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