Waterproofing Wax for Leather vs Upholstery Cleaner Multi-Fabric: which is safer?
Resolve Upholstery Cleaner Multi-Fabric is the clear pick. Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
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
Our pick
Resolve
Upholstery Cleaner Multi-Fabric
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleSurfactant dermal or eye irritation
PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) during application
PossibleFragrance sensitization or respiratory irritation
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Respiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application and PFAS in water repellency treatment on the Nikwax and not on the Resolve.
- We flag Surfactant dermal or eye irritation, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during application, Fragrance sensitization or respiratory irritation and Microorganism growth if fabric remains damp on the Resolve and not on the Nikwax.
- The Nikwax is wax-based waterproofing where the Resolve is Aqueous surfactant blend, likely anionic and nonionic detergents, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- We are less certain about the Resolve grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
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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