Yuya Hasegawa's passionate shoeshine dojo Part I

This is the "Yuya Hasegawa's Ardent Shoeshine Dojo" series. In the ninth installment, Yuya Hasegawa talks about the "sixth process" of shoe polishing. Yuya Hasegawa talks about it passionately.

In this installment of "Ardent Shoeshine Dojo," Yuya Hasegawa explains in detail how to polish shoes, this time focusing on the sixth step of the 16-step process, "removing stains. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most important process in shoe polishing. If you cannot remove stains properly, it will greatly affect the finish of the shoes, so let's learn it well.

After applying the rubbing ink, it is time for the stain removal process. The stain removal process has two important meanings: "removal of dirt from the shoes" and "removal of old cream and wax. Many people who have been polishing shoes for a long time do not perform the stain removal process, i.e., cleaning with a cleaner. Some people say that it is better not to remove stains because it damages the leather.

It is true that too much stain removal can damage the surface of the leather (silver surface), and the leather may become nubuck. However, from my experience, you should definitely remove stains from the leather. In my experience, however, you should definitely do some scrubbing. In the skin care industry, it is said to be the most important step in keeping skin clean, and the same is true for leather goods.

If you repeatedly apply a topcoat without removing dirt and old cream, it will gradually build up on the surface of the leather, and the original beauty of the leather will be spoiled. Also, the old cream that has hardened on the surface of the leather prevents the new cream from penetrating through the leather, causing the leather to gradually harden and eventually crack. We have seen this phenomenon happen to tens of thousands of pairs of shoes we have cleaned for our customers, so there is no doubt about it. This experience has taught me how important it is to remove stains.

The important thing in the stain removal process is to "remove stains in moderation. Just like human skin, overdoing it can cause skin irritation, so it is important to know how to do it. Therefore, we recommend a paste type cleaner.

Compared to liquid type cleaners, paste type cleaners do not penetrate into the leather as much, and they dissolve dirt and old cream on the surface, so they can remove dirt with less stress on the leather. The liquid type cleaner is also good for quick stain removal if you are familiar with its use, but this time we will teach you how to use the paste type cleaner.

First, wrap a thinly cut cloth (a used T-shirt or towel will do) around your finger. Take a small amount of cleaner on your index and middle fingers. It is fine to use a small amount on the tips of your fingers, but it is best to find the amount that is easy for you to use as you go along.

Then, wipe the shoe with the cloth, starting from the heel. Wipe the heel of the shoe with the cloth, and then wipe the stain with the cleaner in the image of xtagstartzspan style="color: #ff2a00;">"let the cleaner