Reddit reviews Kiwi 100% Horsehair Shine Brush

Leather is essentially dead skin. Like skin, it needs to be kept somewhat moist to prevent becoming brittle and cracking, but unlike living skin, it no longer receives nourishment, hence the whole point of doing this.

Keep in mind, "Less is more". Always aim for enough to cover the leather, but not enough to saturate it. Your boots will darken slightly, just like anything that acquires moisture.

If you don't follow any routine? Boots may last you a few years, maybe more, maybe less.
If you do follow a routine. Boots may last a few decades, maybe more, maybe less. They may outlast you!

• Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-100-Horsehair-Shine-Brush/dp/B0010TR6NE
  
  
  
• Applicator Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Horsehair-Polish-Applicator-191-100/dp/B001ECZOKY
  
  
  
• Leather Cleaner (Haven't used this yet, but I've heard its fantastic. I've been using kiwi saddle soap). https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Cleaner-Honey-Accessories-Concentrated/dp/B00HU6N3LK
  
  
  *Leather Conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Conditioning-Oil-2-5-74g/dp/B00N9CHI2O
  
  
  You can find everything you need at most department stores, but this should give you an idea of what the tools look like.

1. wipe them down with a damp rag to get off any surface dirt.
   
   
2. if there are salt stains, get a cup of water and mix in some white vinegar. Repeat #1
   
   
3. let them dry thoroughly. overnight is preferable
   
   
4. go on amazon and get Bick 4 and a Horse hair brush
   
   
5. follow directions on Bick 4.
   
   
6. Repeat #5 (probably several times)
   
   7 Reevaluate at this point. If it's still not up to par, post on r/goodyearwelt and r/RedWingShoes for further advice.

Oh man, I love when people ask stuff like this on Reddit. I bootblack, and have worked on countless leather boots! Frye boots are lovely.

First off, what kind finish do your Melissa Buttons have, or did they have when you got them? For instance, looking at the current line, Antiqued/Polished can take polish, Rugged should not be polished, and Suede will have an entirely different cleaning/care routine from the other two. I'll assume it's closer to the first two for the following.

For any leather that's not suede or nubuck, the first step is cleaning. You can pick up some saddle soap (Kiwi exists in your local drug store or grocery store and is totally fine) or use just about any mild soap - I regularly use diluted Dr. Bronners. You want to create a lather and scrub that into the leather, and then wipe the boot down with a damp, not wet, rag. Be sure to get all the suds off the boot, but don't soak it either. If it's really dirty, feel free to repeat this step!

Then, I would choose a conditioner. I'd actually stay away from an animal-based oil like neatsfoot oil or mink oil, as well as less-stable oils like olive oil, since those could go rancid with too much humidity. I'm a big fan of Obenauf's, which gives good deep conditioning with just a bit of product (seriously, a little goes a long way) and has a pretty neutral scent. Frye actually sells a conditioning cream of their own, which I imagine would also be fine. Pretty much anything with a beeswax base is also good. Apply with your fingers so you can really rub it into the leather - the heat from your hands will help work it in.

Finally, if your boot is the sort that would look better with some shine, I would wait a day or two to let the conditioner soak in and then apply a bit of cream polish - this will give your boots some shine, but it won't be like, patent-leather mirror shiny, which I feel would be the wrong style for Frye boots. Kiwi also sells these, but Meltonian is my go-to. With cream polish, you apply a light coat and then buff the boot with a shoe brush in light, fast strokes. You can use your fingers to apply the polish, but it'll dye your fingertips, so either wear gloves or use a rag or a polish brush. Buff the boot until it's shiny to your liking!

Don't worry too much, it's pretty hard to ruin a good pair of boots while taking care of them. They'll definitely be happier with a bit of TLC!

No shoe lasts forever, but here is how you can help yours try

• Avoidance: Try not to wear your shoes in the rain, wet leather soles wear several times as quickly as dry ones and are more susceptible to tears or other serious damage. Treat your shoes like you would your foot, don't kick anything or drop anything on them.
  
