Shoe cleaning

In the 50s and, to a lesser extent, the 60s, having clean shoes was seen as being hugely important. I guess virtually everyone would clean their shoes before leaving the house. By cleaning, I mean brushing off loose dirt, applying polish (from a tin using a cloth, not spraying it on) all over the top of the shoe (or uppers) and, in the case a man's shoe, the instep too, then vigorously brushing with a polishing brush before finishing off with a duster. One would generally remove the laces before polishing and always remember to clean the 'tongue' too. One would always put an oild newspaper on the floor so that dirst and polish could be collected. The expression 'being on your uppers' comes from shoes being so worn that the sole would be worn away so that you were, literally, on your uppers.