To strip shoe polish with shaving cream, you need to coat your shoes with a thick layer of it, make a lather, and wait until the lather dissolves the old polish layer. As easy as that!
Maintaining your shoes should be among the top on your wardrobe to-do list. A polished pair of shoes can jazz up even the most casual jeans and T-shirt ensemble. Everyone know that, shoe polish always protects leather. However, many of you may have faced a situation where your shoes are not particularly dirty, but they appear to be due to the countless old polish layers that have built up on the surface over time.
Are you one of them? If so, time to strip the polish off your shoes and bring the smart look back on them!
We’ll show you how to strip shoe polish with shaving cream without damaging your shoes. You’ll also see how old polish layers are removed with the help of easily available household items like rubbing alcohol/nail polish remover, a hair dryer, and more!
Keep on reading to find out!
How to Strip Shoe Polish with Shaving Cream?
Shaving cream is a safe cleaning agent that you can use to treat your leather shoes. Because it contains conditioning agents like lanolin and glycerin which you also see in leather cleaners, and very little alcohol, which prevent the leather from drying out.
Here’s how to strip shoe polish with shaving cream.
Things you’ll need in this process
- Shaving Cream
- Shoe brush
- Paper Towel
- Chamois Rag
- Leather Conditioner/Saddle Soap
- Wax Polish
Step 1: Getting Rid of Excess Dirt
Get a good shoe brush and clean the entire shoe surface. If they require more than just a brush, wipe them with a dampened cloth to get rid of the dirt and wait until they are completely dry before proceeding ahead with the next step.
Step 2: Applying Shaving Cream
Next, you’ll want to completely scrape off the old polish. To do this, coat the shoes in a thick layer of shaving cream and make a lather with a towel. You can choose any shaving cream available near you, we have used the Gillette Classic Shaving Foam.
Next, Monique Lyons advises letting shaving cream sit for at least 5-8 minutes this way so that during this period, the shaving cream can begin to work on weakening and separating the polish from your shoes.
Step 3: Wiping off The Residue
After approximately 5 minutes, scrub your shoes using a stiff-bristled brush to get rid of the shaving cream lather. Use a paper towel or a fresh, dry cloth to wipe away any left-out shaving cream residues if the brush can’t remove it all.
Now, give the leather some time to totally dry.
Step 4: Conditioning Using Suitable Leather Conditioner
After the shoe polish has been completely removed from both shoes and the shoes have dried, the leather must be nourished with a leather conditioner or saddle soap in order to keep it from drying out and eventually splitting. We like to use the Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
First, apply the leather conditioner with an applicator brush to a discrete area, such as the boot tongue to make sure that the conditioner won’t significantly alter the leather’s color. Now, apply a quarter-sized amount of conditioner or balm to a chamois rag, and then rub the leather with it. Instead of pressing down firmly, move the cloth around in a circular motion and get it into all creases and crevices.
Step 5: Re-Polishing The Shoes With Wax Polish
Finally, use a soft cloth to apply wax polish to the shoe’s upper, sides of the sole, and heel. After applying the wax, leave the shoes that way for at least 10 minutes to give the wax time to absorb into the shoe and for the wax polish’s volatile elements to dissipate.
Some Other Ways to Remove Shoe Polish
There are actually many other approaches to stripping shoe polish from our shoes other than using shaving cream. In fact, most of them employ easily available items, are simple to follow, and are effective if you can do them properly.
How To Remove Shoe Polish With Leather Cleaner
You can pick a leather cleaner that you think suits your shoes best from the many different kinds available on the market. We have chosen the Adam’s Leather & Interior Cleaner for this process. It can remove layers of old shoe polish as well as shoe polish stains from light-colored shoes without damaging them.
- Remove dirt from the shoes with the help of a shoe brush.
- Damp a clean rag damp with water and a few drops of leather cleaner, and begin massaging the polished area of the shoes. The wax will come off the shoes more easily the better you work the cleaner into the leather.
- After you are done messaging, wipe away the polish.
- Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area to dry.
How To Remove Shoe Polish With Rubbing Alcohol/Nail Polish Remover
It may seem a little alarming, but you can actually use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to take off the old polish from your shoes. In fact, it is one of the few safe cleansers suitable for leather shoes of any price range. Walgreens Isopropyl Alcohol can help you with removing polish effortlessly.
Edward Manning shares how you can use rubbing alcohol for this.
- Pour a few drops of nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad.
- Gently rub the cotton pad in small circular motions over the shoe polish. As it has the potential to degrade the natural oils in the leather, do this fairly lightly so as to avoid removing the leather’s genuine finish.
- Remove the alcohol residue with another cotton pad and apply some leather conditioner afterward to prevent the shoes from drying out.
How To Remove Shoe Polish With Saddle Soap
Using ordinary soap may discolor the leather of your shoes, so it’s best to use saddle soap instead. KIWI Outdoor Saddle Soap works well on leather(except suede) and is frequently used as a deep cleaner to get rid of extra wax and polish or old shoe polish.
Here’s how Steve Thompson applies saddle soap to remove polish.
- Apply a little water to the surface of the shoe using a cotton ball. It will help spread the soap more evenly.
- Now, take some saddle soap to a damp cloth and make a lather.
- Apply the lather to your shoes in small circular motions and work the soap into the leather to completely remove the polish.
- After you are done, use another clean towel to wipe away the soap. The polish will hopefully start to rub off onto the cloth.
How To Remove Shoe Polish With Hair Dryer/Heat Gun
This process is the least advised because there is a chance that the polish will soak into the fabric or excess heat may melt your shoes. But with extra care and attention, many have actually succeeded in removing the polish with this method.
- Turn on the hair dryer at a moderate heat level and make sure it is placed several inches away from the shoes. Now, apply heat to your shoes.
- As the polish starts to melt down, clean it off with a paper towel or cloth.
- Dry the shoes and apply some leather conditioner afterward.
Watch here how Kirby Allison quickly and safely removes wax from leather shoes using a heat gun!
FAQs
How Long Does Shoe Polish Last on Shoes?
Depending on how often you wear your shoes, the shoe polish can last 4-6 weeks to a few months.
Shoe polishing should be done every month as part of routine shoe maintenance if you wear the same pair of shoes every day or every alternate day. And for shoes that you don’t use much, polishing them every 5-6 months will help to restore their luster and keep them smelling new.
How Do You Remove Shoe Whitener?
Using baking powder is one simple way to get rid of shoe whitener.
You need to make a paste by combining a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water.
Now, gently scrub the whitener off of your shoes by dipping an old toothbrush or scrub brush in the solution. For the remaining scuff marks you can directly apply lemon juice to them and let it sit for five minutes before wiping them off with warm water.
When the shoe whitener has been completely removed, wipe out any extra paste or liquid from the shoe using a moist cloth.
How Can You Remove Black Polish From Brown Leather Shoes?
You can easily remove black shoe polish from brown leather shoes with the help of saddle soap. Apply some KIWI Outdoor Saddle Soap, or any other one you like to a damp cloth and work it into a lather. Now, work the soap into the shoe using this circular motion. Finally, use a fresh cloth to remove the old polish wearing off.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have got to know how easy it is to strip shoe polish with shaving cream, you should know that using the wrong products to remove the polish from your shoes can actually ruin them. Products like acetone can be too harsh for your shoes, so use them with caution.
To wrap up, here’s a tip after stripping polish from your leather shoes. Don’t forget to apply either conditioner or new polish, or both after removing the old one for whichever method you use. It will ensure the restoration of the luster and healthy condition of your shoes.
Enjoy wearing your brand-new-looking shoes and make sure to spare some time for their maintenance!
