What’s a Spit Shine?

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A spit shine is a high-gloss shoe polish, usually applied to military boots. Sometimes a soldier is judged by the quality of the spittle shine on his boots. Ideally, a spit gloss results in a surface so shiny it becomes reflective. Giving boots the perfect shine is a complicated process that takes hours. Although there are “quick fixes” that approximate the appearance of a spit sheen, those accustomed to inspecting uniforms can easily spot the difference.

The basics of a spit shine are shoe polish and a damp cloth. Regular kiwi polish or a similar brand will do the job. Other implements, such as cotton balls, a stiff-bristled brush, or a soft-bristled brush, may be helpful for certain parts of the process.

The first step to getting that spooky glow is to make sure both your boots and your hands are completely clean. The trick to a perfect shine is to be thorough and take your time with each step. Every part of the boots must be cleaned: the soles, the laces, the tongues, etc. Any dirt, dust, or old polish left on the boot will prevent one from achieving a perfect shine. A toothbrush or stiff-bristled cleaning brush can be used in this step.

A thick layer of polish is then applied to the boot and carefully polished. The usual method is to stretch a slightly worn but clean cotton cloth over the index finger, making sure it is perfectly smooth on the fingertip and damp, but not dripping. Some people prefer cotton balls to cloth, but under no circumstances should polyester be used. Again, thoroughness is the key. After the thick base coat is applied, thinner layers of polish are built on top of each other and polished until a perfect shine emerges.

Spit shine gets its name from the moisture required on the polishing cloth. This moisture repels the wax-based polish, making sure it sticks to the boot instead of the fabric. While some people use saliva, others use water or alcohol. Some advise not to use saliva, while others swear by it. In any case, do not use saliva to shine your shoes if you are drinking beer or soda or have recently eaten.

During the saliva shine, the enamel will first look milky with noticeable swirls before the high gloss appears. Patience and elbow grease required. Once enough coats of bitumen have been applied and the boot is buffed to a mirror-like finish, the job can be finished in a number of ways, such as a full final polish with a soft cloth or brush.

Combat boots with a beautiful spit shine are often the result of years of careful treatment. Touch-ups don’t need to be as thorough as the first application, but sometimes the boots may need to be completely stripped of the old polish and the process started all over again. If the old enamel has a scratch or major damage in only one area, it can be melted and smoothed with mineral oil and new enamel applied in its place. In the US military tradition, combat boots are regularly stripped of old enamel, while in the UK and Australia, it is traditional for soldiers to allow the enamel to build up over time.

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