Polishing shoes during the Nine Days

Hi,

We addressed this in a post back here, but this is an expanded version.

We do not launder clothing during the Nine Days leading up to Tisha b'Av. However, it is not clear that polishing shoes qualifies as an act of laundering; the same question is raised regarding the prohibition against laundering clothing on chol hamoed, and diverse opinions are expressed.

Many halachic authorities permit blackening and shining shoes during the Nine Days, but prohibit use of shoe polish. However, authorities are more lenient regarding polishing shoes for use on Shabbat, within the view that one may wear beautiful Shabbat clothing on the Shabbat before Tisha b'Av.

(Melamed l'Hoil Orach Chaim 113; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80; Halichot Emet 14:12)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai