Shine Yo Shoes

So I've been sitting in my desk for the past 5 hours watching the customers come and go, talking to a few, but not many, and I got to thinking about how many old-school men I met this week here at the store. Old-school guys are cool, because for one, they've gotten over all the annoying fads and trivialities that come with the younger generation (which yes, I am a part of) and know a thing or two about do-it-yourself. Or should I just say, doing something. We've gotten so used to throwing everything away once we feel it's luster is gone, we have no idea how to repair or reface anything. I'm getting on a bit of a tangent here, so I'll just get to my point. Ya'll should know how to shine your own shoes. Why, you ask? Because it's just kind of cool to know how to do these things. Good convo starter at a party...

you: "so I was shining my shoes the other day..."
female: "really? I didn't know anyone did that anymore? Tell me about it."

That's best case scenario, but I am assured that it would be a good teaser at least. So upon talking to my father, who was in the Navy and knows how to shine shoes, we went through the festivities of shining shoes.

1. Get a kit.
You don't need much, just some polish (color dependent upon your shoes) and a soft rag (t-shirt will do) and a brush (horsehair)
2. Get some newspaper or something to lay under your project. The polish does leave marks. Bad for light carpeting.
3. Brush the heck out of your shoes to make sure all dirt and grime is off the leathers. Really brush them.
4. Apply a small bit of polish, bit by bit and start working it into the shoe in small, tight swirls. It should turn into a methodical thing, where you can zone into the process. Almost therapeutic, if you will.

By the time you finish the second shoe, your first will be dry and ready to brush off. Use that horsehair brush I told you about earlier and buff that dried polish off. It will leave a slight gleam on the leather. Looks good, doesn't it?

You can go over it a second time, with a little bit of water, which is called a spit shine (get it?) for a super shiny shoe. It's up to you.

And that's it. You're done. Easy as pie and saves your shoes from wearing too early. Plus it is a true sign that you have successfully learned to care for your things. Taking pride in what you own is important, and should be done more often.