Shoe polish
Ever observed a bootpolishwala at work?
First, a rub with a rough brush to scrape off mud and dust.
Then, a softer brush to scoop a bit of polish from a flat tin.
If you opt for a "cream polish", then it is a super-shiny paste
from a taller container. The brush is whisked skilfully to cover
every part of the shoe with polish. Deft wrist-work ensures
that there isn't a single spot on the sock. A final squeak-squeaky
polish with a long strip of cloth and the layer of wax on the shoe
gleams like a mirror.
Knock-knock. It's done.
Liquid polish is never so much fun. It has to be delicately
squeezed onto the shoes and spread using that tiny sponge
at the end of the bottle. And those automated rolling brushes
that you find in some hotels are just plain boring.