need help

need help

Is there a way to tell the difference between a "real" chamois and a man-made one, just by look or feel, if the box is long gone?

Also, it is OK to run either a real one or a man made one through a washing machine and / or electric clothes dryer?

Thanks for any help.

Yes. "Man-made" chamois usually have unform thickness as well as size and shape. Natural ones have a suede like surface and will not work unless they've been moistened before use. Man-made chamois (like the Absorber) also need to be moistened, but their varying finishes/textures (the Absorber has a smooth, rubbery touch) are usually smoother than natural chamois. Also natural chamois will break down (after all it's an animal hide) where as man-made will not abrade as easily.

To answer your second question, man-made chamois are fairly durable and can usually survive a trip in the washer (don't dry though and no softner please!). I'm not too sure about natural ones...

Excellent answer. Mine's a fake then, both sides look and feel the same, kind of like fake leather, no suede.

Probably a good thing, I went ahead and tossed it in the washer already!

Will skip the dryer though.

Thanks!