Although it takes time and effort, getting boots to shine can be a labour of love. Here are a few simple ways to ensure success when going for that reflective shine.
Get Some Decent Polish
This is key. A common brand of boot polish is Kiwi, and it comes in regular black, "parade" (shinier) black, brown and even rust. It will typically come in a metal tin with a latched lid and stains just about anything, so be sure to use a drop cloth and wear clothes that aren't the best ones in the closet.
Get a Polishing Cloth
The cloth needs to be soft, fairly small and not leave bits of itself behind. Again, Kiwi makes one specifically for this purpose. The cloth is usually draped over the pointer and index finger and then pulled taut to create a polishing surface. A small amount of water is applied to the cloth which is then dipped into the polish.
Use the Right Amount of Water
Water is a crucial element in this procedure, but the trick is getting the right amount. Too much on the cloth will leave behind watermarks and smears on the boot. Too little will result in small "swirls" on the leather. As well, the water needs to be the right temperature for the polish to work properly. The best idea is to use warm water – this will allow the polish to become malleable, but will not be so hot that the polish will not stick to the boot.
Always Go in Circles
After wetting the cloth and putting a small amount of polish on it, the next step is to actually take the cloth to the boot. Circles are the way to go here. Small, quick circles with a moderate amount of pressure will produce the best result. Check the cloth periodically – once the polish has gone grey and the cloth in that spot looks slightly worn, it’s time move on.
Use Different Parts of the Cloth
Never use the same spot on a cloth twice. Once it’s been used, that spot will do more harm than good in trying to get boots to shine. It’s usually easiest to start in the middle of a cloth and work outwards - once all available spots have been used, throw away the cloth and begin with a new one.
Vary the Polishing Location
While the tendency is to focus on the toe of a boot because it will be the most visible, it is important not to neglect the side or heel of a boot. While the toe will need more polish than other sections, it’s good to give it a break – polish the toe a few times in a row, then move to the sides, the heel, and then back to the toe. This will give the polish more time to adhere and will make the process of shining the boots that much quicker.
Have Patience
This is, as mentioned above, a labour of love. It can take weeks or even a month to obtain an excellent shine, and will require continual maintenance to remain consistent. While there are some "quick-fix" ways of boot polishing, including coating them in commercial floor wax, or heating them in an oven or with a lighter to "burn" on the polish, these methods can result in a cracking of all of the layers of polish that have been applied, which will require the polish to be stripped from the boot and the process to begin all over again.
While not a venture for a single night, a well-polished pair of boots can be a great source of pride and look extremely sharp. If the above tips are borne in mind during the boot-polishing process, a much smoother and more consistent shine should be the result.
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