The Latin word lustrāre , which can be translated as “to purify,” came into Spanish as lustrar . This verb (lustrar) refers to giving luster : that is, shine.
Polishing, therefore, is an action that is performed to make something shiny or shiny. With this objective, it is possible to polish different types of surfaces.
A piece of jewelry can be polished, just like a piece of furniture or a car . The characteristics of the process depend on the material, since it is important to avoid damage (scratches, stains, etc.).
To polish a wooden table , for example, you first need to remove the dust with a soft brush or cloth. Then you can apply a specialized product for cleaning wood, taking into account the finish.
Washing the bodywork, meanwhile, is the initial step to polishing a car . Surface dirt should be removed with plenty of water, a sponge and a vehicle cleaner. After drying, you can apply an appropriate polish depending on the type of paint .
Polishing shoes also requires, as action number one, the elimination of dust. It is possible to polish it with bitumen and finally remove the excess with a brush.
The individual who works cleaning and shining footwear is known as a shiner , shoe shiner or shoe shiner . It is common for these people to set up shop on the street or walk along public roads with a box and the necessary products on their backs to offer their service to passers-by.
In general, those who shine shoes are individuals who need to earn money on a daily basis for their subsistence and who lack the studies or resources necessary to get better jobs.
The term "polish" has several synonyms , some of which we quote below: burnish, shine, polish, polish, polish, clean and groom. As we can see, not all of them are very common in everyday speech nor do they have the same meaning in any context.
For example, if we use the verb "clean" to replace "polish" in any case, we will probably alter the meaning of the sentence unless we give the interlocutor more contextual information. It is not the same to say "Yesterday I polished my car" as "Yesterday I cleaned my car"; The second sentence may refer to a deeper or even more general cleaning process, such as dusting the cabin and washing the body with water .
In fact, the process of polishing a car does not only consist of cleaning it, but rather focuses on removing the outer varnish layer that has deteriorated due to use and the passage of time. This inevitably happens to the paint and that is why its appearance worsens.
Due to the weather, dirt and not washing the bodywork correctly, the outer layer of varnish deteriorates little by little until the car loses its original shine. To improve its appearance we must start by washing it. Far from what it may seem, this step is crucial: the results will not be satisfactory if we do not choose a suitable soap or if we do not remove the excess with plenty of water.
Before continuing, it is very important to dry the car completely. To do this we can help ourselves with a soft, clean cloth, making circular movements over the entire surface .
It is important to note that to polish the car we must park it in the shade: if we apply a polishing product in sunlight it is very likely that marks will be generated on the paint. In addition to choosing the product to polish the bodywork, we must decide whether to carry out the process manually or with the help of a machine. In any case, it is recommended to study the procedure well before starting.