How to Polish Leather Boots

If you’re like me, you love the look of a well-polished leather boot. Not only do polished boots look great, but they also last longer.

Whether polishing dress boots or work boots, the process is relatively the same. In this article, we will show you how to polish leather boots quickly and easily.

Precautions 

1. Always test shoe polish (or shoe cream) by applying it to an inconspicuous area of the boots. This will help ensure that the color of the shoe polish matches the color of the boots.
2. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush while polishing your leather boots. A hard-bristled brush can scuff the leather.
3. Always allow the polish to dry completely before buffing it off.
4. Cover the area where you are polishing with a newspaper to avoid a mess.

Preparing Your Boots for Polishing 

Removing Dirt and Dust

Cleaning the surface of the boots before polishing is essential to getting a good shine.

If the boots are dirty, the polish will just sit on top of the dirt and dust. Thus, making it difficult to achieve a smooth, even finish.

1. Remove the laces from the boots. This will make it easier to polish every corner of the boots evenly. This will also prevent the laces from getting stained by the shoe polish.
2. Remove dirt, dust, and debris from the surface of the leather with a horsehair brush. Pay special attention to the area around the seams. This is where dirt and dust tend to accumulate.

Deep Cleaning

If your boots are extremely dirty, then you should give them a deep clean before polishing. Deep cleaning will remove any embedded dirt and grime, making it easier to achieve a shine.

1. Take a few drops of saddle soap on a damp cloth. You can also use baby shampoo or leather cleaner instead of saddle soap.
2. Rub the cloth over the surface of the leather boots in a circular motion. This will help to clean the leather and remove stubborn dirt or grime. Make sure not to saturate the leather, as this can cause the leather to dry out.
3. After you’ve cleaned the leather, use a second damp cloth to remove the soap residue.
4. Let the leather boots air dry for a few minutes. Once the boots are completely dry, you can start polishing them.

Using Cream Polish

Shoe polish is a great way to provide nourishment to leather boots. It can also help to cover up minor scuffs or scratches and recolor the leather boots.

Selecting shoe polish of the right color is essential. You want to match the color of the leather as closely as possible.

If you can’t find an exact match, then choose a polish that is a shade darker than the leather.

Materials Required

1. Cream polish (Saphir and KIWI recommended)
2. Lint-free cloth
3. Horsehair brush (Red Moose and JOVITEC recommended)

Process 

1. Wrap the lint-free cloth around the finger. Apply the polish to the corner of the cloth. Make sure to saturate the corner of the cloth with the polish. This will result in the even application of the polish on the boots.
2. Rub the polish into the leather in a circular motion. Work on a small area at a time. Start from the toe and work your way up.
3. Do not forget to apply polish to the edges of the outsole.
4. Allow the polish to dry for 10-15 minutes. This will also give the leather time to absorb the polish. Some polish may take more than 15 minutes to dry. Therefore, ensure the polish is dry before moving on to the next step.
5. Buff the entire surface of the boots evenly. This will give a glossy shine to the leather. Use a shoe brush or a horsehair brush to buff the leather.
6. After buffing the boots, wipe them with a clean rag. This will remove excess cream polish from the surface of the leather. Removing excess cream will prevent dirt and dust from sticking to the leather surface.

Using Wax Polish

Wax polish is a great way to give leather boots a high shine. Wax polish also helps to fill in minor scuffs and scratches on the leather.

Therefore, if you want your leather boots to have a glossy finish, you should polish them with wax polish after applying cream polish.

Materials Required

1. Wax polish (Angelus and Red Moose recommended)
2. Warm water
3. Cotton cloth

Process 

1. Wrap the cotton cloth around a finger and dip it into warm water. This trick helps apply an even layer of wax polish on the boots.
2. Take a small amount of wax polish to the cloth.
3. Rub the wax polish into the leather in a circular motion. Cover a small area at a time. This will ensure an even application of the wax. If the wax starts to dry during the rubbing process, apply a few drops of water to the cloth and continue massaging the surface of the leather to get a high shine.
4. Allow the wax polish to dry for 15 to 20 minutes. If you want a more glossy shine, you can apply another layer of wax polish. However, before applying the second layer, ensure that the previous layer is completely dry.

Polishing Leather Boots Without Polish

You can also polish leather boots without using leather polish. Several household items can be used to polish leather boots.

These household items can be used to shine the leather boots naturally. However, they will not help recolor the leather or fill in minor scuffs and scratches.

Olive Oil

Olive oil has moisturizing properties that can help to keep leather boots soft. You can use olive oil to achieve a natural shine on leather boots.

Materials required

1. Olive oil 
2. A small bowl 
3. A lint-free rag

Process 

1. Pour two tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl.
2. Take a small lint-free cloth and dip it into the olive oil. Squeeze out the excess olive oil.
3. Rub the leather boots with the oiled cloth in a circular motion. Cover the entire surface of the boot.
4. Leave the olive oil on the leather for about five minutes. This will allow the leather to absorb the olive oil.
5. Use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe off the excess olive oil and buff the leather.

Check out the video tutorial for more details.

Banana Skin

You can use banana skin to polish leather boots. Banana skin has potassium that can help to restore leather’s natural shine.

Materials required

1. Banana Peel
2. A soft dry cloth 

Process 

1. Take a banana peel and rub the inner side of the peel on the leather boots. Make sure that you cover the entire surface of the leather.
2. After rubbing the leather with banana peel, leave them for about one minute.
3. Take a clean cloth and scrub the surface of your leather boots. This removes dirt and grime from the surface and also shines the leather.

Check out the video tutorial: 

Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly conditions and provides shine to the leather boots.

Materials required 

1. Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)
2. A soft cloth

Process

1. Take a small amount of petroleum jelly on your fingers and apply it to the leather boots.
2. Rub the petroleum jelly over the leather in a circular motion. Make sure that you cover the entire surface of the leather.
3. After rubbing the leather with petroleum jelly, leave the boots for about 10 minutes.
4. Wipe off the excess petroleum jelly with a clean and dry cloth. Buff the leather to get a natural shine.

FAQs

Can you make dull leather shiny?

Yes, dull leather can be made shiny using a leather conditioner or polish. 

Firstly, clean the leather with a leather cleaner or saddle soap. Then, apply a cream polish to the leather. Rub the leather in a circular motion and allow it to dry. Finally, buff the leather to get a shiny finish.

If you want a more glossy shine, you can apply a layer of wax polish.

Is Vaseline good for leather boots?

Yes, Vaseline is good for leather boots as it conditions the leather and provides shine. Apply a small amount of Vaseline to your fingers and rub it over the leather in a circular motion. Wipe off the excess Vaseline with a clean cloth. Buff the leather with a cotton cloth to get a natural shine.

How do you make leather shiny without polish?

Several household items can be used to shine leather boots naturally. These include olive oil, banana skin, and petroleum jelly. Apply any one of these items to the leather.

You can apply olive oil using a cotton rag and petroleum jelly with your fingers. If you are using banana skin, rub the peel’s inner side on the leather. Leave the product on the leather for a few minutes. Wipe off the products with a clean cloth. Finally, buff the leather to get a natural shine.

What is the best thing to condition leather with?

The best thing to condition leather is a leather conditioner and oil. The leather conditioner moisturizes the leather and also adds color. Leather oil, on the other hand, nourishes the leather and prevents it from drying.

Conclusion

So there you have it, a complete guide on how to polish leather boots. You can get shiny and lustrous leather boots by following the steps mentioned above. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.