How do you guys clean and polish your boots for shows? I use normal black polish and then a shine rag but want to try other ways. I have heard of parade polish/gloss but any other things you use?
Yup, that’s pretty much it! Grime/dust gets wiped off with a damp clean cloth, then a coat of Kiwi black shoe polish, then buffed with a polish brush.
If I am feeling exceptionally snazzy, I will add a coat of parade gloss (which is just a special black polish) on top of the regular black polish. I find it works best on flatter leather, so I tend to only do my toe caps. I could probably do the whole boot, but I don’t know that it would really shine on any leather that is folded, like at the ankle.
I have tried many quick n’ dirty polishes and waxes… and nothing beats traditional wax polish. In my opinion.
Some folks and fans of the old school method like to take a lighter and heat up the polish, then apply with a rag. Old t-shirts work well. I don’t suggest using that quick “paint on” polish, it’s cheap and looks even cheaper.
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Wipe down boots after each ride with a damp cloth to get rid of dust and grime. Concentrate on inner areas that get very sweaty from the horse.
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Wipe down the zipper to clear the dust. i lubricate with a thin coat of oil then wipe off excess and make sure that the zipper is clean and clear.
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I use a thin layer of wax polish (usually kiwi or kiwi parage gloss if you can find it) on the toe cap and ONLY on the outside of the boots so your girth and saddle pad don’t get trashed
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After the polish dries to a haze I buff it with a horse hair brush and repeat with another coat of polish (dry/buff)
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last I use a ladies nylon and buff again for a final high shine
You can search spit polish or marine shine on YouTube for tips and techniques
Also store your boots with a boot tree so the stay pristine
I use the Saphir cream polish. A world of difference from Kiwi!
I start with castile soap to get the grime off (I am infamous for only cleaning/polishing my boots when I really have to…).
Let dry, apply a very thin layer of the Saphir cream polish. Let that dry, lightly spray with water, buff with a horsehair brush. Repeat. Put on sunglasses to shade my eyes from the shine! 
I’ve used the nylon trick, too. Very handy in a pinch, when you are traveling and have limited space in your bag, although I still like the brush for a really good shine.
- Find an active or ex military person
- Ask for a boot polish lesson
I do them just like I did when I was active duty. They look like mirrors, literally. Gorgeous gleaming shiny mirrors :yes: A couple coats of reg black Kiwi, buffed. Parade gloss spit shined on with cotton or an old tee. Tampons work wee too, for size and grip. Old pantyhose in your pocket to quick buff and scuffs.
[QUOTE=Sing Mia Song;7719273]
I use the Saphir cream polish. A world of difference from Kiwi!
I start with castile soap to get the grime off (I am infamous for only cleaning/polishing my boots when I really have to…).
Let dry, apply a very thin layer of the Saphir cream polish. Let that dry, lightly spray with water, buff with a horsehair brush. Repeat. Put on sunglasses to shade my eyes from the shine!
I’ve used the nylon trick, too. Very handy in a pinch, when you are traveling and have limited space in your bag, although I still like the brush for a really good shine.[/QUOTE]
Saphir is also great but it can be a bear to find and $$$. You can get on eBay sometimes. I used to use it but found that I preferred the good old wax polish.
I use Kiwi polish and either melt it before I apply it or I use the quick shine stuff.
Then I put a sock over a brush and buff the bejesus out of it. Repeat with the brush sans sock.
My boots always look great, and I was really surprised that they looked as good with the quick shine liquid as they do with the polish - it’s really the buffing that makes the difference, I think.
[QUOTE=myleetlepony;7719299]
- Find an active or ex military person
- Ask for a boot polish lesson[/QUOTE]
The retired folks usually know how to do it right…In the modern world of suede boots and patent leather dress shoes, polishing is quickly becoming a dying art in the military.
[QUOTE=sarcam02;7719317]
Saphir is also great but it can be a bear to find and $$$. You can get on eBay sometimes. I used to use it but found that I preferred the good old wax polish.[/QUOTE]
It is more expensive–about $16 for a jar. But I find it lasts forever (although that might have something to do with my intermittent use practices :uhoh:). My husband rides motorcycles and he can pick it up at the shows sometimes. Otherwise I order it online.
