Shoe polish is an essential part of maintaining your shoes and keeping them looking fresh and clean. While there are many premade shoe polishes available in the market, making your own at home can be a more sustainable and cost-effective option. In this article, we will walk you through 12 steps to make your own shoe polish.

1. Gather materials: You will need beeswax, olive oil or coconut oil, a lemon, a small jar with a lid, a double boiler (or two pots), and a grater or peeler.

2. Grate the beeswax: Use the grater or peeler to finely grate approximately two tablespoons of beeswax for every pair of shoes you would like to polish.

3. Measure the oil: For each tablespoon of grated beeswax, measure out one tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil. This equals roughly a 1:1 ratio of beeswax to oil.

4. Prepare the double boiler: Fill the bottom pot with water and bring it to a boil. Place the second pot on top of the boiling water, ensuring that it doesn’t touch the water directly.

5. Melt the beeswax: Add the grated beeswax into the top pot of the double boiler and allow it to melt completely, stirring occasionally.

6. Add oil: Once the beeswax has melted, slowly add in your chosen oil while stirring continuously until fully combined.

7. Add citrus essential oils (optional): If you’d like your shoe polish to have a pleasant scent, add a few drops of lemon or orange essential oils to the mixture.

8. Squeeze lemon juice (optional): For added cleansing properties and extra shine, squeeze half a lemon into the mixture and stir well.

9. Test consistency: Dip a clean spoon into your shoe polish mixture–it should have a thick, creamy consistency. If it’s too thick, add a little more oil; if it’s too thin, add more beeswax.

10. Transfer to jar: Carefully pour the shoe polish mixture into your small jar and let it cool completely before fitting the lid.

11. Polish your shoes: Once your shoe polish has cooled and solidified, use a clean cloth to apply a generous layer of the polish onto your shoes using small, circular motions. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes.

12. Buff and shine: Use a horsehair brush or another soft brush to gently buff away any excess polish and reveal a beautiful shine on your shoes.

By following these 12 steps, you’ll have created an all-natural and homemade shoe polish perfect for keeping your shoes looking their best. Not only will this save you money, but it’s also environmentally friendly and easy to make with just a few household items.