How to Shine Shoes

Last Updated: March 9, 2023 References

Well-shined shoes are an essential accessory to any sharp outfit, and will make a good impression when you walk into a room. There are several methods of shining shoes -- from a simple buffing with a chamois cloth, to military-style spit shining, to dare-devilish fire shining. Read below to find out which method appeals to you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Simple Polish and Shine

1
Gather your shoe shining supplies. Properly shining your shoes will require certain supplies, which you can purchase altogether in a specialized shoe shining kit or you can piece together individually. The non-negotiable you will need include a tin of shoe polish, a horsehair shoe brush and a soft cloth.
- Tins of shoe polish are available in a variety of colors, from browns to blacks to neutrals. Try to get a polish that's as close to the original color as possible.
- Polishes are also available in both wax and cream varieties; cream polishes feed the leather and make it more supple, whereas wax polishes make the shoes more water resistant. If possible, get a tin of each and alternate between the two with every second polish.
- The soft cloth can be a specialized buffing cloth, such as a chamois or "shammy", or just an old t-shirt.
- Optional extras include a polishing brush (used to apply the polish), a toothbrush or some cotton buds, sole dressing and a leather cleaner and conditioner.
2
Prepare your work space. It is important to prepare your work space so you can avoid getting shoe polish on any furniture or flooring. Shoe polish can be extremely difficult to remove, so you don't want it anywhere but on your shoes.
- Lay down some newspaper or old paper bags on the floor or work surface and grab a cushion or pull up a comfortable chair -- shoe shining can take some time.
- If you're planning on doing a very thorough job on your shoes, it is probably best to remove the laces before you polish. This way you can easily get at the tongue.
Advertisement
3
Clean the shoes to remove any dirt. Before you begin polishing, rub down the surface of each shoe with your horsehair brush or a dampened cloth to remove any dirt, dust, salt or other debris.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Rio Jongsae Kim
Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 April 2021.} This is important, because if any debris is left on the surface of the shoes it might scratch the shoes as you polish.
- Leave the shoes to dry completely before moving on the next stage.
- If the shoes are very dirty or worn out looking, you may want to clean them more thoroughly using a leather cleaner and conditioner before polishing.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
4
Apply the shoe polish. Using an old t-shirt or polishing brush apply an even layer of polish to the surface of the first shoe. Use a circular motion to really work the polish into every part of the shoe. Pay extra attention to the toe and heel, which may need an extra layer of polish as these areas tend to get the most wear.
- If you are using an old t-shirt or cloth for this step, try to wrap the cloth tightly around your hand and use your index and middle finger to work the polish into the shoe.
- You may also want to shine the section of the sole between the heel and toe which doesn't touch the ground, as this may be visible as you walk.
- Use a toothbrush or cotton bud to work the polish into hard-to-reach areas, such as the edges of the upper and the crevices in the vamp.
- Once you have finished polishing the first shoe, set it aside on the newspaper and begin the same process with the second shoe. Allow each shoe to dry for about 15 minutes before moving onto the next step.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
5
Remove the excess polish with a shoeshine brush. Once the polish is dry, you can begin to remove the excess with your horsehair shoeshine brush. Brush the entire shoe vigorously, using short, even strokes. Remember that the movement should come from your wrist, not your elbow.
- This step is necessary to remove the extra polish, while the heat generated from the quick strokes helps the rest of the polish to sink in.
- While an old t-shirt or cloth can be used for most of the steps in the shoe shining process, a proper shine brush is necessary for this particular step, and cannot be replaced by anything else.
- Make sure to use a different brush for each color of polish. Otherwise you run the risk of adding the previous color to the current shoe. Especially when the previous polish is darker than the current.
- You may want to use a clean cotton bud or toothbrush or cotton bud again at this point to remove any extra polish from cracks and crevices.
6
Buff the shoes with a cloth. The final step in the polishing and shining process is to take an old (clean) t-shirt or chamois cloth and buff the shoes until you achieve a high shine. Use a brisk side-to-side motion for buffing -- this may be easier to do using a shine butler or while actually wearing the shoe.
- Some people advise breathing onto the toe of the shoe (like you would do to fog a mirror) before buffing to add extra shine.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
- If you like, you can also apply a sole dressing to the outside edges of the sole to give them a nice shine, but this is completely optional.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Spit Shine

1
Prep the shoes and apply the first layer of polish. The first steps involved in spit shining shoes are the same as above. First, you will need to clean the shoes with a damp cloth or horsehair brush to remove any dirt and debris. Then you will apply the first layer of polish using a cloth or polishing brush, using small circular motions to really work the polish into the leather.
- Allow the polish to dry for about 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
2
Dip a cloth or cotton ball into water. Spit shining involves using a damp cloth or cotton ball to apply successive layers of polish. If using a cloth, make sure to wrap it tightly around your hand, with the index and middle fingers covered by the material. Dip your cloth-covered fingers or a cotton ball into a dish of of water until wet but not dripping.
- The water is used to prevent the polish from sticking to the cloth and encourage it to stay on the shoes instead.
- Some people prefer to use rubbing alcohol instead of water.
3
Buff the shoes. Pick up a shoe and begin buffing the first layer of dried polish using the damp cloth or cotton ball. Work slowly, using small circular motions to really work the polish into the shoe. Spit shining is all about finesse, not speed.
- Work from the toe to the heel, doing one side of the shoe at a time.
- Move onto the second shoe once the first has developed a nice even shine.
4
Dip the cloth into water again and apply a second layer of polish. When you have finished buffing and the shoes are completely dry, dip the cloth or cotton ball into the water again and wring out until just damp. Use this dampened material to apply a second light layer of polish to the surface of the shoes, using the same thorough technique as before.
- After this second polish, you should begin to see a hazy shine developing on the surface of the shoe.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
5
Continue to apply additional light layers of polish to the shoes with a wet cloth, until you achieve the desired shine. The surface of the shoes should be perfectly smooth and even, with a glass-like shine.
- It is very important that you apply multiple light layers as opposed to just one or two thick layers -- this allows each successive layer to build on the previous one, giving spit shined shoes their mirror-like finish.
- If you like, you can use a chamois or an old t-shirt to give the shoes one final buff before wearing, though this may be unnecessary.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Fire Shine

