Dollar Tree Stores Review – Shoe Polish
How good is Dollar Tree Shoe Polish, and does it compare well with well-known brands like Kiwi Shoe Polish? In this review, I give my impressions of bargain-priced Dollar Tree Shoe Polish (as sold for $1.00 in Dollar Tree Stores).
I purchased the Dollar Tree Shoe Polish, brown color, from my local neighborhood Dollar Tree store. The tin contains 1.4 oz of polish, slightly more than the Kiwi Brand at 1 1/8 ounces. Generally, the Kiwi brand costs about $3.00. I have been using Kiwi brand shoe polish for decades, for about as long as I’ve worn shoes. However, as the name of my website suggests (splurgefrugal.com) I am always looking for a bargain! At only $1.00, Dollar Tree Shoe Polish promises to be a frugal alternative to Kiwi and higher priced shoe polish brands.
The shoes I used to test Dollar Tree Shoe Polish are a pair of Aston Grey Collection dark brown cap toe oxford full grain leather shoes that I usually wear with a suit or sportscoat (purchased second-hand for $12.00). I used one coat of shoe polish, buffing with my Kiwi shoe brush, and doing a mild mirror shine on the toe. These shoes are usually polished with Kiwi Shoe Polish about once every two months.
My Impressions: Dollar Tree Shoe Polish
The consistency of Dollar Tree Shoe Polish is more like a cream polish when compared to Kiwi Shoe Polish which has a waxier consistency. As a result, it is slightly easier to apply and does a nice job of conditioning the leather. To my eye, it polishes very well, producing a soft, lustrous shine typical of a cream polish. It does not produce the higher gloss typical of wax polishes like Kiwi. Can it replace my longstanding favorite Kiwi Brand shoe polish? If you prefer a mirror shine, you will need a shoe polish with a higher wax content like Kiwi. However, I like the way that the Dollar Tree Shoe Polish produces a softer sheen that allows the texture and color of the leather to be seen.
The dark grey shoes shown above were polished with black Dollar Tree shoe polish. The true color and texture of the leather is preserved in a way characteristic of cream shoe polishes. If I wanted a mirror shine on the toe caps, I would add a coat or two of Kiwi Shoe Polish that has a waxier consistency. However, I am quite happy with the shine and conditioning that the Dollar Tree shoe polish provides. This shoe polish is the perfect compliment to my rubber-soled Rockport shoes at a very modest price.
Here’s a polishing tip that will produce a superior shine. If you are using a shoe brush to buff your shoes after applying polish, lightly spray it with a misting of water before buffing. It will enhance the quality of the shine.
The only downside is that Dollar Tree Shoe Polish only comes in two colors, black and brown (it would be nice to have a neutral polish). It is usually found only in your local Dollar Tree store (I did not find it for sale on their website). It is either sold in a single 1.4 oz. size tin or as a kit with two small 16 gram tins (one black and one brown) with a polish cloth. If you find it in stock at your local Dollar Tree, buy more than one as they tend to sell out quickly and often take a while to be restocked.
At the low price of only $1.00, Dollar Tree Shoe Polish or the Shoe Shine Kit are excellent bargains and a great addition to the frugal-minded well-dressed man’s wardrobe. Highly recommended!