  
• Rotation: Wear your nice leather shoes only every second or preferably third day, this gives the leather time to dry, which will reduce wear and tear. Cost $0 Last: 10-15 years From: You
  
  
• Shoe Trees: Pulls moisture out of your shoes after they're worn. Maintains shape and keeps them smelling nice. Cost: $24.95 Lasts: 10-15 years From: Woodlore/Allen Edmonds, Jos A Bank on sale, Nordstrom
  
  
• Shoe Horn: goes behind your heel as you put your shoes on, keeps your heel from folding over the leather in the back and degrading it over time. Cost $2.50 Lasts: Lifetime From: Amazon
  
  
• Toe and heel: they're little metal plates that are nailed into the sole to keep that area from wearing. Doubles the life of the sole. Cost ~$20 Lasts: 1-2 years From: Local cobbler or shoe repairman.
  
  
• Topy: Thin rubber top coat over the toe of the shoe, lowers the wear of the leather. Cost ~$30 Lasts: 1-2 years From: Local cobbler or Shoe Repairman.
  
  
• Leathr conditioner: Every two weeks to two months depending on wear. Keeps the leather soft and happy. Cost $4.95 + Shipping Lasts: at least a year. From: Allen Edmonds
  
  
• Horsehair Brush: Keeps dirt, dust and salt off your shoes, brushing down when you get home will keep your shoes clean and happy. Cost: $6.99 Lasts: 5-6 years From: Kiwi
  
  
• Creme Polish: Helps moisturize leather, maintain colour and keep them shiny. Cost: $9.00 Lasts: At least a year From: Allen Edmonds
  
  
• Edge Dressing: Applied once every couple of months to the edge of the sole and heel, it will keep your shoes looking neat and sharp. Cost: $4-5 Lasts: 3-5 years From: Fiebings, Allen Edmonds.
  
  If you take care of your shoes and treat them well, they can last up to 15 years and still look beautiful.
  

At the suggestion of multiple reddit users, I use this cleaner/conditioner and this brush, which have worked well enough for me.

At minimum, I would suggest four things: Horsehair brush (as mentioned below), a conditioner, a dauber (to apply the shining agent), and a shining agent (if you want them to shine/polish).

My recommendations on products that I've personally used (which I've used a number of things, but found these to be had at a good price/quality ratio):

1. Kiwi Horsehair brush. I have two of these, one for work and one for home. Love them both.
   
   
2. Lexol leather conditioner. Amazing stuff, I use it on belts, wallets, car seats, and definitely boots and shoes. I bought a liter, but I'm guessing the 8oz bottle will last several years. Strong recommendation for this product.
   
   
3. FootFitter dauber. I didn't use a dauber for a long time but in my opinion, it's much easier to get a consistent coating with a dauber vs an old shirt. Definitely optional on this one.
   
   
4. Saphir neutral wax. Saphir is a company highly touted on /r/GoodyearWelt and many other shoe forums/communities. I have never come across a straight out bad review of anything they make, but have only used their waxes. Much bigger fan of their wax over Kiwi and other generic waxes. It smells great, shines great, and is quite forgiving. I suggest Neutral for all colors except black, in which case I recommend black. Strong recommendation.

First, get a pair of cedar shoe trees to keep in the boot (you don't have to insert it all the way if you don't want)
Next, buy a horse hair shoe brush. After you wear your shoes, brush them down. If there is some stubborn dirt/grime, you can wipe them down with a damp rag, let them dry, then brush them.
Every few months, depending on how often you wear them, give them a good cleaning with Lexol cleaner, then condition them with Lexol conditioner. Let the conditioner dry, then brush vigorously.
That is literally all you need to do. No Obenaufs, no oils, nothing fancy.

Shopping list:
http://www.josbank.com/menswear/shop/Product_11001_10050_101593 (these go on sale pretty frequently for $8-$12)

http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-100%25-Horsehair-Shine-Brush/dp/B0010TR6NE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1408110167&sr=8-5&keywords=shoe+brush

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-907-Leather-Care-Kit/dp/B005H7DRQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408110196&sr=8-1&keywords=lexol

That's a great find! The lack of heel might be odd if you aren't use to it, so watch for arch pain. As for the shoes, check the heel stitching and make sure it isn't loose, and that the sole is in good condition without uneven wear. A cobbler can easily fix those things. Also, check that the tongue and vamp seam isn't stretched or torn. Also, switch out the laces a thiner braid, waxed ones if you can - something slick to match the shoe.

