Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Shoe polish is a sort of waxy substance intended to improve gloss, rub resistance, fade

resistance, and dust resistance in order to provide a thin film on the surfactants of the shoe

(Derbe et al., 2021). They are used in order to increase their lifespan and aesthetic appeal. It is

a material that is applied externally to shoes to improve their appearance and shine. An

essential component of the shoe's "meal" is the polishing agent. Nowadays, shoe polish is

typically produced using simple chemical engineering techniques using a blend of natural and

synthetic components, such as naphtha, turpentine, colors, and gum arabic. Since ancient

times, a variety of natural materials have been used as shoe polish, including mango shells,

beeswax, tallow, and banana peels (Akter & Parvin, 2018).

Homemade wax Gum Arabic, which acts as a viscosity stabilizer, and dyes, of course,

are both ingredients in shoe polish. How much of each ingredient is used, and in what

proportions, determines the quality of a shoe polish. Shoe cream and shoe paste (both types of

shoe polish) differ in that shoe cream has a higher oil content and a lower wax content, while

shoe paste has the exact opposite composition—a lower oil content and a higher wax content

(Avenido, 2021).

Based on the study of Avenido (2018), the organic shoe polisher produces a shimmery

effect. The shine of the shoes can be maintained by organic shoe polish for 5-7 days. Compared

to commercial shoe polishers, organic shoe polishers are inexpensive.

From the researcher’s perspective, homemade wax and wood charcoal is effective as a

shoe polisher. Therefore this study aims to know the effectiveness of homemade wax and wood

charcoal as shoe polisher in terms of its 1) shimmery 2) cost-effectiveness 2) significant

difference between the commercial and homemade shoe polisher.

References:

Akter, T., & Parvin, J. (2018, May). Preparation of shoe polish from banana peels and proper

utilization of solid waste. jetir.org. https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1805406.pdf

Avenido, C. D. (2021, July 16). Homemade-Wax-and-Wood-Charcoal. Scribd.

https://www.scribd.com/document/516029494/Homemade-Wax-and-Wood-Charcoal

Derbe, T., Alemayehu, T., & Senbeta, D. (2021). Preparation and Characterization of Shoe
Polish from Cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica) Powder and Charcoal Powder. SpringerLink.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-80618-7_28?error=cookies_not_sup
ported&code=1bf16115-6d1e-4274-b970-d1f067feeb60