Dirt and other debris can easily embed into leather. Therefore, your shoes or boots need to be cleaned before polishing. Use a damp cloth to remove excess dirt and debris. To polish your shoes effectively, always remove the shoelaces from your shoe before you start polishing your shoes. This is the best way to get to clean the tongue of the shoe and avoid staining the laces. Shoe polish or creams should be applied evenly with a brush or soft cloth. Once the polish has properly dried, simply buff to a brilliant shine using a natural bristle brush. Note: it is important to use a separate brush and cloth for applying and buffing different colored shoes. Cadets are not authorized to wear patent leather shoes.