Making Chores Fun - Cleaning Shoes

Every Friday night when Top Ender comes home from school her routine includes taking her shoes to the Kitchen to be cleaned and polished. I actually really enjoy polishing her shoes, (just like I like cleaning the fridge!) but as I won't always be around I have been teaching Top Ender how to clean and polish her own shoes. Top Ender has taken it upon herself to start to play the Army game with polishing her shoes.
Top Ender starting to Polish her Shoes

I am sure you know all about the Army game for cleaning shoes... but just in case you don't here is how to play! First of all you need a pair of shoes or boots that need to be polished. In this case it is Top Ender's School Shoes... but it could be any pair of shoes that you love and want to give some attention too.

Take the Shoes and clean off any dirt or dust that is on them. You might need a stiff bristled brush to take off mud and I also like to give the shoes a bit of a wipe with a wet cloth if Top Ender has managed to cover them in what I hope is mud! If you do wipe them with a damp cloth then make sure you dry them after!

The next step is adding the polish to the shoe. I must admit that I tend to polish with "proper" shoe polish once a month (you know the sort that comes in a tin and is a bit like face paint?), but Top Ender cheats and uses an easy scuff cover liquid polish.

So if you are using "proper" polish you should use a rag (in our case a duster) to add the polish to the shoe and then using a soft bristled brush, brush the shoe.

If like Top Ender it is a wet polish you should apply some to the toe of the shoe and then rub in circular motions all over the shoe.

Whilst you are brushing/rubbing the polish into the shoe you have to sing a version of "I don't know, but I've been told" which you have to make up as you go along... just remember it is meant to be sung loudly, with each line being repeated by a 2nd person (well apart from the number bits)  it could go like this;

I don't know, but I've been told                          I don't know, but I've been told
polishing shoes never gets old!                        polishing shoes never gets old!
I don't know, but it's been said                          I don't know, but it's been said
polishing shoes is like making your bed!          polishing shoes is like making your bed!
Sound off                                                           1 2
Sound off                                                           3 4
                                                                         1 2 3 4
                                                                        1 2 - 3 4!

Now whilst this won't necessarily bring about an awesome Army boot shine to your footwear, it will bring a smile to your face!