A section of newspaper

3 clean, soft cotton cloths--old T-shirts and underwear work great!

Wax or cream shoe polish. Polish can be purchased at most supermarkets, drugstores, and shoe repair shops

Optional:

Saddle soap

A soft bristle (e.g., horsehair) brush

A towel to kneel on

15 to 20 minutes

Dominant hand: the hand with which you write, throw a ball, or grab something with. For left-handed persons, this is their left hand.

Non-dominant hand: the other hand--for left-handed persons, this is their right hand.

Extra cleaning: Use saddle soap on shoes with a lot of dried dirt and grime on them. Saddle soap moistens the dirt and prevents the leather from being scratched. Saddle soap is also effective in removing dark spots from light-colored shoes. Spots on dark-colored shoes can be cleaned and masked with polish, making saddle soap unnecessary.

2torial #0823: Learn2 Shine Leather Shoes These shoes were made for shining Leather dress shoes need shining! A good shine keeps them natty and preserves their longevity by moisturizing the leather. Leather, like your own skin, can dry out and crack--so shoe care professionals use polish to prevent desiccation and to restore lost moisture. You should do the same by giving your leather shoes a shine at least once a month. With a modicum of supplies, effort, and time, you can shine your shoes in almost any location. This 2torial teaches you how to resurrect worn out wing-tips and preserve new pumps in a jiffy. Be advised that this 2tutorial teaches you how to treat leathers, such as calfskin and kidskin, that are intended to be shined. The cleaning and preservation of other leathers, such as suede and nubuk, are not covered here. Note also that many shoes are made from a combination of leathers.For such shoes, make sure that each type of leather can handle shoe polish. If you are unsure, first consult the staff where you bought the shoes, or a shoe care professional. Don't try to shine your shoes while they're on your feet. Leave that for the pros. Shining shoes can be a messy affair, so take your shoes off your feet (hopefully, you're not wearing them anywhere else!) and change into some old clothes. Prepare a work site Polish is easily spilled or mishandled, so you should protect your work site. Avoid stainable surfaces-rugs, bedspreads, couches; a tile or linoleum floor is a great location for a shine. Clear an area of the floor.   Open a section of newspaper. The funnies can provide you with some light entertainment while you wait for shoes to dry. Note: If you're working on a stainable surface a little more paper (spread over a broader area) could only help.   Set up your shoes and cleaning supplies on top of the paper. Remove the laces If your shoes have laces, remove them. Removing the laces lets you polish the tongue and avoid staining the laces. However, this step is optional. If you don't remove the laces, you shouldn't attempt to polish the tongue. Wipe the leather Wipe the leather with a dry, soft cotton cloth to remove any light stains and or dust. This keeps stains and dust from becoming embedded or scratching the leather when you apply polish. Shoes cleaned with saddle soap should be allowed to dry for five minutes before you proceed to the next step. Place your non-dominant hand into one shoe.   Hold the shoe firmly on the paper. This will give you good leverage for optimum cleaning.   Take up Cloth #1 (The Cleaner) with your dominant hand.   Wipe the leather to remove dust, dirt, and any spots that have accumulated. Move from front to back--first on the left side, then on the right. Moving in a methodical way will prevent missed spots.   Be sure to wipe between the heel and the sole to remove any dirt. Use the edge of the cloth, held taut between your hands, to slip into tight areas.   Repeat the process on the other shoe. Choose the polish   Leather shoe polish comes in two forms, wax and cream. Use wax for a better shine; use cream to ensure longevity. Cream soaks into leather, moisturizing it and allowing leather to breathe. Wax seals leather, inhibiting leather's respiration and causing it to dry out. To choose the correct color of polish, follow these guidelines. Dark-colored shoes require a matching color polish.   Light-colored shoes need a neutral (colorless) polish. Apply the polish Once you've got the right polish, you can start applying it. There is no specific, mandatory method for applying polish, but applying it in small circles will keep you from slopping any excess polish inside the shoe, on the sole, or on the laces (if you haven't removed them). Note: A little dab will do ya'. The leather only absorbs what it needs. Excess polish doesn't help the shoe and takes longer to dry. Openyour can of polish. If it doesn't open easily, don't force it open with all your strength. The lid may open suddenly, sending an open can of polish flying in the air towards you or your furnishings. Instead, use gradual, even pressure combined with a twisting motion.   Wrap a small portion of Cloth #2 (The Applicator) around the index of your dominant hand and dip the cloth into the polish. Wrap the cloth tightly-- this snug fit will give you a greater feel of the surface of the shoe, and will allow you to work polish into the creases of the shoe where you foot flexes.   Place your non-dominant hand into one shoe. Hold the shoe on the paper.   Dip the cloth into the polish, and scoop out a thumbnail-sized glob of polish.   Starting from the heel, and moving forward on one side of the shoe, spread the polish on the leather evenly. Cover the entire shoe, paying close attention to scratches and scuffs to ensure that they are adequately masked. As you run out of polish, get another dab and continue applying. Stop when you have covered the leather with a thin, even layer of polish.   Repeat the process on the other shoe.   Allow the shoes to dry for 10 minutes. Make them shine! Now you're ready to make your shoes shine. This is the fun part and you may want to sing a campy song while you polish. Place your non-dominant hand inside one shoe. Hold the shoe in front of you.   Take up a soft bristle brush or Cloth #3 (The Polisher) with your dominant hand and use short, back and forth strokes to bring the leather to a shine. If you're using a cloth, you may want to turn the cloth as you move from one area of the shoe to the next. Turning the cloth will give you a new, clean surface with which to remove the dried polish.   Repeat the process on the other shoe.   Re-lace the shoes and you're ready to go!   -end- Learn More!