Granger's · Fabric Stain Guard Sprays
Granger's Footwear Repel Plus
Waterproof footwear repellent; brand silent on PFAS formula.
Granger's applies waterproofing to boots and shoes without public disclosure of PFAS. This mirrors typical practices in legacy waterproofing products where PFAS is common.
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Material
Waterproof treatment on footwear
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Granger's Footwear Repel Plus is made of, ingredients and materials
Granger's Footwear Repel Plus is a liquid waterproofing treatment applied to fabric and leather uppers, not the footwear itself. Waterproof treatments traditionally rely on fluorochemical durable water repellents (DWRs) to create a water-shedding barrier. The brand has not publicly disclosed whether this product uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free chemistry, which is the primary concern for this category. Application involves saturation of the shoe exterior, so any volatile or leachable components may off-gas during or after treatment.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Waterproof treatments in this product class commonly use PFAS-based DWRs; Granger's silence on composition and low PFAS grade (20/100) suggest use is probable but unconfirmed. PFAS can accumulate in the body and environment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) / inhalation during application
Spray-applied treatments typically contain solvents that off-gas during drying. No specific VOC profile published by brand. Indoor application without ventilation could concentrate exposure.
Coating degradation and re-application frequency
If the waterproof layer degrades or chips, micro-scale release of coating particles is possible with wear. Frequent reapplication increases cumulative exposure to any volatile or persistent components in the formula.
Skin or eye contact during application
Spray application carries risk of mist or splash contact. Label safety warnings are typical, but specific irritancy data for Repel Plus are not publicly available. Wear gloves and eye protection during use as a precaution.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes or other reactive chemicals in treated substrate
This product is a treatment applied to existing footwear rather than a dyed fabric itself. Hazard depends on the shoe's original manufacture, not this treatment. No azo dye or formaldehyde issues specific to Repel Plus are documented.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Granger's is a UK-based footwear care brand owned by SC Johnson. The company has not made a public commitment to PFAS-free formulations or disclosed detailed ingredient lists for Repel Plus. No major safety recalls or confirmed contamination incidents are on record for this specific product. However, the absence of transparency on PFAS status is notable given that major competitors (Nikwax, Crep Protect) have begun offering PFAS-free alternatives and communicating that shift.
How it compares in its category
Most waterproof footwear treatments in this price range still use PFAS-based DWRs, so Repel Plus is not atypical in that respect. However, it lags behind emerging market leaders in transparency. Comparable products like Nikwax TX.Direct offer PFAS-free certification; Granger's has made no such claim. For budget-conscious users, Repel Plus is competitively priced, but the lack of ingredient disclosure makes it harder to assess relative safety against alternatives.
If you buy it
Apply outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces to minimize inhalation of spray or fumes. Follow label drying time before wearing treated shoes. Avoid applying near skin or eyes. If you use this product regularly or have PFAS exposure concerns, contact Granger's directly to request PFAS status and consider switching to a brand with explicit PFAS-free certification. Reapply as directed on the label, typically annually or after heavy washing.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Granger's has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Fabric Stain Guard Sprays
Nikwax
Waterproofing Wax for Leather
- wax-based waterproofing
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Respiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Angelus
Mink Oil Paste Leather Waterproofer and Contitioner 3 oz
- mink oil paste, natural oil-based conditioner
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microbial growth (natural oil rancidity)
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Timberland
Waximum Waxed Leather Protector
- Wax-based leather protector
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More fabric stain guard sprays grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.