helpful.

 

[mr monty]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Am I the only person who uses a shoe shine guy (and just gets them cleaned and creamed, no shine)

Where do you people find the time for these 15 step shoe cleaning processes??

You are the only person sewing together trousers in between shoe shines