Mineral Oil

Mineral oil and furniture polish are often used as a polishing agent for the shafts of patrol boots that are constructed of a manmade material (stock patrol boots made by Dehner, for example, have shafts made of Dehcord, which is effectively polyurethane). The solvents in shoe polish can degrade the shaft material, causing significant premature wear to the shafts. Instead of shoe polish, furniture polish is recommended for polishing the madmade materials. Most commercial furniture polishes contain silicone, which can interfere with other products used on boots, so it is also possible to use mineral oil (the active ingredient in furniture polish) in the same way.