Polishing your shoes can help restore their beauty and even extend their lifespan. But how often should you do it? Check out our complete guide to polishing your fancy leather shoes the right way.
Now, you probably only shine your shoes for special occasions, such as weddings. Or, you shine your shoes regularly for work. How do you know if you're shining too much or not enough? According to the experts, "On average, you should be shining your shoes once a week." However, that number varies, based on how often you wear your shoes and how you care for them, among other factors.
Benefits of Polishing Your Shoes
First of all, regular polishing will extend the life of your shoes and ensure that they will always look new.
First, polishing adds a layer of protection to your shoes, keeping them safe from dirt and other debris as you wear them.
Second, when you polish and condition your shoes, you can prevent the leather from cracking. Polishing will cover up minor imperfections such as scuffs.
Finally, your shoes will look longer, and a polished pair of shoes can greatly improve your outfit. Especially if you are a professional who has to look neat in business meetings and in the office in general.
Why One Time a Week Is Average
Even if you wear your shoes a few times a week, more than once a week is overkill. While you should clean your shoes after each wear, polishing is only meant to protect them and give them a shiny finish. Once you apply shoe polish, it stays on your shoes for several times.
If you only wear a particular pair of shoes a few times a month, you can get away with polishing your shoes only a few times a year. Also, those shoes in your closet that you rarely wear can benefit from a few shines a few times a year. However, you should clean them regularly to remove the dust that accumulates when they are under your bed or hidden in your closet. If you store them in their original boxes, you will need to clean them much less often.
Keep in mind that if you are using shoe trees, you won't need to wipe them down as often. These wooden devices hold your shoes in place while they are sitting, so it helps to keep the size and shape of your shoes. Therefore, if you don't wear your shoes often, you won't need to condition and polish them as often.
Choosing a Shoe Polish
Ideally, if you want to get the highest level of shine, you should choose a wax shoe polish. On the other hand, if you want to add moisture, cream polishes work best.
When you are choosing a polish, make sure you consider the color. Choose a shade that matches the natural tones of your shoes, or brings out any highlights in the color. For example, if your shoes have hints of red and brown, use a cherry colored polish. You don't need to choose one color, though. If you just want to add shine to your shoes, then a clear finish is ideal.
Proper Polishing Technique
Before you can shine your shoes, you must clean and condition them. If you have several pairs of shoes that you maintain, it may be to your advantage to purchase a shoe brush. However, if you don't have one, an old cotton t-shirt will do the trick. The idea is to use something on the shoe that won't damage it, but will remove any dirt or grime.
You should clean your shoes after each use, not just before you shine them. However, it's important to do this before you shine them. It helps to wet a cloth or brush to remove all the salt, dirt and other debris that has built up on your shoes.
Next, you should use a conditioner. While shining your shoes does help them retain moisture, it is not as effective as a conditioner. Therefore, apply conditioner to your shoes before you shine them. Make sure you only put conditioner on dry shoes.
Now you can apply polish to your shoes. Apply it with a clean, dry rag. In the process, dip the rag into the shoe polish to get a small amount of polish. Then, you run the rag in a circular motion over each part of the leather on the shoe. You should apply a thin layer of polish on each shoe. Now you can add another layer of polish to the shoe to give it the shine you want. Once you are done, let the shoes sit for 20 to 30 minutes before you wear them.
When you are done, use a shoe brush to remove any excess polish, which is called buffing.
With proper care, you can extend the life of your shoes. Polishing is a habit that can protect your shoes and ensure that they last, and as a general rule, you only need to do it after you've worn your shoes a few times, or occasionally if you don't wear your shoes often. Also, for shoes that you wear regularly, once a week is recommended.
