We use our feet everyday. Sometimes we walk through high risk environments that could injure our feet. Leather boots can have many advantages for protecting your feet. Some people use boots for when they are in industrial areas, riding motorcycles, traveling in rough terrain, etc. Proper preventive maintenance, of the leather, ensures the integrity of the product. If the leather is not protected, it will crack/deteriorate exposing feet to water, contaminants, and extreme temperatures. Regularly polishing boots will prevent the damage of the leather with a protective coating. The process of polishing boots also creates a glistening shine due to the filling of the leather pores. This has been a symbol of military excellence for many years. The process of polishing boots takes a lot of time and should be re-polished when scuffs and gouges occur.

MATERIALS:

1.) Black Shoe Polish (located any department store)

2.) Cotton rounds (located any department store)

3.) Cup of Clean Water

4.) Cup of Soapy Water

5.) Black Leather boot (that needs shining)

6.) Tube sock (located any department store)

7.) Rubber Gloves (located any department store)

8.) Apron or scrap clothing (in case of polish stain)

OPTIONAL- Horse Hair Brush, Sponge Brush, Polishing Cloth (located any department store)

---DISCLAIMER---

*WARNING* – SHOE POLISH CAN HAVE A STRONG AROMA. USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA

*WARNING* – SHOE POLISH CAN IRRITATE SKIN. USE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING

*CAUTION* – BLACK SHOE POLISH CAN STAIN CLOTHING. WEAR AN APRON OR SCRAP CLOTHING

Step 1: CLEAN THE LEATHER

Clean all leather areas with soapy water. Be sure to remove any debris that is abrasive and could scratch
the leather when polishing

Step 2: PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Polish will stain clothing so wear an apron or some old scrap clothing that you don't mind getting dirty.

Put on rubber gloves for safety and cleanliness

Step 3: OPEN THE SHOE POLISH CONTAINER

Open shoe polish container by twisting the side metal lever (either clockwise or counter clockwise) until it pops open

POLISHING BOOTS - Step #3
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Step 4: 1ST BASE COAT

Take one cotton round and apply a liberal amount of shoe polish to the cotton round. Cover all of the visible leather areas of the boot with the polish in small circular motions.

POLISHING BOOTS - Step #4
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Step 5: POLISH OUT THE SWIRLS

Apply a small amount of water to the cotton round and move in a small circular motion (polish) all across the leather until all the black polish swirls have disappeared. This could take 20-30 min of continuous polishing

Step 6: APPLY 2ND BASE COAT AND POLISH OUT

Once the boot starts to shine re-accomplish steps 4 & 5 to reinforce a strong base coat foundation and fill in the pores of the leather.

Step 7: HEAT IN THE SUN

Allow to sit in the sun for 30-45 min. As the polish heats up it will spread evenly and strengthen the base coats

Step 8: REACCOMPLISH STEPS 4 & 5 AS NEEDED

Accomplish steps 4 & 5 until the boot shines to your satisfaction. The more these steps are performed, the more shiny the boots will become. Also, as time goes by there will likely become deep gouges/scrapes in the boot. This process will slowly fill in these defects and will eventually make them disappear!

Step 9: FINISHED PRODUCT

The finished product is up to the owners choice. Boots can be as flawless as a pane of glass if time permits. Once a good coat of polish is applied, they will look brand new and repel the elements just as they did when they were purchased