Shoe polish

Shoe polish is a waxy, ointments, paste or gel-like mixture for leather care, mostly of shoe uppers made ​​of smooth leather. Chemically, it is, as with many creams to a dispersion or suspension. Shoe creams are among the surface-active shoe care products. Forerunner of the shoe polish was until the beginning of the 20th century, the shoe polish.

For the Mainz Wachswarenfabrik Werner & Mertz chemist Philip Adam Schneider developed the first modern shoe polish in the world ( Erdal ) for which with effect from the year 1901, a patent was granted in Germany. It replaced the shoe polish.

• 3.1 Different care results from different types of cream
• 3.2 Limits of application

Differentiations

Shoe polish is the collective term for various creamy shoe polish. Their basic differences are historically due to the economic requirements of the period after the First World War, when the producers were looking to replace the then scarce water resources of the solvents used.

Basic types

Mainly two different types of shoe polish can be distinguished:

• Hard wax cream
• Emulsion creams

The emulsions are further differentiated in

• Water emulsion cream (solvent water)
• Mixed emulsion cream (contains both water and organic solvents).

Practical distinguishing criteria

An external distinguishing feature of the two main groups of hard wax and emulsion creams is its consistency: The hard wax creams are much harder than the soft emulsion creams that may be of liquid consistency in the case of so-called leather milk even. The consistency also led to different packaging: hard wax creams are always offered in flat tin cans; Emulsion goods, however, in tubes, trays or flat, tin cans similarly shaped plastic containers ( sheet iron would rust due to water content of the emulsions ). Leather milk comes in plastic bottles.

A distinction between mixed emulsions and water emulsions is possible for the end user not readily available. Most clearly is not invalidated by the absence of solvent on the packaging of water emulsion creams. Experienced users can distinguish the two types of emulsion cream to varying degrees efficacy, and application characteristics (eg metering ). Water emulsions dominate in Europe today the market of shoe creams. Since the mixed emulsion creams are the rare exceptions in the total range of creams, professionals recognize they are already on their brand name.

Components

Main active components are the wax compositions present in the compositions of hard and soft waxes. The waxes ensure the water repellent effect of the cream, gloss and - in the case of hard waxes ( carnauba wax specifically, the hardest naturally occurring wax) for the protective effect of the cream. Furthermore, ( the "food " of the leather colloquially ) are oils or fats. This applies to all types of cream. In addition, small amounts are still (less than 1 percent) dyes or pigments (both for refreshing the color ) and the largest proportion (more than half) of solvent or diluent ( mineral spirits, turpentine, among others, in emulsion creams principle also water) added to allow the individual components are evenly distributed in the cream, a ready- consistency of the ointment is achieved and it can better penetrate into the leather surface. Emulsion creams ( hence the name ) require additional emulsifiers so that the normally finely dispersed water- immiscible waxes and fats in the cream.

Additives or individual constituents that are often highlighted by advertising are intended for fine adjustment of the cream, and say nothing about the quality of the cream out. Beeswax for example, ensures a perceived as pleasant smell and a soft wax for a good elasticity of the wax film. Paraffin helps you to adjust the consistency and silicone oils facilitate the phase of Anpolierens.

Especially water emulsion creams require a variety of other ingredients that are unnecessary for leather care effect. To prevent, for example, the preservatives contained in moldy cream and other additives enhance resistance to cold ( important for transport ), etc.

Operation and effect

When applying shoe polish following occurs:

Different care results of different types of cream

This protective film is crucial for the maintenance effectiveness of shoe polish: It must be good on the leather stick ( = durability of care, no staining) and very flexible ( effective impregnation, no gray break in the creases ), but be as hard surface simultaneously as chemical and mechanical barrier to protect the leather against the best possible leaching of fats and tannins ( = change and weakening) and injuries ( = surface damage ).

