Over Polishing Shoes?

[demeis]

I was wondering if you can over polish your shoes? I usually polish my shoes once every 2-3 wears but i usually try to polish all my brown shoes at the same time even if i have only worn them once is this a bad practice? Can i over polish my shoes, and every 2-3 wears is that how often the should be polished? (they usually have a few marks and have lost there shine by then so i polish)

 

[j]

I usually buff them between wearings to restore the shine and give them a real going over every 5 or so wearings, or before something important, whichever comes first. Having only recently added some brown shoes to my arsenal, I don't know yet how they will react, but it seems that most people like the patina they acquire from wearing and polishing a lot.

 

[kabert]

I don't think you can over-polish them. Overwax them, yes, but if it's calfskin, I wouldn't worry. Cordovan leather is a different story.

 

[drljva]

I don't think you can over-polish them.  Overwax them, yes, but if it's calfskin, I wouldn't worry.  Cordovan leather is a different story.

What about for new shoes? I seem to recall someone on this board (or perhaps it was AA...) saying that they polish a new shoe 20 (.) times before wearing them for the first time. Was this said in jest, or is there some wisdom in this practice? Thanks.

 

[auto90403]

i don't polish my shoes until they clearly need it. in the meantime, every few weeks, i apply some leather conditioner. it goes on and gets buffed with the excess removed without the shoes requiring a fresh polishing.

 

[Phil]

Very true about cordovan leather, its very easily to overpolish it. I think you can still over polish calfskin, to a degree. You will notice it in the creases, where you will see a buildup of polish. Not a good look. Antiquing and patina come from polish, but it also comes from general wear. I have a pair of EGs that have acquired a burnish mark on the right heel. Its not from polish, its from rubbing on the carpet of my car when I am driving since I hold my foot in a weird way. Also, my pair of EG Warwick boots, in acorn antique, darken simply by my rubbing hard on the leather with a cloth. No polish needed.

 

[zjpj83]

I polish my calf shoes after every wearing. I was taught to do so by my military father. And I have never seen a better polish than on his shoes. In conclusion: over-polishing? there is no such thing.

 

[Phil]

you bring up a good point. I meant to say you can APPLY too much polish. I agree with you, and I have the same policy. I shine my shoes after every wear, most of the time. I very thin layer of polish though. It shouldnt be slathered on.

 

[nightowl6261a]

I don't think you can over-polish them.  Overwax them, yes, but if it's calfskin, I wouldn't worry.  Cordovan leather is a different story.

I would worry a bit, if you wax 2-3 times a week, you should consider stripping the old wax off every once in a while, the shine will begin to fade over time if you do not.

 

[zjpj83]

you bring up a good point. I meant to say you can APPLY too much polish. I agree with you, and I have the same policy. I shine my shoes after every wear, most of the time. I very thin layer of polish though. It shouldnt be slathered on.

absolutely. What causes shoes to shine is many many very very thin layers of polish.

 

[retronotmetro]

I always polish a new pair of shoes before wearing them. Wax polish increases the shine and provides some protection for the shoes.

 

[kitonbrioni]

Too much shoe polishing, is not enough shoe polishing. Just go easy on the colored wax.

 

[geosync]

Is there a preferred way to remove wax from shell cordovan? Venetian Shoe Cream? Acetone?

 

[cosme62]

lighter fluid or baby shampoo, then re apply thin coats, a dab of water between coats let stand for 2 hours then brush, polish, buff with a nylon stocking over your brush ez as 1 2 3

 

[Phil]

I dont know if the baby shampoo thing was a joke, but I tried it last night on a pair of very old, very waxy cordovan boots I own, and man did it work wonders. I had nothing to lose, since I hardly wear them anymore. I used a white cloth to apply the shampoo and the white cloth had turned a dark brown by the time I stripped off all the wax. The boots look brand new, it was fairly amazing. Thanks for the tip.