How to Polish Boots

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Whether you are performing routine maintenance or reviving your favorite pair of leather boots, knowing the correct way to polish them will have them looking almost brand-new in no time. By collecting all of the necessary materials, following the proper polishing procedure, and adding a finishing mirror shine; heads will be turning to check out your polished kicks.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Boots

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  1. Having easy access to the entire surface of your boots is important for creating an even shine. To create a sturdier space to work on, you can insert shoe trees into your boots.
    • Shoe trees can be replaced by wadding up a newspaper and inserting it into the toe of your boot. [1]
    • For boots with taller necks, wad up some old t-shirts or towels and pack them tightly into the neck of your boots. This will make the necks easier to handle as you polish.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    This step should always be done before you begin polishing. Even if your boots do not appear to be incredibly dirty, they may still be covered with dust and small debris that may be hard to see. If you just polish over that, you're actually working that dirt deeper into your boots. [2]
    • Start by gently brushing your boot’s surface. Pay close attention to any areas of dirt, dust, and other debris. Make sure that the debris is completely removed before continuing.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Use saddle soap if your boots need a deeper clean. Dip a damp cloth in saddle soap and rub that into your shoes. If you don't have any saddle soap, use just a little baby shampoo mixed with a small amount of water. Either way, make sure not to saturate your shoe when you're cleaning it, as that will damage the leather. [3]
    • Use a welt brush and a dab of water to reach smaller areas and openings in your boot such as the eyelets and the welts. However, do not soak your boot when applying the water. Allow your shoes 10-15 minutes to dry before continuing, and make sure every area of your shoe has dried completely.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Polishing your boots can be a messy ordeal. Make sure to take the proper precautions before applying your polish and save yourself the potential frustration of dealing with a stained kitchen table. [4]
    • Don’t use your favorite bathroom or kitchen towels to cover the area as some polishes can leave a permanent stain.
    • Do not wear your boots for at least 24 hours after polishing.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Polish

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  1. These will provide better nourishment and coloring for your boots. Wax based polishes have a higher concentration of hard wax that will create a better shine. Because of the stronger concentration of wax, this type of polish will help you protect your boots from liquids, scratches, and scuffs. [5]
    • For oil-tanned leather, use an oil or conditioner for polishing. Simply use a clean cloth, dab it into the oil or conditioner, and lightly spread it thoroughly across your boot. Oil-tanned leather will have been treated with oil to help make the boots more resistant to various types of weather. [6]
    • When treating suede or rough out based leather, do not use oil, polish, or conditioner, as it is not needed. Use a leather protector spray instead.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Begin by only submerging one corner of the cloth into your polish at a time. Ensure that the corner gets fully saturated before you start applying the polish to your boots. [7]
    • Ensuring that the corner of your cloth is saturated before applying your polish will help you create a smooth, even coat. This will also help prevent you from making the coat too thick.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Begin applying the polish to one small area, such as the toe of your boot, at a time. This will ensure that you are not missing any scuffs or scrapes that could possibly be overlooked. Continue to use small, circular motions as you apply polish to the remaining area of your boot, re-saturating your cloth with polish as needed. [8]
    • Only apply a very thin layer of the polish to your shoes—if you put on too much, it's just going to sit on the surface of the leather, and it's not going to soak in. [9]
    • Using a circular motion will help the wax or cream to spread evenly over the surface of your boot.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    To do so, dip a welt brush or toothbrush into the polish. Apply the polish to your boot using small, circular motions, when able to. This brush will also come in handy when you are ready to polish the heel and other small areas. [10]
    • The welt strip is a piece of leather that is used to attach the insole and outsole of your boots.
    • Neglecting to polish this area will affect the sleekness of your finished product.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Once you have completely covered your boot with your polish, allow the polish to dry completely before moving on. [11]
    • Some heavier polishes may require longer drying times. Be sure to check your polish’s container for possible drying time alternatives.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    This will be a very light buff to ensure you have polished the entire surface of your shoe and did not miss any spots. You will know it is working when a glossy shine begins to come through. [12]
    • Don't scrub your boot harshly—this should be a very gentle process. [13]
    • Don’t go back and fix any missed areas just yet. Finish all of the steps for your first polish before repeating steps on missed areas.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    This will remove any extra wax or cream that may be left on the surface. Removing any excess cream or wax will help your boots dry evenly, preventing areas of buildup. [14]
    • Make sure you are only using clean parts of the rag. If you don’t feel that you have enough clean area left on your rag, grab a new one.
    • It is important that, when wiping your boots down, the rag you use is free from polish that may re-saturate your boots.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    Before continuing, you need to make sure that your boots are completely dry. Even if you decide not to buff or shine them, they must be dry before you wear them. [15]
    • Wearing boots with wet polish can increase the risk of scuffs and cracks. This can happen when your polish is not allowed enough time to form a protective coating over its surface.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Polish Boots
    For deeper stains or wear, repeat the previous process. Your ideal finished boot will have a waxy or matte finish to it. [16]
    • This is also the time you will want to go back and re-polish any areas that were missed during the first application.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Buffing and Shining Your Boots

