Grandin Road · Waterproof Outdoor Cushions
Covers&All Square Outdoor Cushion Slipcover
Skip or request material safety data from Grandin Road before buying.
Outdoor cushion covers typically receive water-repellent coating or stain-resistant finishes that commonly contain PFAS. Grandin Road discloses no PFAS information. Request specifics on treatment chemistry before purchase.
The safe swap
Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens 19 inch x 18 inch Rectangle Outdoor Seat Pad Cushion, 1-Piece, Medallion
75/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester outdoor cushion cover with water and stain resistant treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
furniture is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is polyester fabric with an applied water and stain resistant treatment. Polyester itself is a stable synthetic polymer with low leaching risk under normal use. However, the 'water and stain resistant' finish is the critical unknown: such coatings are historically either PFAS-based (fluorochemicals) or increasingly non-PFAS polymeric alternatives. Grandin Road does not publicly specify which chemistry they use, making the true hazard profile opaque. The cover will shed microfibers when abraded or washed, but this is a use-phase concern rather than a chemical toxicity issue.
The brand's record and disclosure
Grandin Road (owned by Cornerstone Brands) has not published a PFAS reduction commitment or material transparency policy visible in mainstream sustainability databases. The brand does not routinely disclose chemical composition of textile treatments on product pages or safety documentation. No formal recalls or chemical safety controversies linked to this specific product line have been reported. The silence on treatment chemistry is the primary red flag; absence of disclosure is not the same as absence of PFAS, but it prevents informed assessment.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor cushion covers typically use polyester with water-resistant finishes. Many competitors (e.g., Sunbrella) now specify PFOA/PFOS-free treatments or publish safety data; others remain silent like Grandin Road. This product sits in the mid-transparency tier: established brand with no known violations, but no proactive disclosure. Premium alternatives with certified non-PFAS treatments cost 20-40% more but reduce chemical uncertainty.
If you buy it
Before purchase, email Grandin Road requesting the material safety data sheet or confirmation that the water-resistant treatment is PFAS-free. If bought, hand-wash in cool water rather than machine-washing to minimize microfiber shedding and coating degradation. Store indoors during winter to extend life and reduce UV-catalyzed polymer breakdown. Replace every 3-5 years or when the coating visibly degrades (water no longer beads). Keep away from high heat sources and chlorine-based cleaners.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
PFAS in water-repellent finish
Fluorochemical water-repellent coatings on outdoor textiles historically relied on PFOA/PFOS. Grandin Road does not disclose treatment chemistry, so PFAS presence cannot be ruled out. Contact with skin or ingestion via hand-to-mouth transfer is a low but non-zero route.
Microfiber shedding
Polyester textiles are documented sources of microplastic fibers during washing and normal wear. These fibers accumulate in waterways and potentially in human tissues; relevance to direct health from outdoor cushion use is indirect but established as environmental hazard.
Coating degradation and UV exposure
Outdoor exposure to sunlight and weathering will degrade the water-resistant coating over 2-4 years, potentially fragmenting into particles. Degradation products (if chemical-based) composition is unknown without material safety data.
Formaldehyde in polyester finishes
Some polyester textiles use formaldehyde-releasing resins for wrinkle resistance or dye fixation. Outdoor cushion covers typically do not require wrinkle finish, so formaldehyde risk is low but not documented as absent by the brand.
Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments
No specific data on dye chemistry for this product. Polyester outdoor fabrics typically use stable, regulated dyes, but independent testing of this exact SKU is unavailable. Risk is standard for the category, not elevated.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Outdoor Cushions
Better Homes & Gardens
19 inch x 18 inch Rectangle Outdoor Seat Pad Cushion, 1-Piece, Medallion
polyester fabric fill, cotton cover
Lower concern. No PFAS-prone treatments reported for cushion.
⚠Risky category by default
West Elm
Cut Garden Flowers Pillow Cover
100% cotton canvas
Lower concern. Plain cotton pillow cover unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
West Elm
Outdoor Knotted Border Pillow
outdoor pillow, likely synthetic fibers or polyester blend
Outdoor pillow with no disclosed PFAS or water-repellent coating treatment info.
⚠Risky category by default
More waterproof outdoor cushions 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.