Shoe Polish ritual

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Why are there two brushes involved? And why do we with the modern science do you have to light the stuff on fire?
I just don't understand the whole ordeal. Or maybe I just hate having to wear dress shoes 5/7 of my life.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 29 November 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, but boots need polishing too..:)

but light it on fire?! why did i never try that before?

― possible m (mandinina), Saturday, 29 November 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Light 'em on fire? WTF? That's a way to get rid of them---not polish them.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Saturday, 29 November 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

who the hell polishes shoes these days?
c'mon this is the 21st century, surely you can buy some shoes with self-replicating polishbiots?

― zappi (joni), Saturday, 29 November 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

you can, but its like buying velcro running shoes.

BTW: before you light the polish on fire, make sure to have the cap flipped over and ready to snuff it out.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 29 November 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

ha! will do. i've just got the sponge kind. just shake'n rub

― possible m (mandinina), Saturday, 29 November 2003 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

No the little cans of polish gets lit on fire and extinguished before putting on the shoe.
on a side note: WTF?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 29 November 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i wouldn't think of lighting that sponge on fire.... though that could be fun for other things such as.....

that link is so messed up. i mean, who wasn't Y2k compliant?!

― possible m (mandinina), Saturday, 29 November 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Lighting polish before putting it on the shoe? Eh?

Never heard that one before. I just scrape it out of the tin and whack it on. Takes a while, but its kinda theraputic - its like getteing all your kit together before facing the horrible world on the Monday.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Saturday, 29 November 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Figured out. Helps get more polish on the first few passes.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 1 December 2003 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Zappi otm

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 1 December 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I wonder what shoe polish is made of? It smells like nothing else on earth.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 1 December 2003 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a liquid bottle with sponge on top, as well as some sort of greasy stuff that i put on my boots.

but i only do this when my shoes are looking *bad*

however, if fire was involved, maybe i would do it more often! so i assume that's the polish in little tins? you light the top layer on fire, and then put it out. does this make it softer and easier to apply or something?

― colette (a2lette), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It certainly helps you make a spliff with it.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 1 December 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

2 brushes: one for dark polishes, one for light polishes. You don't want to cover your lovely pair of tan shoes with navy waxiness, now, do you?

― Madchen (Madchen), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

But why are they different shapes?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 1 December 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

seven years pass...

Polishing shoes/boots/footwear is one of life's small pleasures. It's like getting new shoes that already fit.

― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Saturday, 1 October 2011 03:58 (fourteen years ago)

I like getting a shine at the shoe shine stand. Cheap, looks awesome, makes me feel super grownup. I have to be mindful of my skirt lengths, though.

― pullapartsquirrel (Jenny), Saturday, 1 October 2011 04:00 (fourteen years ago)

I don't think I've ever had it done by a pro -- my dad taught me how and my shoe shine supplies live in an old Muppets tin that somehow I have never lost. I enjoy it. I think the first shoes I shined were my cordovan penny loafers in 5th gr.

― Art Arfons (La Lechera), Saturday, 1 October 2011 04:08 (fourteen years ago)

Gosh I havent shined any of my shoes in years. I really should at least condition my Docs with Dubbin paste, because the leather's starting to crack a bit. Which considering the boots are now 12 years old is pretty good going, tbh.

― Silent Hedgehogs (Trayce), Saturday, 1 October 2011 09:43 (fourteen years ago)

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