1
Clean the shoes. Before fire shining your shoes, you will need to remove any dirt or debris using a damp cloth or horsehair brush. This will prevent the surface of the shoes from becoming scratched while polishing. Some people will also use a technique known as "stripping" before doing a fire shine, which basically involves removing any previous coatings of polish from the shoes. To strip your shoes:
- Apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol to each shoe and work it into the surfaces using a cotton cloth. You should notice previous layers of polish rubbing off onto the cloth.
- It may take some time to complete this process and get the surface of the shoes evenly stripped, but it will be worth it for shoes so shiny you'll be able to see your reflection in them!
2
Ignite the shoe polish with a lighter. Now comes the fun part. Open your can of shoe polish (most regular brands of shoe polish will work fine) and hold it upside down, over a cigarette lighter. Turn on the lighter and allow the surface of the polish to catch fire. Quickly turn it right side up so none of the melting polish drips onto the floor.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Allow the polish to burn for a couple of seconds, then extinguish the flame by blowing it out or carefully replacing the lid.
- When you reopen the tin, the surface of the polish should be melted and gooey.
- Be extremely careful when using this method of shoe shining. Fire is dangerous and can cause burns. It may be best to wear a glove while doing this, and have a bucket of water close by in case of emergencies.
3
Apply the melted polish to the shoes with a dampened cloth. Wrap an old t-shirt around your hands and dip it into a cup of warm water until wet but not dripping. Dip this wet cloth into the melted polish and start applying it to the shoes, using small circular motions.
- Take your time and try to really work the polish into the shoes in a smooth, even layer. Don't forget to work the polish into any hard-to-reach cracks or crevices.
- If you need more polish, or if the cloth becomes too dry, dip it in the water and polish again.
4
Continue to apply light layers of polish until the shoes begin to shine. Depending on the shoes, you may need to add multiple layers of polish to achieve the desired shine. Use the same technique each time, dipping the damp cloth into the melted polish and working it evenly into the shoes.
- Remember that it's better to use multiple light layers of polish than one or two thick ones.
- Make sure that you let each additional layer of polish dry completely before moving onto the next. Shoe shining requires a lot of patience.
5
Heat the surface of the shoes with a lighter or hair dryer. This step is completely optional, but will really help to add shine to your shoes. Take your lighter (or hairdryer set to high heat) and run the flame over the entire surface of the shoe.
- The flame should never actually touch the shoe, but should be close enough to allow the polish to melt.
- Never hold the flame over one spot, or it will burn the leather. Keep it moving constantly, as if spray painting. Stop once the polish has melted slightly and the surface of the shoes look wet.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- Set the shoes aside for 15 to 20 minutes until the melted polish has dried.
6
Apply a final layer of polish. You can now apply one final layer of polish, using the same technique as before. Your shoes should be extremely shiny by now, almost glass-like in appearance. If you want, you can use a chamois or any clean, lint-free cloth to give the shoes one last buff.

Expert Q&A

Question

What advice do you have for removing oil from leather, suede and canvas shoes?

Rio Jongsae Kim
Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist
Rio Jongsae Kim is a Designer Shoe and Bag Repair Specialist and the Owner of Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair in Vancouver, BC, Canada. With over 40 years of experience, Rio and Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair specialize in the repair and reconstruction of leather and luxury goods including shoes, handbags, and accessories. Rio’s experience and dedication to quality repair and restoration have led to his work being featured on Yahoo, Insider, and MSN.

Rio Jongsae Kim

Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist

Expert Answer

You can add cornstarch or baby powder to cover the oil stain and leave them for a couple of hours. Cornstarch/baby powder will absorb most of the oil stain. Wipe it off with a shoe brush and wet rag to remove the excess cornstarch/baby powder.
Question

What is the best way to clean a shoe like leather Sperrys?

Rio Jongsae Kim
Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist
Rio Jongsae Kim is a Designer Shoe and Bag Repair Specialist and the Owner of Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair in Vancouver, BC, Canada. With over 40 years of experience, Rio and Kim’s Shoe & Bag Repair specialize in the repair and reconstruction of leather and luxury goods including shoes, handbags, and accessories. Rio’s experience and dedication to quality repair and restoration have led to his work being featured on Yahoo, Insider, and MSN.

Rio Jongsae Kim

Designer Shoe & Bag Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Brush the shoes to remove dust first, and then apply leather cleaner with a horsehair brush. Wipe off the dirty foam with wet rag and air dry them for a couple of hours. Apply leather conditioner to protect the surface of the leather from stains.
Question

How can I shine shoes without polish?

Community Answer

To make your shoes shine without polish, you can use water or a dry cotton. But remember if you clean with water; your shoes might get damaged.

Warnings

The basic shoe shining technique is effective for basic dress shoes, but for a real "hard" or "military" shine, using a brush and buffing cloth will actually make your shoes worse. A hard shine can only be achieved by spit-shining (more often water than spit as spit is bad for the polish) or fire shining.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 16 Not Helpful 5
Shoe polish is messy, so put down some newspaper to protect the surface under your shoe shining effort.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 12 Not Helpful 6