Kiwi parade gloss melted with a lighter and buffed until my arms fall off.
[QUOTE=avesane;7719008]
Yup, that’s pretty much it! Grime/dust gets wiped off with a damp clean cloth, then a coat of Kiwi black shoe polish, then buffed with a polish brush.
If I am feeling exceptionally snazzy, I will add a coat of parade gloss (which is just a special black polish) on top of the regular black polish. I find it works best on flatter leather, so I tend to only do my toe caps. I could probably do the whole boot, but I don’t know that it would really shine on any leather that is folded, like at the ankle.
I have tried many quick n’ dirty polishes and waxes… and nothing beats traditional wax polish. In my opinion.[/QUOTE]
This–only I don’t use the parade gloss. Just the Kiwi in black and buff with a pair of nylons. Your boots will get super shiny!
[QUOTE=myleetlepony;7719299]
- Find an active or ex military person
- Ask for a boot polish lesson[/QUOTE]
Or
- Find active military person
- Marry him
- Intentionally disgust him with your boot polishing skills so he will do it
So I have been in the Army back when we wore black boots. The best polish that I have used is called Lincoln shoe polish. It’s in a blue tin. First make sure you clean your boots well so there is no dirt on them. In the lid put some water in. I use a cloth diaper and dab some water on the cloth then swirl in the polish. Using circular motion apply to boots. Make sure you put on a thin coat. Let it dry. Using a clean section buff vigorously in a side to side motion. Repeat as nesessary. If you have a lot of build up on the ankles you can use rubbing alcohol to remove.
I have used this on aged tall boots and you can see your face in them.
The key to getting an awesome shine is filling in the pores in the leather. The higher quality the leather the smaller the pores. Heating the polish turns it to liquid and fills in the pores easier. I would not suggest you apply polish and then light your boot on fire. If you don’t blow out the flames quick enough then you will ruin your boots. Though a heat gun would work on a low setting.
Personally, I like my boots to look clean and shiny but not a mirror. My personal preference I guess. I use this:
https://www.leatherclear.com/cgi-bin/store/pid_01.htm
I find it cleans (as long as your boots aren’t caked in mud), and puts a nice polish on, and once it dries it doesn’t transfer to anything else. Also helped to fix a big scratch in a friend’s Stubben Dressage saddle and it almost looks like it was never there. I recommend it and a bottle has lasted me years.
That’s the reason why I love Lincoln polish. Once you buff it out it hardens and doesn’t transfer like kiwi can do. I have polished the inside on tall boots and never had any issues.
[QUOTE=sarcam02;7719089]
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Wipe down boots after each ride with a damp cloth to get rid of dust and grime. Concentrate on inner areas that get very sweaty from the horse.
-
Wipe down the zipper to clear the dust. i lubricate with a thin coat of oil then wipe off excess and make sure that the zipper is clean and clear.
-
I use a thin layer of wax polish (usually kiwi or kiwi parage gloss if you can find it) on the toe cap and ONLY on the outside of the boots so your girth and saddle pad don’t get trashed
-
After the polish dries to a haze I buff it with a horse hair brush and repeat with another coat of polish (dry/buff)
-
last I use a ladies nylon and buff again for a final high shine
You can search spit polish or marine shine on YouTube for tips and techniques
Also store your boots with a boot tree so the stay pristine[/QUOTE]
This is just how my dad does it (also prefers Kiwi). He was on officer in the military for years, and he can make shoes & boots look like patent leather. You can do sprinkle of water between the layers of polish - is this the “spit shine” part of it? He buffs with the soft brush like a mad man, and they gleam.
Someone posted a video of the a British horse troop (Queen’s guard, maybe?) & how they used a blow torch to get the polish hot/shiny. My dad achieves the same thing with the buffing friction. it is amazing.
I second/third/fourth the nylons sentiment, I always use an old pair of tights to buff.
