Genuine leather and quality faux leather (often called PU or vegan leather) can look nearly identical at a glance, but they're completely different materials underneath, and cleaning one like the other causes real problems. A few simple checks usually settle the question.
Check the Smell
Genuine leather has a distinct, slightly earthy smell that's difficult to replicate. Faux leather typically has a more chemical or plastic-like smell, especially when new. This is often the fastest and most reliable check, particularly on furniture that's a few years old.
Check the Surface Texture
Genuine leather has natural, irregular grain, pores, and slight texture variation, since it comes from actual hide. Faux leather often has a more uniform, repeating pattern, since it's manufactured rather than grown. Looking closely at a section for repeating texture patterns is a strong sign of faux material.
Check How It Feels When Pressed
Genuine leather has a certain give and slight warmth to the touch, and pressing on it typically shows subtle wrinkling around the pressed area. Faux leather tends to feel cooler and more uniformly rigid, without the same natural wrinkling response.
We identify genuine leather versus faux material before recommending any cleaning approach.
See Our Leather Cleaning Process →Check the Edges and Underside
Flipping furniture over or checking a hidden edge often reveals the truth quickly. Genuine leather typically shows a suede-like underside (the flesh side of the hide), while faux leather usually has a fabric backing visible from the underside, since it's manufactured as a layered material rather than a single hide.
Why the Distinction Changes Cleaning
Genuine leather needs conditioning to replace natural oils and prevent cracking, while faux leather doesn't have oils to replace in the first place and can be damaged by leather conditioner formulated for real hide. Using the wrong product on either material risks a result that looks worse than doing nothing at all.