As for care, definitely check out the "Put This On" episode that Thamonsoon recommended. Your initial clean will be cleaning the dust off with a damp cloth, get in the seams - try a toothbrush. Then wait for them to dry and give a good brushing. For continual maintenance, I'll copy my shoe care suggestions I made from another post here:

"I made another post about boat shoe care, so in that style I'll give you the basics of caring for your new shoes.

You will need a soft cloth, any jersey cotton will work, or you can buy a shoe rag, a stiff brush, cedar shoe trees and some shoe polish. This will cost you about $30 USD and last a while.

• After a day of wear: Brush any mud or debris off of them, don't forget the soles, and give them a quick wipe with a damp cloth. Put in the shoe trees so that they fit snugly, but not too tight.
  
  
• Every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on usage: Polish your shoes. To do this, start by removing the laces and cleaning the shoe of any dust or debris, if you use a damp cloth, wait for the shoes to dry before continuing. Then, take your polish brush, collect some polish from the tin on the bristles and brush your shoes until you can see a thin layer of polish on them. Once you've covered all the sides and seams, let them stand for 15 minutes or so for the polish to set.
  After they've set, buff you shoes vigorously with your polish brush until they have a lustre and you can no longer see the matte texture of polish. If you wish to "shine" your shoes, give them that reflective lustre, take your polish rag and give you shoes a once over with polish. Just enough so you can see you've covered the shoe. Then add a few drops of water to an area of the shoe an buff with the polish cloth to a mirror shine. Continue until the all the polish is buffed, adding water drops as necessary. That's all.
  
  
• When they've become considerably soiled: Make sure the shoes are dry, then clean off any dirt. Take a damp cloth and wipe the shoes down, using a brush or you finger to clean out seams and stitching. Pay attention to tongue seams, sole stitching and lace eyelets. Allow the shoes to dry completely and polish as above, however, when first adding the polish, let them sit for an hour or two for the leather to absorb the polish well, this should ease the stress of the dirt drying the leather and the water affecting the panels.
  
  As for brands, Kiwi is affordable and accesible to most people. There are other brands, so if something is easier for you to get, that's fine. If you need help with selection, just give your location and I can find some local options. As for colour, try and match the polish, but if you don't want to, you can go with neutral - it will do no harm, but your shoes may have a diminished lustre or show more patina ageing as you wear them, as it lacks any colouring. Definitely don't think an "Express" or "Rub-on" option will do the same, it won't and your shoes will suffer in the long term because of it.
  
  That's the basics for at-home care. If you have any problems with them, like a seam opening or your soles are wearing in places, don't hesitate on bringing them to a cobbler. Ask around for recommendations, or check online review sites for your area to find a one. A good cobbler can do wonders to bring your shoes back to life, or modify them for your needs. I'm not sure what brand you have purchased, but some shoe companies offer rebuilding services for shoes that are significantly worn, but can still be repaired.
  
  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, and good luck with your new shoes!"

I don't know what's up with the two websites, but as a copper river bag owner let me give you two pieces of advice. 1. order the leather strap. It is expensive but it really makes the bag. 2. Order some Saddle Soap and wash the bag using a horse hair brush. They ship the bag with extra dye and oil on it and it will rub off on your clothes if you don't wash it before use.

Don't make it too complicated.

1. Take a brush to get rid of most of the dirt on them.
   
2. Take a wet rag and rub the boots down (this should get rid of the paint stains, if not be more abrasive with the rag)
   
3. (Optional, but suggested) Apply some sort of leather conditioner / protector (ex.Mink Oil Or Obenhaufs Leather Protector)
   
4. Use a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser (or similar) to clean the wedge sole.
   
   Some of the deeper scuffs may not go away completely, but they add character to the boot.

Just to be clear, this is a horsehair brush. On the other hand, this is a horse hairbrush. You want the former, not the latter.

Very Important:

• Horsehair Brush
  
• Some sort of cleaner (Lexol)
  
• Some sort of conditioner (Lexol, Bick4)
  
  Optional:
  
  
• Buffing Rag - could also just use old socks or cotton shirts. Make sure whatever you use is 100% cotton since nylon can scratch
  
• Pigmented Cream Polish - Can be used to recolor damaged spots and build a patina. WILL DARKEN YOUR SHOES.
  
