Stain Devils #7 Motor Oil, Tar & Lubricant vs Waterproofing Wax for Leather: which is safer?
Carbona Stain Devils #7 Motor Oil, Tar & Lubricant edges it on pure PFAS risk, but Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather wins overall once other hazards are counted.
Carbona
Stain Devils #7 Motor Oil, Tar & Lubricant
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyVolatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation
PossibleSkin sensitization and irritation
ReportedEye contact hazard
Our pick
Nikwax
Waterproofing Wax for Leather
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleRespiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application
ReportedPFAS in water repellency treatment
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation, Skin sensitization and irritation, Eye contact hazard and Fabric damage or color bleeding on the Carbona and not on the Nikwax.
- We flag Respiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application and PFAS in water repellency treatment on the Nikwax and not on the Carbona.
- The Carbona is Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent blend where the Nikwax is wax-based waterproofing, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
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