The Church’s Shoeshine Challenge

Because challenges don't have to be challenging

Challenges are often pretty, well, challenging. They tend to take away more than they give. A challenge to eat ten chocolate eclairs in ten minutes, for example, will accrue nothing more than creamy chinos and a disgusted look from the mother of the bride. A challenge to jump over a slippery ha-ha will achieve little more than a tweaked hamstring and a terrified ewe. And so on and so forth. This, I suppose, is the nature of the beast.

churchs shoeshine challenge

But some challenges leave one in a better state than when one started. The Church’s Shoeshine Challenge falls happily into this camp. A charitable push started by our good friend’s at Church’s, the game requires one simply to follow its step-by-step shoeshine guide, upload it to the world, and watch as the plaudits roll in. If it’s a good effort, Church’s will share it on its own channels. So you get sparkling, renovated shoes and the acclaim of your peers, and, if you buy one of its lovely Shoe Care Kits, they’ll donate 100% of the sales to Covid-19 charities. This is a win-win-win. A triple threat.

I gave it a go myself, as you’ll notice, and recorded the results in realtime. The shoes and the kit are all Church’s — and all gorgeous. The rug (Persian, 1920s) and the chubby digits (German, 1990s) are the editor’s own. Do get involved in the fun.

1. Remove dust and dirt with the small grey Leather Upper Brush and a little water

churchs shoeshine challenge

2. Spread Leather Cream Protector in circular movements with the Applicator Brush (remember to use the black brush for black polishes and the grey brush for other colours). Don’t forget to clean and protect your welts as well as your uppers.

churchs shoeshine challenge

3. Leave the cream to permeate the leather for at least two hours then remove with the small Leather Upper Brush and buff the shoe with the large Leather Buffer Brush in long, firm strokes to create a smooth, even shine.

churchs shoeshine challenges

4. Apply Church's wax polish and buff the shoe with the large Leather Buffer Brush in long, firm strokes to create a smooth, even shine.

churchs shoeshine challenge

5. Apply a little water with a cloth

churchs shoeshine challenge

6. Use a dry cloth, making circular movements to complete your polish.

churchs shoeshine challenge

7. Admire.

churchs shoeshine challenge

Visit Church’s to discover more.

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