If clothes make the man, then shoes certainly complete the outfit. A man who is professionally dressed but whose shoes are scuffed looks unprofessional. A pair of well-polished dress shoes says a man cares about how he looks. They say he has taken time and care to put himself together. A man who takes care of his shoes is in charge of his life.
While liquid shoe polishes may be a quick fix to polishing shoes, they are not recommended and will eventually dry out the leather. Paste polishes are the better choice to polishing men’s dress shoes.
To polish men’s dress shoes, gather all your supplies together. Lay newspapers on the floor to protect it from shoe polish. You’ll also need shoe polish, a soft brush, a cheap toothbrush to apply the polish and an old cotton t-shirt.
Remove the shoelaces prior to polishing the shoes. Before polishing the shoes take a soft brush and remove any dirt from the shoes. Dab the toothbrush into the shoe polish and apply to the shoes. Slide one hand into the shoe to hold it steady and use your dominant hand to apply the polish. Work the paste into the leather carefully making sure to get down to the soles of the shoes. Let the polish dry for ten minutes for each shoe. Use a soft brush to buff the leather shoes to a soft glossy shine, paying particular attention to the toes and heels of the shoe. Lastly wrap the cotton t-shirt in your hands and buff the heels and toes of the shoes. Brush your shoes after each wear and polish after wearing them three or four times. Polishing shoes is a comforting ritual. Taking care of leather shoes properly preserves them and makes the shoes last much longer.
Men’s dress shoes are expensive so follow these tips to take care of them and preserve them. Instead of wearing the same pair of shoes day after day, alternate shoes everyday. By not wearing them day after day, it allows the shoes time to rest and dry. Leather dress shoes need at least 24 hours to air and dry from any perspiration that has been absorbed into the leather. Allowing the shoes to dry also helps prevent foot odor. Using a shoehorn will prevent damage to the top edges of the heels and makes it easier to slip your foot into the shoe.
During inclement weather it is especially important to take good care of dress shoes. Never dry wet shoes near a heat source because the leather will crack and become brittle. Brush off any road salt as soon as possible because it will stain and damage leather shoes. If the shoes are really wet, crumple up newspaper and stuff it inside the shoes to absorb the moisture. Never polish dress shoes when they are wet. Insert shoe trees into dress shoes to help them keep their shape.
Take care of your shoes and you will look great from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.