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  1. Wrap a clean piece of a cotton cloth securely around your index finger, molding it as close to the outline of your finger as you can. Add the water to the tip of the cloth on your finger.
    • This will help you make sure that you are applying an even coat of wax. If there are too many folds in your cloth, it can cause an uneven layer.
  2. The smaller amount of wax you use here, the better. Using too much wax will take too long to dry and will not dry evenly.
    • Thick layers of wax can cause the wax to be absorbed by the leather and will ruin the base coat you just made.
  3. You will want to have a very light touch while applying the wax. If you press too hard during application, you could be rubbing off any polish that has not yet been completely dissolved. Instead, you want to use the small amount of wax to create a light, smooth coat over the hardened polish.
    • Do not worry if there is an increase in friction between your finger and your boot along with a matted or cloudy texture. This only means that the wax is beginning to harden and you will want to continue shaping it into a smooth layer.
    • If needed, you can add a drop of water to the hardening wax and continue to massage it with light, circular motions. Continue to add one drop of water at a time until the matted texture disappears.
  4. Providing the wax the appropriate amount of time to dry will prevent thick layers of wax from building up. If you don’t allow your wax to dry thoroughly, it will prevent the wax from building a protective layer.
    • Allowing the wax time to dry is particularly important if you plan to apply another layer.
  5. Even when reapplying the wax, make sure to follow the previous steps exactly. Applying too much wax will create a hard surface that will not result in a shiny finish.
    • Be patient during this process. Depending on the state of your boots, they may take more applications of wax for your desired outcome. Don’t rush the process, as rushing through the steps will not help you get your desired finish.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you clean boots before polishing?
    Penny Simmons
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Penny Simmons is a Shoe Care Specialist and the Founder of Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company Inc. in Toronto, Canada. With over 25 years of experience, Penny specializes in shoe cleaning and shining. Penny offers shoe shining at special events, kiosks in Toronto’s underground city, The PATH, and drop-off services. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company also operates the oldest shoeshine parlor in Canada. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company has been featured in Best of The City - Toronto Life, Saturday Night Magazine, National Post, Globe & Mail, and Toronto Star.
    Penny Simmons
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Use a damp cloth dipped in saddle soap to clean the boots. In a pinch, you can use baby shampoo mixed with a little water and apply that, but make sure the mixture isn't too wet—you don't want water to soak in.
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  • Question
    How do you apply polish to boots?
    Penny Simmons
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Penny Simmons is a Shoe Care Specialist and the Founder of Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company Inc. in Toronto, Canada. With over 25 years of experience, Penny specializes in shoe cleaning and shining. Penny offers shoe shining at special events, kiosks in Toronto’s underground city, The PATH, and drop-off services. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company also operates the oldest shoeshine parlor in Canada. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company has been featured in Best of The City - Toronto Life, Saturday Night Magazine, National Post, Globe & Mail, and Toronto Star.
    Penny Simmons
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Dip a corner of a cloth in the polish, then rub a paper-thin coat on there. Don't put tons of polish on the boots—it's just going to sit on the surface. Once you get the polish on, set them aside, then let the polish dry. Then, go back and very gently buff the shoes with your brush.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If you are treating suede and they have gotten wet, allow them to dry completely before treating. Always use a suede brush when cleaning spots and make sure that you are brushing in the same directions. [17]
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      • Keep your boots out of the sun as much as possible because the heat will weaken the protective coating of the wax.
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      Warnings

      • Do not allow your boots to get too wet during the polishing process. Allowing too much water to saturate the leather can ruin its finish by removing too many of its natural oils. [18]
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Cream or wax based shoe polish
      • Horsehair buffing brush
      • Welt brush
      • Clean rag, free of lint
      • Polishing cloth
      • A cup of warm water
      • Buffing wax

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTfdfMnrFg
      2. ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
      3. ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTfdfMnrFg
      5. ↑ https://www.hangerproject.com/shoe-care-guide/wax-vs-cream-polish/
      6. ↑ https://www.heddels.com/2014/12/complete-guide-cleaning-caring-boots/
      7. ↑ https://www.heddels.com/2014/12/complete-guide-cleaning-caring-boots/
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTfdfMnrFg
      9. ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTfdfMnrFg
      2. ↑ https://www.ties.com/blog/how-to-shine-shoes
      3. ↑ https://www.ties.com/blog/how-to-shine-shoes
      4. ↑ Penny Simmons. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.ties.com/blog/how-to-shine-shoes
      6. ↑ https://www.ties.com/blog/how-to-shine-shoes
      7. ↑ https://www.ties.com/blog/how-to-shine-shoes
      8. ↑ https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-leather-shoes-and-care-for-leather-boots/#how-to-care-for-leather-boots-and-shoes
      9. ↑ https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-leather-shoes-and-care-for-leather-boots/#how-to-care-for-leather-boots-and-shoes

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