**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**

[Betelgeuse]

Exactly. I don't see how plain water wouldn't work just as well.

More likely it's isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

If I'm not mistaken, yes, it's something like that and has another elements added to the mix so that the alcohol doesn't dry the leather.

 

[Kramereng]

How do I remove dried shoe polish from my broguing/seams on my dress shoes? I've been cleaning and polishing my dress shoes (mostly Allen Edmonds) and most of them have some white, dried polish that got stuck in the various holes/broguing/seams. I tried wetting them and using a horse hair brush to no avail. Do I need to soak them a bit? Is that bad for the shoe? I'm afraid to use stiffer brush or soak my leather.

 

[Munky]

I have used cotton buds, in the past. It takes a bit of time to get round to all the holes, but it works well! If you have been cleaning the shoes, it suggests that you may be using too much polish. I certainly wouldn't suggest soaking them. With all good wishes, Munky

 

[Munky]

How do I remove dried shoe polish from my broguing/seams on my dress shoes? I've been cleaning and polishing my dress shoes (mostly Allen Edmonds) and most of them have some white, dried polish that got stuck in the various holes/broguing/seams. I tried wetting them and using a horse hair brush to no avail. Do I need to soak them a bit? Is that bad for the shoe? I'm afraid to use stiffer brush or soak my leather.

I have used cotton buds, in the past. It takes a bit of time to get round to all the holes, but it works well! If you have been cleaning the shoes, it suggests that you may be using too much polish. I certainly wouldn't suggest soaking them. With all good wishes, Munky

 

[Munky]

Is it me, or has Styleforum and this thread lost a bit of its mojo? I don't want to sound reactionary but things ain't the same since the re-vamp. For a start, you seem to have to login just to view certain photos. No doubt, as Mother Julian of Norwich said, circa 1400, 'All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well'. With kind thoughts, Munky.

 

[Kramereng]

I have used cotton buds, in the past. It takes a bit of time to get round to all the holes, but it works well! If you have been cleaning the shoes, it suggests that you may be using too much polish. I certainly wouldn't suggest soaking them. With all good wishes, Munky

Thanks! I'll try that. Did you just use water on the cotton buds (I assume you mean Q-tips?)? Or some more polish? I heard polish somehow breaks down old polish even that that seems counterintuitive.

 

[Munky]

Thanks! I'll try that. Did you just use water on the cotton buds (I assume you mean Q-tips?)? Or some more polish? I heard polish somehow breaks down old polish even that that seems counterintuitive.

Yes I was thinking of Q tips. They have different names in different countries. No, I wouldn't use water at all, for any part of your clean up and don't use any more polish! Just use the dry tips. Perhaps, then, you might use some neutral, cream, polish. It might be best, though, to just give them a rest. It is very easy to over-clean shoes. Regular brushing, when you go out and when you come back, will normally be all you need for a few weeks - at least, when you are wearing them in rotation with other shoes. Yours, Munky

 

[M635Guy]

Is it me, or has Styleforum and this thread lost a bit of its mojo? I don't want to sound reactionary but things ain't the same since the re-vamp. For a start, you seem to have to login just to view certain photos. No doubt, as Mother Julian of Norwich said, circa 1400, 'All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well'. With kind thoughts, Munky.

I think some were put off while they implemented the new design. It was a little clunky at first, but works great in pretty much every way at this point. Hope everybody drifts back...

 

[mreams99]

Is it me, or has Styleforum and this thread lost a bit of its mojo? I don't want to sound reactionary but things ain't the same since the re-vamp. For a start, you seem to have to login just to view certain photos. No doubt, as Mother Julian of Norwich said, circa 1400, 'All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well'. With kind thoughts, Munky.

It's not just you.
I've noticed this too. The activity on the threads I follow is way down since the big change.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Sharing some freshly polished shoes.

 

[right_hook]

It's not just you.
I've noticed this too. The activity on the threads I follow is way down since the big change.

Same here. The thread is really "quiet". I hope it'll change in near future.

 

[mreams99]

Same here. The thread is really "quiet". I hope it'll change in near future.

Maybe we could stir things up with a discussion of saddle soap and pH.

 

[starro]

Let's try kicking it up with a question about metal eyelets. Do they ACTUALLY help prevent tearing alongside the perforations? Any difference in performance between full and blind eyelets?

My thinking is if they work, why not add them to belts, watch bands etc.

 

[M635Guy]

Let's try kicking it up with a question about metal eyelets. Do they ACTUALLY help prevent tearing alongside the perforations? Any difference in performance between full and blind eyelets?

That's easy - yes. Eyelets are under a (relatively) significant amount of stress, so eyelets definitely prevent tearout. I've seen some shell shoes without eyelets, the statement being that shell is so dense that eyelets aren't required, but I wouldn't want to count on that over 10-15 years or more. I'd guess there is very little performance difference between blind and full - it's an aesthetic thing...

My thinking is if they work, why not add them to belts, watch bands etc.

Those aren't subject to nearly the stresses that shoe eyelets are, so are unnecessary.

 

[starro]

Those aren't subject to nearly the stresses that shoe eyelets are, so are unnecessary.

I do find thogh that the first place a belt develops cracks is around the hole that's used the most. Same for other types of straps.