Horse hair dauber cleaning

[justjcez]

I've been using daubers to apply polish, paste and cream (I've separated by color and material). Over time, the brushes seem to start to stiffen up. I never thought much of it, until today when I was applying cream with a dauber and actually scratched the shoe I was working on.

Is there a way to keep my daubers in original (soft) condition? Should I be cleaning these? (If so, how?) I suspect it could get a little pricey to have to change these out too frequent if not.
- J

[little Big feather]

I just use an old T-shirt or diaper wrapped around three finger tips to apply the polish. After a few uses tear off another piece.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

all i have ever done since my early days of shining shoes is to take the dauber and rub it back and forth several times against the big shoe brush. The friction and the heat removes most of the remainder of the polish. Other than that, I don't do anything else....

[scottish steve]

I feel I must point out that 'dauber' is Glaswegian slang for the male procreative organ.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I feel I must point out that 'dauber' is Glaswegian slang for the male procreative organ.

yes i know and it still feels god when i rub it against the big brush......LMAO.....I'm going to get spanked by my fellow mods on this one....sshhhh.....keep it a secret...

[justjcez]

I've tried the rubbing brushes together and this work ok (same as rubbing it against some denim). For the paste, the bristles seem to get too stiff to do this. I asked a local shoe salesman and he mentioned to simply rise off the brush after using it and letting it dry. I'll report back on the progress. Thanks for the advice!

[Bobtrumpet]

Every now and then, I use either bar soap or Dawn to clean the excess polish out of the dauber. After it's completely rinsed, rub the dauber back and forth on a towel to remove excess water, then allow to air dry. I've been cleaning polish daubers for 30 or so years this way and it's served me well..

[GG1]

I just rinse, shake and air dry, rubbing it while rinsing.
Kind of like a shave brush but they rinse easier so you don't have to rub.