One of the biggest risks of using shoe polish is staining. To avoid staining, you should start by knowing how to open shoe polish. This stops you from making a mess as you open the polish. Secondly, always work on a protected surface. Lay down plastic, newspaper, or something else that will protect surfaces while you are polishing shoes and boots. If you are worried about staining your hands or clothes, you can also wear gloves and older clothing.   Something else to consider is the strong smell of shoe polish. Generally, you should use shoe polish in a well-ventilated area. Use it near an open window or outdoors if you don't have a well-ventilated area in your home.   Finally, always be sure to wipe away excess polish after you've finished using it. Extra shoe polish around the top of the container sits there until next time you use it, so it might make a mess if it's too close to the top. Plus, the extra gunk can make it harder to open the can next time if it dries.