Waterproofing Wax for Leather vs X-out Ii: which is safer?
Zep X-out Ii edges it on pure PFAS risk, but Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather wins overall once other hazards are counted.
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
Zep
X-out Ii
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyAcute skin and eye irritation
PossibleInhalation hazard from surfactant aerosolization
PossibleRespiratory sensitization from proprietary surfactants
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 Zep.
- We flag Acute skin and eye irritation, Inhalation hazard from surfactant aerosolization, Respiratory sensitization from proprietary surfactants and Contamination hazard if used on food-contact surfaces on the Zep and not on the Nikwax.
- The Nikwax is wax-based waterproofing where the Zep is Cleaning solution, proprietary surfactants, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- We are less certain about the Zep grade, at 25% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
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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