In contrast to the softer growth of the emulsion cream of Carnaubawachsanteil a hard wax cream provides a longer-lasting protection: The film resists friction and collisions very well and protects the leather better against mechanical damage. The gloss effect lasts longer and can - be repeatedly polished ( thrift, Quick Care ) - without compelling new order of the cream. In conjunction with the pure organic solvents used in a hard wax cream at the same time, this causes a longer-lasting water repellent effect.

Emulsion creams offer compared to a hard wax cream due to the addition to the pigment colors in addition existing oil-soluble dyes with more choices of colors and a slightly stronger color effect. The gloss effect of emulsion creams acts silky, reflective of the hard wax creams.

Water emulsions are more restricted in their positive effects compared to mixed emulsions and a hard wax cream. The protective effects of a water emulsion cream are generally less pronounced and of shorter duration. From leather professionals is emphasized time and again that a water cream is not a recommended leather care. Rather, it produces only short-term and purely optical effects, but no sustained care effect.

Limits of application

The surfactant care products, the protective effect is the most important quality of a shoe polish. The inevitable in daily use of footwear constant mechanical loads on the leather surface by walking movements, train, pressure and friction grab this surface at the time. Is caused by the cream protective film is damaged, the underlying unprotected leather is concerned. That's why regular maintenance intervals are required to renew the protective film and prevent chemical or mechanical damage to the leather. Hard wax creams provide the most effective protection and allow the longest maintenance intervals.

The operation described the creams and the stresses in daily use to explain why a cream applied too thick layer offers only disadvantages but no advantages. Disability- too strong a cream application, the water vapor permeability ( " breathability " ) of the leather and has a negative impact on the climate within the shoe. Shoe Polish - regular and very thinly applied - on the other hand protects the factory finish of the leather surface and ensures the preservation of the properties of shoe upper leather, which are important for the comfort and durability of the shoes. In this respect, both the appearance as well as factors such as breathability, elasticity, extensibility and flexibility of leather obtained by good quality shoe polish and positively influenced.

Shoe creams are not suitable for the care of suede leather ( suede, nubuck ), because its surface look and feel changed by the wax of the cream is ( greasy and stained). Highly contaminated shoe uppers, such as the work boots or hiking boots are not adequately protected and maintained by shoe polish under certain circumstances. For these tend to be more and vegetable tanned leather uppers, there are therefore special care products.

A hardened, brittle leather can be set via shoe polish, regardless of type, insufficiently get supple again. Assuming there is a lack of moisture the leather not ( to dry leather is hard and brittle ), can only the use of low effective care products ( leather oil leather grease ) to produce the lost suppleness. Their use is reserved in such circumstances, a man, if adverse effects ( permanent matte surfaces, lobed leather, poor fit, by beating on the stockings grease, etc. ) should be excluded.

The durability of shoe polish can last several years. Volatile solvents lead over time - especially with the hard wax creams with their comparatively large evaporation surface - a slowly progressive hardening of the cream and to shrinkage of its volume ( rattling in the can ). If the cream harder, their application is becoming increasingly difficult. The optimal storage temperature is about 15-20 ° C.

Conceptual confusions

The names used for shoe polish are often ambiguous. But the term shoe polish says nothing about whether this in individual cases, a hard wax cream or emulsion cream is meant. Emulsion cream is also inaccurate because that no statement is made about its basic composition. Between water emulsion creams, and creams are mixed emulsion both in terms of the ingredients as well as the practical application of large differences.

There are also many commercial and synonymously used terms:

• Hard wax cream = cans cream, paste wax, hard wax paste wax shine, Terpentinölcreme, wax turpentine paste, canned goods, oil goods
• Emulsion cream = cream tubes, tubes goods, emulsion Water emulsion cream = water cream, water goods, solvent- free cream
• Mixed emulsion cream = mixed cream, mixed product

Often confused with the harmful turpentine, turpentine oil is used as a solvent in cans and mixing creams from some manufacturers. The use of turpentine as part of a shoe polish is even a sign of quality; it is contained primarily in the higher-priced canned creams. The precludes turpentine, which is a strong anti grease and is not suitable for leather care products.