Yep ... good ole black paste wax, a cotton ball, and water ..... I used to shine my shoes for hours, and got them looking like patent leather. On one inspection, the Capt even said "Too bad you didn't wear leather shoes" .... I said "Well Sir, these ARE leather." LMAO
(wearing patent leather to an inspection is poor form)
My husband was in the Navy. He was a nuclear chemist...and when he was in boot camp they had them use maxi pads. He still swears by them lol
Black shoe polish, and old white sock, and good ol'-fashioned saliva 
That status was why I was gona for 15 minutes. What a waste! That was a 2-chapter visit too!
But it gives me lots of warm vapor on my 18490 REO!
Shoot me a PM - maybe we can work something out