Porous leather

Porous leather - Open pored leather

In the cleaning and care of leather, but also in the sensitivity of leathers, there is always a distinction between porous and leather finished with a protective layer. Porous leather is sensitive leather. Liquids can penetrate and cause permanent stains.

The test is simple. Rub a drop of water with your finger in an unseen area on the leather. If the drop penetrates into the leather, it is porous. In most cases, this area becomes darker. If the drop runs of, it is not porous.

It is similar in wood. Unpainted wood is open-pored and liquids are drawn in and lacquered wooden surfaces are protected against the ingress of liquids through the varnish.

The firest picture shows a drop of water on a pigmented cow hide. The drop does not enter. The other pictures show a drop of water entering porous smooth leather.

Nubuck - Suede

Nubuck and suede leather have a more or less fine haired sanded surface and behave comparable with textiles. Such surfaces are always porous.

Nubuck leather has a finer pile and suede leather has a coarser pile.

Porous smooth leather

The open-pored leathers include the porous smooth leather as well as all velvet-like leathers like nubuck and suede. The most porous smooth leather is the aniline leather. On the other hand, leather coated with a film (including patent leather) is neither open-pored nor respiratory.

Microscopic image of the surface of an aniline leather. The open pores of the skin, which are not protected by a colour layer, are clearly visible.

Strongly pigmented leather.

Video about testing the pourosity of smooth leather.

Partially porous smooth leather

There are leather types such as semi-aniline leather or oiled, waxed and greased leather, where the pourosity differs. Only the cautious rub test (to avoid stains) in an unseen area helps to check whether the leather is porous or not. If moisture penetrates, caution is advised in daily handling as well as during cleaning and care.