Shoe shine, sir? How to polish leather shoes.

The MFB guide to polishing your shoes to the same level of the armed forces!

1. Wipe any dust off your shoes using a damp cloth which has been run under warm water.
2. Take a soft cotton cloth or a fine, tightly packed bristle brush and apply a conservative amount of high quality polish to your shoe in a small circular movement; wrapping the cotton cloth around your finger, or evenly cover shoe with polish using the natural bristle brush.
3. Leave the polish on the shoe for 2 to 3 minutes. This will help the shoe’s leather absorb the polish.
4. Using a sprayer filled with water, spray a fine mist over the entire shoe until it is covered with tiny droplets of water. Then polish the shoe dry with the same bristle brush.
5. It is important to build up the polish in fine layers, therefore repeat process 2 to 4 until you reach desired level of shine.
6. Always keep the polish damp or it will dry out and not take to the shoe.
7. Once finished wipe the shoe with a cotton ball soaked in cold water, or lightly buff with a cotton cloth.
8. Leave shoes in a cold environment. Best to place them in a shoe box with lid.

Happy polishing!

MFB

Removing Scuffs from Leather Shoes

It is possible to remove light scuffs on leather shoes by applying a coat of shoe polish. However dark scuffs, especially on lighter coloured shoes requires refinishing. MFB recommends you take your shoes to a shoe repair shop although it is possible to repair your shoes yourself as detailed below.

1. Obtain a refinishing spray at a shoe repair shop. Remember to take your shoes with you so that you can match them to a colour chart.
2. Cover the shoe so that only the leather upper is exposed. Mask off the sole and heel of the shoes using masking tape.
3. Use a light-coloured shoe cleaning cloth and leather preparer to wash the leather. Let the shoes dry. If necessary repeat the process until the leather has a dull, even finish. Note – work within a well-ventilated area.
4. Apply shoe refinishing spray evenly and lightly across the leather. Allow to dry. Repeat the application of refinishing spray until the leather has an even colour.
5. Remove the masking tape. Polish the shoes with cream polish and a clean, soft cloth.

In some cases toothpaste can be used to remove scuffs from shoes. Simply squirt a very small amount on the scuffed area of the shoe and rub with a clean, soft cloth. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Warning: MFB recommend you test a small area of your show to text colour fastness of the leather before using toothpaste on fine shoes.

MFB