Type of test⇒ Type of Leather material ⇓ | Underside test: flip over the material | Water test Use a fewdrops of distilled water in a hidden spot | Scratch test Mild pressure with your fingernail | Feel test |
Finished leather | Suede-like fuzzy knap | Water will bead up and roll off it. | Will not scratch with mild pressure | Silky soft to semi-stiff feel |
Bicast leather or Vinyl
| Vinyl will have a fabic backing, bicast a suede-like fuzzy knap | Water will bead up an roll off of both of these | Vinyl will not scratch, bicast leather will lighten when scratched | Same silky to semi-stiff feel but sometimes more plastic feel |
Semi/ full aniline leather | Suede-like fuzzy knap | Water drops will darken the leather almost immediately | Will lighten with mild pressure | Butter-soft,drag feel |
Nubuck/Suede | Suede-like fuzzy knap | Water will bead up for a few seconds then penetrate the leather | Does notscratch but nubuck will change color | Soft and fuzzy feel |
Oil/Wax Pull-Up leather | Suede-like fuzzy knap | Water will bead up for a few seconds then penetrate the leather | Will easily change color with a nail scratch, heat or by being squeezed | Oily/ waxy to the touch |
Before you can care for your leather correctly, you must know what type of leather you own. Follow the tests in this table to identify your leather. Then all of the other information on cleaning and repairing your leather will make more sense.