• Cuir Gras - My preferred conditioner for greasy leather (like CXL). Not necessary unless you want to spend the extra money over Lexol.
  
  Be sure to review the Leather Care section in the wiki to get a good overview of products and care techniques.

the stuff in the guides on /r/goodyearwelt was very helpful for me. after reading the stuff there, i bought some venetian cream and a horsehair brush. along with some soft cloths, i can do a pretty good leather care job.

i think the biggest things to note are: don't wear the same pair two days in a row, to give them time to dry out. condition when necessary. use boot trees if you can.

My first GYW pair as well, also black cherry. I picked up a Lexol Leather Care Kit that comes with leather cleaner and conditioner. I wore them a few times and then cleaned and conditioned them according to the kit instructions. After each wear I brush them down with a horse hair brush and when I'm not wearing them I put in shoe trees.

I clean/condition them after about 5-6 weeks, unless I get them really muddy or something. There are surely others on this sub with better knowledge of leather care, but this routine has been working fine for me so far. Most will recommend giving them 24 hours to rest after wearing, but, y'know, they're boots.

This is what I used on my friend's car seats that haven't been cleaned for a few years.

cleaner

brush

Both purchased at Walmart for about $15.

results

No! The conditioner and Mink Oil included in the Basic Care are not made for the smooth leather of Beckmans. Here's what you need:

1. horsehair brush
   
2. Lexol conditioner
   
3. Burgundy shoe cream to touch up scuffs; I use Meltonian
   
4. Rags for cleaning, applying conditioner and shoe cream, and polishing
   

http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-100%25-Horsehair-Shine-Brush/dp/B0010TR6NE/ref=sr_1_3?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1368585467&sr=1-3

And maybe a box to store it all in, so when someone tells you to "get your fucking shinebox" you can go get your fucking shinebox.

You shouldn't need to treat new dress shoes with anything before you wear them. Only exception may be when the shoes have been on the shelves for a while and arrive a bit dried out, at which point you'd just want to condition with something like Lexol and brush them with a horsehair brush.

Eu folosesc Kiwi 100% Horsehair Shine Brush.

Nu știu dacă e cea mai bună, dar asta folosesc eu și sunt mulțumit. A, da, și mă interesează foarte mult încălțămintea de calitate și am grijă de ea deci nu-s doar un noob care nu știe ce recomandă. Peria asta își face treaba și e ieftină.

Și dacă tot veni vorba, pentru bocanci recomand Fiebing's Yellow Saddle Soap și pentru bocanci negri recomand Obenauf's LP Boot Preservative și/sau Obenauf's Leather Oil.

Săpun doar pentru bocanci, nu pantofi, și Obenauf's stuff doar pentru piele neagră, o să schimbe culoarea altfel. Pentru pantofi sau bocanci la care nu vrei să se schimbe culoarea recomand refined coconut oil.

De evitat orice fel de cremă colorată. Aia e moartea pielii.

Oh, definitely don't need formal shoes. All you might want is a leather conditioner like Lexol or Bick 4 and a brush. Might wanna eventually pick up a pair of shoes that are good/comfortable for being on your feet all day at work (which you might have already).

For my brown leather shoes, I use this to apply this. And then I hit it with this. There's a lot of different ways to go about it though. Put This On had an episode dedicated to shoes and they demonstrate how to polish your shoes in the film. I highly recommend checking it out (along with their other videos - very good stuff). Good luck.

I would see the leather care guide for specifics or if you want to polish them.

Generally, a horsehair shoe brush like this one and some conditioner like a bick 4 or whatever saphir product suits the leather on your shoes should be fine. Just remember to condition sparingly (once every 3-4 months tops).

Kiwi horsehair brush this works just fine.

Yes do condition them before you wear it with any of the products mentioned. Honestly dont worry about them too much, the boots are pretty resilient. Dont overcondition though, probably no more than once a month(?) depending on how much you are wearing them. Just clean it up once every few wears with a damp warm rag and brush it out. If it gets into mud/snow then definitely clean immediately after wearing.

