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"Kassensturz" reveals a PFAS in impregnation sprays

20.2.2025

Translation: machine translated

Kassensturz" tested waterproofing sprays and all of them performed more or less well. Even if not all the products were convincing, none of them completely failed. Not even the only waterproofing spray tested contained PFAS.

PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) have been the talk of the town for some time now - in the truest sense of the word - and will probably remain so for a long time to come. Because they are hardly or only with difficulty degradable, they are also called eternal chemicals. If PFAS are released into the environment, they pose a potential risk to our health. This is also recognised by the federal government, which is working on containment and education in connection with PFAS. For example with this video:

The problem: Due to their water, grease and dirt-repellent properties, PFAS are still contained in many everyday products, be it in the non-stick coating of pans, in baking paper, in cosmetics or even in waterproofing sprays. Even if this is not or not yet banned in many cases, it is pretty much a thing of the past given the current state of knowledge. At the very least.

PFASt completely without

It is therefore all the more pleasing that almost all impregnation sprays tested by "Kassensturz" are PFAS-free. Only the product from Martec is out of line, even though the substance found in it is not banned by law.

Martec Waterproofing Spray (1 x, 400 ml)

Shoe care

Quantity discount

CHF10.20 per piece for 2 units CHF25.50/1l

Martec Waterproofing Spray

1 x, 400 ml

Apart from this outlier, the test result can be seen as positive. "This shows that the industry has done its homework and that it is possible to achieve appealing impregnation results without PFAS," says David Saladin from the Zurich-based "Testex" Ecology Lab, which tested the sprays.

This doesn't change the fact that no waterproofing spray is healthy, whether it contains PFAS or not. That's why you should only ever use them outside in the fresh air and avoid breathing in the vapours if possible.

Impregnated fresh on top

Of course, the waterproofing sprays have not only been tested for PFAS, but also for how well they fulfil their purpose, specifically how well they protect against moisture. Toko's "Eco Textile Proof" does the best job. With a Swiss school grade of 5.1, it is the only product tested that is "good". "Kassensturz" bought the test winner from specialist mountain sports and outdoor retailers. But you can also get it from us.

Cleaning products

CHF29.– CHF58.–/1l

Toko Eco Textile Proof

The remaining seven sprays are all "sufficient". We have two of them in our range, the "TX-Direct-Spray-On" from Nikwax (score 4.7) ...

Nikwax TX. Direct Spray-On (Liquid detergent)

Laundry detergent + Fabric care

CHF22.70 CHF60.06/1kg

Nikwax TX. Direct Spray-On

Liquid detergent

.. and the aforementioned impregnator from Martec (grade 4.5), which received half a grade deduction due to the PFAS findings.

Martec should be doubly annoyed. Because without the deduction, its waterproofing spray would have scored just behind the test winner with a "good" rating. What's more, the impregnator is best precisely where all other sprays in the test fail: in dirt/oil repellency. While the test winner, for example, only received a 2.5 as a sub-rating, the product came up trumps with a 4.5. Although this is only "sufficient", it is still not close to "poor".

You can view and read the complete waterproofing spray test by "Kassensturz" and the detailed results here.

Header image: SRF / Kassensturz

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Patrick Vogt

Editor

Patrick.Vogt@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.

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