You’ll need the right equipment, including a couple of soft cloths, a horsehair brush, appropriate polish, newspaper, and your shoes. Start by putting newspaper down to protect your work surface, and take out the laces. Remove excess dirt with the brush or a damp cloth, then use a clean, dry cloth to apply the polish, gently rubbing it in. A toothbrush makes getting detailed bits easier. Next, use the horsehair brush to buff the leather to a shine. If you want it even shinier, add a couple of drops of water onto the shoe and use another clean cloth to give it a vigorous buff – this is called a spit-shine.