Murphy's 22 oz Oil Soap Spray vs Waterproofing Wax for Leather: which is safer?

Murphy's 22 oz Oil Soap Spray is the clear pick. Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Murphy's 22 oz Oil Soap Spray

Murphy Oil Soap

Murphy's 22 oz Oil Soap Spray

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Good 73/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

mineral oil and soap surfactants in aqueous spray

Confidence

78%

PossibleMineral oil residue buildup on floors

PossibleEye and skin irritation from spray

PossibleInhalation of mineral oil mist

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather

Nikwax

Waterproofing Wax for Leather

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 51/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

wax-based waterproofing

Confidence

78%

PossibleRespiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application

ReportedPFAS in water repellency treatment

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Mineral oil residue buildup on floors, Eye and skin irritation from spray and Inhalation of mineral oil mist on the Murphy Oil Soap 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 Murphy Oil Soap.
  • The Murphy Oil Soap is mineral oil and soap surfactants in aqueous spray 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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