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How to Shine Shoes

Whether you are just learning how to shine shoes or you need a quick refresher on how to shine those old dress shoes you have found the perfect place. Below I give a full instruction set on how to shine shoes; a short guide to keeping that great shine with a “Quick Shine” section for those people that need a shine five minutes before an important meeting.

Time for a full shine: Approx. 30-40 minutes

Instruction Set made by: Rick McClain

Made for: English 202C section 033

Warnings Shoe Polish may carry a

strong or unpleasant odor depending on the type of polish used.

Use shoe polish in a well ventilated or open area.

Shoe polish Wwill permanently stain clothes.

Avoid contact of shoe polish with skin. Take care of hand placement while polishing.

SM, 04/08/12,

Expand this a bit to speak to the audience: Most men own a pair or a few pairs of dress shoes. Unless passing a shoe shine stand on our way to work or on our daily route, most men will have to resort to shining their own shoes. Shine them regularly (specify the recommended time line) so as not to get caught needing a shine before an important event. However, this guide will include a Quick Shine section…..Go over how to store the shoes to preserve the shine…

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Table of Contents

Warnings: Page 1 Items Needed: Page 3 Full Process: Page 3 Quick Shine: Page 8 Tips and Tricks to keep shoes lookin’ spiffy: Page 9 Ways to re-lace a dress shoe: Page 9 References: Page 9

Here is a labeled photo of shoes and their different parts.

On to the Shining

HeelSole

Side

Toe

Laces

Tongue

SM, 04/10/12,

Comprehensive TOC for the user to find what info they need at a glance.

These steps are written for a single shoe. Repeat each step with each shoe. So complete step 1 with the left shoe then complete step 1 with the right shoe.

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Items Needed: Pair of all-leather shoes Black or brown shoe polish(or other color

depending on the color of your shoe; match shoe polish to shoe color)

Shoe Brush (Recommended, but optional) 2 Old Cotton Rags/Socks. Designate one as a

clean/buff rag and the other as a shine rag. Small cup of water (may use lid of shoe polish to

contain water will suffice)

Step 1Remove Laces

Un-tie and remove the laces from each shoe. Place the laces down outside of the immediate work area.

This helps you open up the shoe up and really fully to completely clean and polish the entire shoe. The tongue in particular is tough difficult to get access to with laces still in place.

Step 2Clean the Shoes

Take the shoe brush and go brush the complete surface ofover the shoes taking off any visible dirt. Use the brush in a back and forth motion.

o For tough spots, take a corner of one of the old cotton rags (designate this as your clean/buff rag) and use some water to wipe off the dirt.

Focus on the toe area, the sides and heel area.

The sole of the shoe should not be cleaned using the shoe brush, use a paper towel if needed.

Set the clean/buff rag to the side once the shoes are clean.

Shoes should be free of dust and dirt by this point.

** TIP ** Hold the shoe by sliding your hand

inside so that you avoid getting polish on your hands

SM, 04/10/12,

Great job providing feedback. Make it look different from the substeps by having it a different color, font or format (ie: italics)

SM, 04/10/12,

Place this sooner. The reader may read the first part and start brush the entire shoe.

SM, 04/10/12,

Number the substeps: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,…

SM, 04/10/12,

Number these substeps: 1.1, 1.2, …..to make it easier for the reader to keep their place if they turn away to complete a step.

SM, 04/10/12,

The type in this box needs to be bigger, so readers don’t skip over it.

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Step 3Apply the Polish

Open the container of polish. Take the second rag/sock (the one designated for shining) and, using a corner, wipe the

rag in the polish using a circular motion.This will give a uniform amount of polish on the rag and keep the polish container uniform.

Using the rag start applying polish to the shoe. Use circles again as you start at the toe and work around to the heel. As you polish, the shoe should take on a more dull appearance.

You do not want to see chunks of polish, lines of a lot of polish, or streaks of polish. If these occur go back over that area and even out the polish out. As the polish transfers from rag to shoe you may need to put more polish on the rag.

Step 4Even with the Brush

Take the shoe brush and lightly brush over the entire shoe, using the brush in a back and forth motion.

After this you should have an even looking dull surface on your shoe.

NOTE: If you brush too hard you will remove more polish resulting in an uneven finish.

** TIP ** Hold the shoe by sliding your hand

inside so that you avoid getting polish on your hands

** TIP ** A littile polish goes a long way.

SM, 04/10/12,

Good! Clear.

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Step 5Apply 2nd coat of Polish

Take the application rag again and repeat step 3. This time however press slightly firmer. After covering the entire shoe let the shoe sit for about 2 minutes

This allows the polish to soak into the leather.

Step 6Brush again

Lightly brush the shoe again to even the polish out, do not press hard or stay on one part too long.

If once you are done brushing and the shoe looks uneven in places reapply a little polish and brush until the entire shoe is slightly dull.

Step 7Buff

Take the clean/buff rag again. Using a different part than used for cleaning begin at the toe, working up the tongue

and then down both the sides to buff the entire shoe. The best method for this is again a circular motion. Press firmly into the shoe as you buff, this

will bring the desired shine out. As you buff, polish will inevitably get onto the rag, if you start to notice an excess of polish on the rag move to a new spot on the rag and continue.

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Step 8Shine it up

If after buffing the shoe still doesn’t have a good enough polish shine return to Step 5 and repeat once or twice.

Once you feel the shoe looks shiny enough take the small cup of water and using your fingers dribble water on the toe.

o You should only have a couple drops of water. Buff your shoe again using the buffing rag.

Once you see the water dry up dribble a little more on the shoe and continue

.

By the end of this step the entire shoe should look shiny and mirror like.

Step 9Re-Lace

If your laces are very dirty clean them with warm water and let them dry fully before replacing them.

Start at the bottom of the tongue and follow the pattern below to re-lace your shoe. There are other ways to lace a dress shoe on page 7.

SM, 04/10/12,

Helpful troubleshooting step

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Step 10Final Touch-up

After re-lacing take a look over the shoe. If there are any blemishes reapply a small amount of water and re-buff.

If the blemish is persistent apply a small amount of polish and re-buff.

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Quick Shine:

Step 1Clean the Shoes

Brush off and use a wet rag to wipe off the dirt and dust on the shoe.

Step 2Apply Polish

Take your second rag and apply the polish to the shoe. Use circles to both apply the polish and getting polish on the rag. Apply firmly to the shoe.

Make sure this coat is even and not thick.

Step 3Buff

Take the first rag and using a different part than you cleaned with begin buffing the shoe.

Rub quickly in circles, pressing firmly.

Step 4Shine it up

Drip a little water on the shoe and re-buff the shoe for an extra shine.

Step 5Final Touch-up

Any blemishes in the finish can usually be touched up with a little water and buffing. If it is not coming out apply a small amount of polish and re-buff.

** TIP ** A littile polish goes a long way.

** TIP ** Buffing more rapidly will produce a

nicer shine.

SM, 04/10/12,

About how much? Pea sized amount? A swipe of the rag? How many seconds should the user make a circle in the polish to apply it to the rag?

SM, 04/10/12,

Helpful addition for the target audience. Explain here when someone might need the quick shine (even though it’s in the intro, users might skip over the intro, look directly to the TOC and flip to this section). Explain why readers should complete a full shine if they have the time, and this is only for when the reader is time-pressed.

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Tips and Tricks: A little polish will cover the shoe No need to drench the shoe with water A quicker buff = a shinier shine

Other ways to Lace dress shoes:

References: “Ian’s Shoelace Site”, http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

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