Shoe Polish

Jules

SF VIP
At the end of winter & end of summer, I polish up all my boots or shoes. The boots get water proofed and stored downstairs.

Any shoes that need a clean up in mid season, get a touch up that‘s usually done with a neutral polish.

I’ve been looking at all the creams & colours & conditioners & brushes. The new products seem to cover all colours. Black is required.

It’s time to minimize. I‘d like to reduce to 1/4 or less.

Anyone else have a drawer full of polishes?
 

We have a few colours to maintain our true dress footwear, as for our casual and summer footwear, no polishing required, just a spray waterproof treatment at the start of the season to keep the leather/material protected.
 

At the end of winter & end of summer, I polish up all my boots or shoes. The boots get water proofed and stored downstairs.

Any shoes that need a clean up in mid season, get a touch up that‘s usually done with a neutral polish.

I’ve been looking at all the creams & colours & conditioners & brushes. The new products seem to cover all colours. Black is required.

It’s time to minimize. I‘d like to reduce to 1/4 or less.

Anyone else have a drawer full of polishes?
Oh yes and when I start polishing our shoes I am going to be at it for a few hours.
 
Absolutely yes... I have a basket on the shelf with brushes and different colours of shoe polish. I'm pedantic about clean shoes... I actually feel people judge you more by your clean shoes rather than anything else you might be wearing, it's just what i was taught when i was a child and it's never left me...
 
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Anyone else have a drawer full of polishes?
Moi?

Nada

However, my everyday shoes do require several tubes of Shoe Goo per season

shoe goo consumers.jpg

They've survived five years of mountain cabin living

Jus' can't seem to part with 'em
But don't think they'll see another winter

I jus' may put a razor knife to 'em and turn 'em into huaraches (sorta)

Like I did my Nikes;

(pardon the big toe nail (its growing back from a little log mishap)

slippers.jpg

Thing is, its somewhat difficult to find a good fitting shoe that'll accommodate my size 14 EEE foot

Matter of fact, once I found a pair of hiking shoes that felt good, I bought 3 pair
(two pair are still in the box....waiting their turn)

My 'dress' shoes are suede, so no polish

Guess I'm not much of a dresser, even for funerals or speaking engagements
Sport jacket, black T, Wranglers.....and suede shoes
 
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In the bottom of my wardrobe are four racks of skeletal shoe trees, perfect for keeping shoes in good shape. Here's a couple of the racks, removed from the wardrobe.
shoes 002.JPG
They need quite a variety of polishes and shoe cream, if I put all my shoe cleaning paraphernalia on here, you would probably think Im nuts. You would most probably be right. I mean, who else do you know that has a suitcase just for their shoes?
camera 5 107.JPG
At festivals, dance weekends and vintage shows, dust is always a problem, or it was until my wife produced the perfect gift on my birthday some years back.
shoes 007.jpgshoes 008.jpg
The problem with two tone shoes is keeping one polish from getting on the wrong surface and when you have contrasting stitching it becomes a right pain in the proverbial.
SJC shoes.jpg
 
In the bottom of my wardrobe are four racks of skeletal shoe trees, perfect for keeping shoes in good shape. Here's a couple of the racks, removed from the wardrobe.
View attachment 153865
They need quite a variety of polishes and shoe cream, if I put all my shoe cleaning paraphernalia on here, you would probably think Im nuts. You would most probably be right. I mean, who else do you know that has a suitcase just for their shoes?
View attachment 153866
At festivals, dance weekends and vintage shows, dust is always a problem, or it was until my wife produced the perfect gift on my birthday some years back.
View attachment 153863View attachment 153864
The problem with two tone shoes is keeping one polish from getting on the wrong surface and when you have contrasting stitching it becomes a right pain in the proverbial.
View attachment 153867
Love that shoe case... I'd need about 10 of those... :LOL: do you just use clear wax polish for your 2 tone shoes,?..that's what I do :giggle:
 
You sound like you have a serious shoe collection. My wife could give Imelda Marcos a run for her money. I do use clear wax, but I also use a variety of other cleaners. That contrasting stitching that I mentioned was quite common back in the day, my Grandfather used hot water and an old toothbrush, have to say, it does work well especially on this sort of contrasting.
saxone 1930's.jpg
 
You sound like you have a serious shoe collection. My wife could give Imelda Marcos a run for her money. I do use clear wax, but I also use a variety of other cleaners. That contrasting stitching that I mentioned was quite common back in the day, my Grandfather used hot water and an old toothbrush, have to say, it does work well especially on this sort of contrasting.
View attachment 153868
When I was a teen in the 70's... two tone shoes were very fashionable, we might not have had much money but we were pedantic about learning how to look after our shoes...

Now..as most of the longer term members will tell you I am like your wife in that I have an Imelda collection..boots and Trainers now more than shoes... :giggle:
 
Something I must share with you Holly. In the car park of a supermarket, yesterday, I was just getting my bags and such together when I saw a lady returning to her car. She must have been about sixty(ish) and what a treat for the eye she was. I don't mean a pin-up, she was dressed fifties style, flared hem on a knee length dress, petticoats underneath, their lace adornment just visible. I had to smile when she changed her four inch stilettos for flats in order to drive. How I would have loved to photograph her, but I do respect others and wouldn't do so without asking.
 
I remember my English grandad. He'd been a soldier for over 25 years and his shoes were so shiny you could see your reflection in them. Funny what sticks in your mind from when you were a kid
Chances are he would have got that shine with spit & polish. It was well known in the armed forces. A small amount of saliva in the polish lid, mix it with the boot polish and work it into the leather in a circular movement using an old rag. It achieves a mirror shine.
 
Something I must share with you Holly. In the car park of a supermarket, yesterday, I was just getting my bags and such together when I saw a lady returning to her car. She must have been about sixty(ish) and what a treat for the eye she was. I don't mean a pin-up, she was dressed fifties style, flared hem on a knee length dress, petticoats underneath, their lace adornment just visible. I had to smile when she changed her four inch stilettos for flats in order to drive. How I would have loved to photograph her, but I do respect others and wouldn't do so without asking.
I'm pleased she changed her shoes to drive, I've watched with apprehension many times as some women get in and drive with impossibly high heels..equally with flip flops...

How lovely she mus have looked in her 50's attire...
 

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