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Polishing your shoes is a great way to keep them looking shiny and new. However, if you use the wrong color polish on your shoes, it can make them look stained or dirty. Luckily, you can remove wrong-colored shoe polish with saddle soap and a brush or cloth, and it’s easy to re-polish them afterwards!
Steps
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Remove the laces from your shoes. Since you’ll be using soap to remove the old shoe polish, any suds that get on your shoe laces could leave them discolored. It’s best to remove these before you start, then replace them after your shoes are re-polished and dried. [1] X Research source
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Wipe down your shoes with a soft, damp cloth. Just like using soap on your skin, it will spread more evenly if your shoe is already damp before you apply it. You don’t want to get your shoes too wet, though, as it will affect the leather. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Rub your wet cloth across the top of a tin of saddle soap to create a lather. Saddle soap is used to clean and condition different types of leather, and it’s perfect for cleaning shoes. Swirl the cloth in a circular motion to get the best suds.
- You may need to re-wet your cloth during the process so the soap has enough water to create a lather.
- If you have a dauber brush, which is a small soap brush often found in leather cleaning kits, you can use it to apply the saddle soap instead of using the cloth. Wet the brush, swirl it in the saddle soap, then buff the brush onto the shoe.
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Apply the saddle soap to the shoe in a circular motion. Try to work the soap into the leather so it penetrates the layers of old polish. [3] X Research source
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Wipe away the leather with a clean cloth. You don’t want to leave soap on your shoes, as this will cause the leather to become dull and dried-out. As you wipe away the lather, you should see streaks of the old polish coming off on the clean cloth. [4] X Research source
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Cover your work surface with a cloth or a newspaper. Polishing your shoes has a tendency to get messy, and shoe polish can be hard to clean off of certain surfaces. Save yourself the trouble by laying down newspaper or an old towel or sheet before you get started. [5] X Research source
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Choose the right color polish for your shoe. If you’re not sure what color you need, you can use a neutral (or uncolored) polish. This will help restore some of the shine to your shoes, although it won’t cover any marks or faded spots.
- If you want to use a colored polish but you’re not sure which one you should choose, visit a high-end shoe store that specializes in leather shoes and ask for a professional opinion.
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Apply a thin layer of conditioner to the shoes and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. You can apply leather conditioner with your hands or with a cloth. Apply the conditioner all over the shoes, then allow it to absorb into the leather for at least 10 minutes. [6] X Research source
- A little shoe conditioner goes a long way, but it’s essential to help moisturize your shoe leather to keep it healthy longer.
- You can get leather conditioner at a shoe store or a specialty leather shop.
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Dip a soft, clean cloth into the polish and apply it to the shoe. You don’t need much shoe polish, especially on light-colored leather. [7] X Expert Source Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2020. Buff the cloth onto the shoes in a circular motion, then allow the polish to dry for about 15 minutes. [8] X Research source- If you think your shoes need more polish, apply a second thin coat before the first one has dried completely.
- Never apply shoe polish in thick layers. [9]
X
Expert Source
Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
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Brush your shoes vigorously with a shoe shine brush. After the polish has dried, brush your shoes with a horsehair shine brush. This will help remove any excess polish, and will also create a nice shine on your shoes. [10] X Research source
- Many shoe polish kits come with a brush, although you may need to purchase one from a specialty shoe store.
- You can also brush the shoe lightly. Try going back and forth gently, as though you're doing a tap dance. [11]
X
Expert Source
Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
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Give the toe and heel of your shoe a spit shine. You don’t actually have to use saliva for this - just wet a cotton ball or pad, then squeeze out any excess water. Add a little polish to the cotton, then use small circular motions to polish the toe and heel of your shoe. The longer you work, the shinier your shoes will look. [12] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan you use shoe polish to change a shoe’s color?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can temporarily change the color of a leather shoe with a few coatings of shoe polish. Opt for a liquid polish rather than cream, since liquid polishes give more even coverage. Choose a shade that’s darker than your shoes for the best results. You may need to use a few coats to get the result you want. You’ll also need to re-apply the polish occasionally as it starts to fade.
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QuestionDoes shoe polish remove scuff marks?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerShoe polish can help cover scuffs. Try buffing out the scuff with an eraser first, then apply some polish. Buff it in with a soft cloth after it’s had a few minutes to dry.
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QuestionCan you remove shoe polish from clothes?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou may be able to get shoe polish out of clothing with a pre-treatment stain remover and some heavy-duty laundry detergent. Apply the stain remover, wait 1 minute, and then immediately launder the item with heavy-duty detergent. If the stain is really stubborn, try rubbing it with some of the detergent first. If detergent and pre-treatment don’t do the trick, try chlorine or oxygen bleach. Dry cleaning solvent may also work.
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Things You’ll Need
Removing Old Polish
- 2 cloths (or 1 cloth and a dauber brush)
- Water
- Saddle soap
Re-Polishing Shoes
- Correct color polish
- Newspaper or towel
- Clean cloth
- Leather conditioner
- Shoe shine brush
- Cotton balls or pads
References
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ https://www.primermagazine.com/2011/learn/how-to-protect-your-leather-boots-from-winter
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/07/29/how-to-get-the-best-shoe-shine/
- ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/07/29/how-to-get-the-best-shoe-shine/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
Before you remove the wrong color polish from your shoes, wipe the shoes down with a soft, damp cloth. Rub the cloth in the saddle soap in a circular motion to create a lather. Next, apply the lathered soap to the shoe, still working in a circular motion. Use a second cloth to wipe the lather away as you work. You should see streaks of the old polish coming off onto the second cloth. Read on to learn how to re-polish your shoes to get them looking their best again!
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