prevent creasing<\/a> (article), use a shoe tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt works well with almost any shoe type, and helps remove moisture, and therefore smells, from shoes if the shoe trees are made of wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Shoe Brush<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are many types of shoe brushes. You’ll want to at least get one dry shoe brush to brush off dirt and excess wax from polish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\nSome shoe brushes are made of finer hair, meaning that polishing will need fewer brush strokes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shoe brushes for applying creams and waxes are also helpful in spreading the polish evenly and getting in the crevices. Rags and clothes may have difficulty with the finer details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Rags and Cleaning Cloth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\nEssential for helping your shoes stay clean and buffing moisturizers, and polishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use them for wiping clean, washing your shoe, spreading polish, buffing, and wiping polish off. You’ll need to organize them<\/strong> so no cross-contamination occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nGet an old t-shirt<\/strong> and cut it into squares about 10″x 10″, or any size that works well for your shoes. Have a stack ready to use and when you’re finished using them, store them with the same product that you used them with.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI use a hairband<\/strong>, that comes in a 30 pack from the dollar store, to attach my rag to the container I used them with. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf your rags get too dirty, cut up another old shirt or use your old shocks<\/strong> like I do and replace those old rags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n4. Shoe Conditioner<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\nGetting a good conditioner is essential for healthy leather shoes. Your shoes will be able to resist the sun and rain much better when moisturized with a conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you wait too long you’ll start to see small cracks in your leather after you’ve worn them without conditioner for a while. If you touch your shoes and they feel dry, they probably are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conditioner is best to use after your shoes have been cleaned well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Shoe Polish<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\nAfter your shoes have been moisturized, a great way to protect your shoes is to apply shoe polish. Your shoe polish will have the waxes and oils needed to prevent the effects of weathering in a similar manner as the conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shoe polishes come in cream polish<\/strong> for color restoring and wax polish<\/strong> for creating a shin for your shoes. You’ll likely want to apply the cream polish before the wax polish. I usually just use wax polish because I am happy with the way my shoes look after the polish. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYour polishes will help your shoes maintain the color<\/strong> you want and make them look new and shiny<\/strong>. That’s why I like leather shoes, you can help them look like they are new after months or years of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAfter cleaning and moisturizing your shoes, apply shoe polish<\/strong>. (This can be done with multiple stages of creams and waxes, but I prefer to make it simple and just go with a tin of shoe polish that is the same color as my shoes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\nApply polish to cover the entire shoe. You may use a rag<\/strong> to apply polish or if you have a polish brush<\/strong> use that to help you reach all the crevices of the shoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nLet the polish dry<\/strong> for about 10-20 minutes. Use a shoe brush or rag to remove excess polish. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDon’t forget to add extra shine<\/strong> if you want to. You can get a slightly damp rag and dip it in the wax polish and work it into the areas you want extra shine, such as the toe and heel section. This may take some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nLet your shoe polish dry for as long as needed and either use a shoe brush or a dry rag to clean any excess. Repeat<\/strong> using a damp rag and wax polish if you want to shinier finish. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe more you buff<\/strong> your shoes and apply the polishes, the shinier it will look. So decide if you want to put in the effort and get that glass-like shine<\/strong> effect. You’ll need more time or money, but your shoes will look great. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBrushes for applying polishes are usually best. But if you use rags for applying any type of product, like waxes, creams, or polishes, then I would suggest getting a thicker type of microfiber cloth. These are best for helping get into the nooks and crannies of shoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n6. Shoe Waterproofing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t