Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap vs Waterproofing Wax for Leather: which is safer?
Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap is the clear pick. Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Fels-Naptha
Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and skin sensitization
PossibleSodium silicate alkalinity
PossibleMicrobial growth on bar storage
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 Fragrance allergens and skin sensitization, Sodium silicate alkalinity and Microbial growth on bar storage on the Fels-Naptha 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 Fels-Naptha.
- The Fels-Naptha is Soap base (tallow, coconut oil, other saponified fats), hexachlorophene preservative (historical) 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: 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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