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Shoe polish is not just for cleaning your shoes
and making them shiny. A paste polish or shoe cream will preserve the leather and,
along with proactive repairing, extend the life of your footwear.
Instant shine sponges are useful if you're in
hurry, but they do not nourish the leather and should not be used as a regular
substitute for a conditioning polish.
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Polishing
leather footwear (not suede, nubuck
or patent)
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Use a solid
(paste) shoe
polish — not liquid polish — or a shoe
cream, in a colour that best matches the shoes. A neutral polish or
cream can be used on new shoes or if you cannot find a colour match.
If the leather is badly scuffed use a renovating polish to restore colour
(again, not liquid polish, which will build up on the leather over time).
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Remove any laces.
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Remove
any surface dirt before applying polish, if necessary use a damp cloth.
If there is a noticeable build-up on the leather of
previous products (such as liquid polish, which leather does not absorb), this should be removed using a leather cleaner or leather soap
before applying polish.
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Shoes should be dry before applying polish.
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Apply polish to leather in circular movements with a shoe brush or cloth,
covering the whole of the shoe. Work polish into the welt (the
stitched area around the upper of the shoe) and into any creases.
Don’t forget the tongue, and heel if it is covered in leather.
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Once polish has been applied,
allow to dry for at least 5 minutes.
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Buff shoes with a polishing shoe brush or a clean soft cloth.
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Applying a water protector after polishing, and
as required, will provide extra weather protection.
There are various tips for
achieving a mirror-finish military shine, including the spit-and-polish
method (bulling), and using cotton wool or tights for buffing. The
above is the basic method for polishing everyday footwear.
Regular polishing will preserve the leather and, along with proactive
repairing, extend the life of your footwear.
Suede and nubuck
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Use
a suede or nubuck brush for general cleaning.
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Spots and stains can be removed with Kiwi Select Suede & Nubuck Cleaning Block, or the whole shoe dry cleaned with Kiwi Select
Suede & Nubuck Dry Cleaner.
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Wet
shoes should be filled with newspaper to help maintain shape and allowed to dry
naturally away from direct heat.
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Apply
a water protector regularly for weather protection.
Patent
Patent leather shoes can be cleaned with Kiwi Select Delicate Shoe Cream. Outdoor footwear
Products that we sell for outdoor leather footwear include:
Nikwax Aqueous Wax, Nikwax Leather
Conditioner, Nikwax Waterproofing Wax, Kelly's Dubbin, and Fiebing's Pure
Neatsfoot Oil.
Some swear by neatsfoot oil, but it's really
down to personal preference. Repairing
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The toe area of the sole on pointed shoes can wear thin
before the rest of the sole needs repairing and in this case toe pieces can
be fitted rather than resoling.
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If the centre of the soles feel soft or spongy when pressed this indicates that the soles need
replacing.
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A “skin” sole can be fitted to new shoes to protect the
original sole without affecting the balance of the shoe. Skin soles
will also provide grip if the original soles are slippery and
can be inexpensively replaced when necessary.
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Heel top pieces
should be replaced after approx ¼” of wear, to avoid damage to the heel.
Never place wet leather items next to a radiator, or any other
direct heat source, to dry. Allow to dry naturally away from direct heat.
Shoes can be filled with newspaper to speed up drying and to help maintain
shape
—
especially important with suede shoes if you
are unable to wear them until they are dry. |
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