Have you ever run out of polish when you wanted to polish your shoes? Don't worry, you can make your own shoe polish at home! Amazingly, you can control the ingredients completely and the results will show exactly like commercial shoe polish. If you don't have the ingredients, you can look for homemade ingredients to replace the polish, such as olive oil or banana peels.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Shoe Polish from Scratch
Step 1. Set up a double boiler
Fill the pot with 2.5-5 cm of water. Place a heatproof bowl on top. Heat the water over medium heat.
Step 2. Put the olive oil and white beeswax in a bowl
You will need 80 grams of olive oil and 30 grams of white beeswax.
For extra shine, try using half beeswax and half carnauba wax
Step 3. Stir the olive oil into the beeswax when it melts
As the beeswax heats up, it will melt. Once completely melted, stir to combine with the olive oil.
Step 4. Consider adding black or brown oxide as a colorant
Use a coffee grinder or food processor to grind 1.5 teaspoons of black or brown oxide. Stir the oxide powder into the melted mixture. Continue to stir until the oxides are completely mixed with the ingredients, and there are no streaks, twists, or spots remaining.
- Don't forget to clean the coffee grinder or food processor well after this so as not to contaminate the food.
- If you don't have a coffee grinder, you can try using a pestle and mortar. Remember, clean thoroughly!
- You only need to do this step if you want to lighten the black or brown of the shoe. Don't add oxide if your shoe is a different color, as it will stain later.
Step 5. Pour the mixture into a small container
Make sure the container is large enough to hold all the shoe polish. Ideally, use small glass jars or candle tins. You can also pour it into several small containers.
Step 6. Allow the mixture to harden
Usually you need to wait for 45-60 minutes. Once hardened, the polish is ready to use! If you're in a hurry, cool to room temperature first, then place in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes, or until solid.
Step 7. Use shoe polish
Wipe the shoes with a damp cloth to remove dirt. Use shoe polish with a dry, clean cloth until the shoes are shiny. Wipe off the remaining polish with a clean cloth. For extra shine, wipe the shoes after with a polishing brush.
Method 2 of 2: Using Homemade Ingredients
Step 1. Find a natural polish at home
Don't be discouraged when you run out of polish. There are many materials that can replace shoe polish in a pinch. Read this section further, and see if you have the ingredients. You don't need to use all The material in this section is for shoe polishing.
Step 2. Apply natural oils
Olive or walnut oil will work best, but you can experiment with other oils as well. Best of all, the oil provides natural protection against water to the shoes! Start by rubbing the oil onto the shoe using a soft cloth. Wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth afterward.
Step 3. Try a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice for extra shine
Mix 2/3 olive oil with 1/3 lemon juice. Rub the mixture into the shoes with a soft cloth. Let stand for a few minutes, then blot the shoes with a clean cloth.
You can use bottled or squeezed lemon juice. Do not use lemon juice mixed with other ingredients
Step 4. Wipe with petroleum jelly
Scoop out some petroleum jelly and wipe it over the shoes with a soft cloth. Wipe off the remaining jelly when you're done.
Step 5. Use a banana peel
Using this material, you can not only polish your shoes, but also get a delicious treat from it. Peel the banana, eat the flesh, then rub the inside of the banana peel on the shoe. After that wipe the shoes with a soft cloth.
If you don't want to eat bananas, cut them into small pieces and put them in the freezer. You can use it tomorrow to make a smoothie or banana bread
Tips
- You can use a variety of oxides and pigments to color your home shoe polish.
- Always test the shoe on an inconspicuous part of the shoe.
- You can buy beeswax online or at a craft store.
- You can find the oxide in online stores that sell soap-making ingredients.
- Use a scale to measure ingredients.
