What's the best way to clean dress shoes?

Mister Falcon

Mister Falcon

250+ Posts
I'm about so show my ignorance/inexperience in the real world. I'm also about to start the most boring thread in the history of hornfans.

I'm getting out of law school in a year or two, and I've had to invest in some nice shoes for work. Apparently I step on my own feet a lot when I walk. How do you get the little scuff marks out of the leather without damaging the shoes? I think shoe polish sucks, and I made a giant mess the last (only) time I tried it. I've tried scrubbing like hell with water, and that doesn't do anything. I actually busted out the lysol with bleach and that was a one-time wonder the last time I had a reception. Somehow I doubt that's the best thing for the finish in the long run.

Like I said, I'm outta my element here. Can anyone recommend a cleaner for shoes that won't dull the finish?
 
I don't know Rex. The shine guys I use do one hell of a good job for those $5. And they get to deal with the mess Mister Falcon was complaining about in his post.
 
what city are you going to work in?

I know in Houston I have a barber downtown that has an excellent shoe shiner, does while you are getting your hair cut. Also the Shoe hospital on Kirby can make them look new for less than $10.

Regular shoe shines is the way to go, if you want to do it yourself invest in one of the larger horse hair brushes and use it to buff the shoes up on a regular basis.
 
You can damage a good pair of shoes with too much polish. If unstripped the polish will continue to build up and eventually you will get cracked leather. Go to a cobbler instead of a shine stand or learn to care for them yourself.

For DIY shoe care you just need a few things, a horsehair brush, Meltonian Shoe Cream in the proper color and something to apply the cream with. I like using an old t-shirt torn into small sections and wear a nitrile or latex glove to avoid staining my hands. You can also invest in some little horsehair daubers, one for each color of shoe cream which work good for applying the shoe cream.

Dust off your shoes and clean with a damp wash rag if necessary. Wait until they are dry before applying the shoe cream. Apply in small doses and gently rub into the leather until the entire surface area have been evenly covered.

I usually let them set for about 30 minutes to an hour before buffing them based upon a cobblers advice, but I am still not convinced that really makes any difference. Buff in rapid parallel strokes with your horsehair brush until you achieve the desired shine. If you don't have a horsehair brush, and old flannel shirt or a nappy soft cloth will work fairly well. Avoid instant shine products.

If you need to redress the heels and sole edges, you might find that a Q-tip works better to apply the edge and heel dressing than the applicator that it comes with. Do this last.

Invest in some shoe trees if you don't already have some and rotate your footwear to extend their life. I know this is not practical during travel, but if you can give a pair of shoes or boots a days rest in trees before you wear them next they will last a very long time. I even try to rotate my boots when I'm working at the ranch, but then I end up with twice as much bovine excrement to clean off so I'm not sure how great of an idea that is.
 
I bought a pair of Alden tasseled loafers from Brooks Brothers my senior year at UT. That would be well over 20 years ago. Shoe trees, a good cobbler and the occasional professional shine and they are still the favorite shoe in my rotation.
 
Anyone use "taps" to protect their soles? I just heard about them the other day. My soles just about need to be replaced, but I was told that using taps on the bottoms would have saved them.
 
cat-tongue-out.jpg


can be used to both clean and buff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top