catfan 14,793 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 As the title says, I like to polish my & Mrs Catfan's shoes, to me nothing looks better. A nice shiny pair of shoes I believe last longer & feel more comfortable too. Out & about on my travels I have started to notice fewer & fewer people wearing nice polished shoes. They might have smart clean clothes on but to me seem to be let down by poorly kept shoes. Am I in the minority ? I know what benjamin1945 will say ! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 My mum used to polish my shoes every morning while I was eating my breakfast, before going to school. (I know - I should be ashamed of myself!) I don't polish my shoes every day, but I do make a point of doing them in preparation for Sunday. I had an uncle who was in the RAF during the war. He followed military standards in shoe cleaning - removing the laces before polishing them, and also cleaned the soles prior to polishing across the instep (but not the rest of the sole, as it made them too slippery on smooth surfaces). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 48 847 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I tend to wear trainers/ casual shoes during the week but I do posses three pairs of leather shoes and I wouldn't dream of going out without polishing them . Nothing looks better than a pair of newly polished shoes and as Catfan says you certainly do feel better in yourself wearing nicely polished shoes. We were brought up in an age where polishing shoes was just an everyday job like having a wash or cleaning your teeth. When at school I always cleaned my shoes the night before to save time in the morning . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OrphanAnnie 296 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 As about 99% of the population seem to wear trainers nowadays I don't think their owners know what shoe polish is! My brother was in the RAF and used to remove laces first, but I can't remember if he polished the soles. We always had to have shoes polished for inspection when I was in the Brownies and the Girl Guides, and I used to polish my school shoes with Cherry Blossom. We had tins of different colours, and spread out some newspaper on the table first before using a rag to put the polish on and buff, and a brush to bring up the shine. And once I used black polish to cover a stain on some trousers I wanted to wear to go out. Unfortunately half way through the evening I forgot and caught my hand on the material and was covered in it!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Spot on..I drilled that into the kids..they even Machine wash the trainers.. nothing worse than dirty shoes and dirty teeth...the two things women notice apparently... Ladies??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crankypig 457 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I must admit I don't clean mine too often,when I was at school we were shown how to clean them properly.My dad used to have his shoes cleaned by people you used to see doing shoe cleaning with their own little stands,mostly seaside places. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 48 847 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I remember going to the Palais in the late sixties and there was a shoe shine boy in the Gents toilets. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OrphanAnnie 296 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 #5 Yes Ian that is right, along with dirty fingernails. Yeuch nothing worse! And yes I know men can get their nails dirty at work but I mean when they are taking a girl out! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Ah good stout polished shoes,can't beat em,alot of people forget to polish the backs though,i went for an interview when i was about 19 at the Welbeck Hotel on Milton st,and the Interviewer complemented me on my 'Smart' appearance,.............then added,'but remember to Polish the backs of your shoes'...ive never forgot that,............and 'NO' I did'nt get the job,........ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 What a good new topic Catfan! I always keep my leather shoes well polished and my hubby always polishes his shoes before we go out, without fail. But it annoys me when he cleans them on the kitchen worktop. When I was at school my Dad polished all our shoes every evening and when my boys were at school I polished theirs. They used to go to school in Doc Martin shoes (not boots!) and I could always get a good shine on them. What makes me cringe is when the TV news shows an item about 'foot fall' in city centre shops or something about schools. The cameras always focus on FEET. Generally the shoes are really scruffy, particularly those worn by kids. It seems that there is no pride in appearance these days. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Lazy parents breed lazy kids LizzieM, I still use shoe trees. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I must admit that I do not clean them every time. Don't do much walking in the wet. Usually they walk from the kitchen to the car and wherever I am going at th other end. Never into mud or anything like that. Tend to just give them a quick brush over. (Shame!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 When I was little I was fascinated by an uncle who used to spit and polish his black boots, they looked like mirrors, a throw-back from his National Service. When I met my wife's grandma for the first time, she looked me up and down and said,' he'll do, you can always tell the quality of a man by his shoes '. I've always been fastidious about keeping my shoes well polished and it takes me quite a bit of time, I've got about fifteen pairs at the last count. I use cream to feed the leather and wax to build up the shine on the fronts. I always do the in-steps too. Very therapeutic. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 #13. I disagree Fynger. I think your comment is a bit pedantic, does it really matter ? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomlinson 879 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 The old 'Dubbin' takes a bit of beating. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Re #5. Women don't like dirty fingernails too. Mine are immaculate even after a day's gardening. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Yes, it's me, scruffy FLY. Would you believe it, I went for suade shoes or desert boots as a teenager.However, I do have some good shoes which I rub up and down on the backs of my jeans. No, really, for the right occasion, I can be properly attired believe me. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 By that reckoning you could put many more Topics under 'Owt about nowt' 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,535 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I always use Brashers dubbin on my workboots and a weekly polish with Cherry Blossom, it protects them and keeps them waterproof, much needed in the quarrying industry,Health and Safety at work Act says By law employers have to provide PPE and by law employees have to look after it, always stuck to that rule Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Sticking to the Topic!! Rog yer right.I used dubbin. and guardsman black for the bulled shine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 #19. Fynger. In that case then lets agree to disagree. This thread was started in "Owt Abaaht Nowt" directory, which this thread is. If it really bothers you that much Fynger then move or delete the posts / thread like you usually do. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Boot/shoe polish,just come to mind Dad always refered to it as 'Blacknin' and he used to Polish his shoes and Boots in the Kitchen useing a 'Cobblers' iron that he fit the shoe/boot on,...........i used to use it to Hammer me football 'Nogs' in,..............i remember when 'Continental football boots first came in with Rubber nogs' along with Continental shorts high on the thigh,...............had muscular legs in them days,...gone skinny now,..in't old age cruel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 #24. Fynger. No offence meant Kev ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 I remember going to the Palais in the late sixties and there was a shoe shine boy in the Gents toilets. Oh yes Dave,i remember that,.. great days,.shiny shoes,squirt of 'Old spice' Billy Fury hair style,....watch-out girls,...lets jump the 'Broomstick' 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Got a nice pair of Docs(ox blood) polish them often Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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