Beeswax & Lanolin Shoe or Boot Polish Recipe

5 teaspoons beeswax
1 tablespoon lanolin (wool fat)
1 teaspoon mineral oil (baby or paraffin oil)

Melt beeswax using a double saucepan (do not boil). When wax has melted, add lanolin and oil. Mix everything together.  Remove from stove. While still warm and in liquid form, pour mixture into a jar with an open wide neck (use and old boot polish tin or a tobacco tin).  Let cool.  Mixture will be a firm with a soft consistency.

Using a clean cloth dip into the polish and rub into the leather wear as needed (do not apply to suede) and then buff off.

Banana peel  - eat the banana (high in potassium)  then use the inside of the banana peel to shine the shoes.
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Lemon Juice & Olive Oil Shoe or Boot Polish Recipe

Lemon Juice from a large lemon
1 cup of Olive Oil (or Linseed Oil - food grade)

Mix together.  Apply to shoes with a clean cloth.  Leave sit for a while to allow the polish to soak into the shoes.  Buff off.
 
Beeswax & Linseed Oil Shoe or Boot Polish Recipe

28gr beeswax
1/2 cup Olive Oil (or Linseed (aka Flaxseed oil), or Safflower Oil)
Add pigment colour if required.

Melt beeswax using a double saucepan (do not boil). When wax has melted, add the oil and any pigment colour preferred – or leave the pigment out altogether. Remove from stove.  While still warm and in liquid form, pour mixture into a jar with a wide lid.  Let cool.

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Linseed Oil (aka Flaxseed Oil) - food grade oil may be found at the Supermarket
usually in the Health Food Section or at your local Health Food Store.
Beeswax is used for waterproofing.
Lanolin is used to keep leather moist and soft.
Mineral Oil is used to clean the leather.
Tip: Mineral Oil is used as it does not go rancid like some plant
based oils can do.  Mineral Oil is a by-product of petroleum.
If using Mineral Oil is not your preference try and find a plant base
oil that does not go rancid.  A Google search might help.
Tips for Shoe or Boot Polish Recipes

  • Use coloured crayons (non toxic) to add colour to the boot polish.  Shave the crayon into the mixture and mix until melted and or combined.   Keep adding the crayon until reaching the required pigment.
  • Black boot polish – use charcoal.  Grind into a very fine powder.  Add a little charcoal at a time to make the colour black required.
  • Buy candle making pigment colouring.  Works well also.
  • Oh!......and don't forget some elbow grease