Cool, I bought this and this, based on your and /u/micrafone_assassin's recommendations. Hopefully these will make the shoes an investment instead of just a splurge

I've been lurking for a while but finally made an account to ask this:

I decided to go with Red Wing Beckmans (9023) as my first high-quality footwear purchase. I also purchased a Kiwi 100% Horsehair Shine Brush, a Lexol 907 Leather Care Kit, and Woodlore Adjustable Men's Shoe Tree (Cedar).

My first question is: how should the shoe trees fit into my Beckmans? I went to a Red Wing store and got sized. They said I have wide feet and recommended I get 8.5 (I usually wear 8.5s in regular footwear like Van's and Nike). I purchased the 8.5 Beckmans and I've worn them about 8 times now. Out of paranoia, I double checked with the Red Wing store to see if the boots were creasing properly (as I have a lot of toe space and was worried that it might be too big). They assured me that It was fine. I ordered size medium (8-9.5 size) and They arrived yesterday. I inserted them into the boots but noticed that it was pretty difficult to get them in there and the heel of the shoe tree scratches against the heel of the boot when inserting. I notice if I wiggle the front of the shoe trees in a bit more before inserting the heel, it doesn't scratch the heel of the boot. I apologize if the picture quality is poor , I only have my phone at this time. Is this okay for my Beckmans? Or should I return these for a different shoe trees? I'm worried about them being stretched improperly. If I should get different ones, can someone direct me to a specific shoe tree? Here are some pictures of my 9023s with the shoe trees.

My second question is, do I need any other care products than the ones I listed above? My care regime currently will be to brush after each use, shoe trees for a minimum of 1 day before next wear, Lexol clean and condition once a month and/or after they get really dirty.

Something like this would be fine.

Polish on a work boot mainly boils down to aesthetics. A lot of Japanese dudes seem to do a glossy mirror shine on their redwings.

Pro Tip: Invest in a Horse Hair Brush. I use it on my Raptor 7's and it cleans the nubuck on it like magic. Made the the upper look practically brand new.

Here's a link if you're interested. http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-100-Horsehair-Shine-Brush/dp/B0010TR6NE/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2OWTFZVIG7K1P

Prep your boots:

Knock back the finish a bit with some diluted dish soap and a scrub brush. Set them aside to dry.

Apply some Sno-Seal liberally with rag or brush. Allow to set. For the first coat, I like to hit it with a hairdryer to let it get into the leather's pores and all the nooks and crannies where boot meets sole.

Apply a second coat of Sno-Seal and wipe off the excess with a rag.

Now get an applicator brush, a polish brush and a wax matching the color of your boots. Kiwi is a good brand, I've been using it for years.

Swirl your applicator brush around in the tin of wax and then apply it to your boots in a vigorous circular pattern. Pay attention to the areas around the crevices (such as in the instep). Let it set for a few minutes and then brush it down with the polishing brush in a vigorous back-and forth motion. Do NOT rub hard with the polishing brush - you're trying to bring it to a shine / gloss, not rub it off.

With the base coat of Sno-Seal and a good layer of wax over it you should be good for all winter. Wipe off any dirt / snow / mud before storing them in the spring, then repeat the process above in the fall.

Source: Army veteran, live in the Pacific Northwest. Many of my boots are over a decade old or more.

EDIT

For anyone following along, I reconditioned my 16-year old Vasque Sundowner boots this morning as they needed it. Questions welcomed.

So should I use mink oil, or not? Is it for something completely different?

So far, it looks like I'm getting this, this, and this. Should I get a shoe conditioner like this, too?

Let's use a pair of walnut Allen Edmonds.

I recommend:

1. Saphir Wax Polish in any color
   
   
2. Saphir Renovator
   
   
3. Heel & Sole Dressing
   
   
4. Full-Toe Cedar Shoe Trees
   
   
5. Horse Hair Brush

Thanis I'll grab a Kiwi. Do I need the polish dauber brush too *has a handle with round section of horsehair for applying polish), or just the long brush?

Is this one good? https://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-100%25-Horsehair-Shine-Brush/dp/B0010TR6NE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468455546&sr=8-1&keywords=kiwi+shine+brush

Just wanted to add my humble advice on the jean stains. I had horrible ones from dark jeans on my tan leather. Using Lexol Leather Cleaner and a Kiwi Horse Hair Brush with a tiny bit of water completely removed the stains for me. I follow up with Lexol Leather Conditioner.