Restoration Hardware · Outdoor Furniture Cushions
RST Brands Outdoor Sunbrella Sofa Cushion Cover
water-repellent coating-treated outdoor textile; PFAS content unknown, no disclosure.
Sunbrella cushion covers use durable acrylic with water-resistant finish, typical of outdoor furniture. Restoration Hardware does not disclose PFAS use or testing; water-repellent coating treatments historically may contain PFAS variants.
The safe swap
Target
Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic with water-repellent coating 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 cushion cover is solution-dyed acrylic fabric, meaning pigment is integrated into the fiber during manufacture rather than applied afterward. This reduces dye migration and fading. The fabric carries a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, which is standard in outdoor textiles to shed rain and resist staining. water-repellent coating chemistry is the primary uncertainty here: legacy formulations used PFOA and related compounds, but modern treatments vary widely. Sunbrella brand itself does not disclose which water-repellent coating chemistry is used in RST Brands products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Restoration Hardware (RH) has not published third-party testing, chemical disclosures, or sustainability certifications for outdoor textiles in its public record. The brand does not maintain a restricted substances list or PFAS policy publicly accessible to consumers. Sunbrella (Glen Raven) owns the acrylic fiber brand and maintains OEKO-TEX certification on some lines, but RST Brands products sold under the RH label are not confirmed to carry this certification. The silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is the most significant transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor cushion covers range from untreated cotton (zero water-repellent coating, fast water absorption) to solution-dyed acrylics and polyester with water-repellent coating. Sunbrella acrylic is mid-to-premium in durability and UV resistance. However, competitors like Pottery Barn and West Elm have begun publishing PFAS testing or committing to PFAS-free water-repellent coating; Restoration Hardware has not. For this category, explicit water-repellent coating chemistry disclosure is increasingly standard among transparent brands.
If you buy it
Request water-repellent coating chemical disclosure from RH before purchase if PFAS exposure is a concern. Wash covers in cool water before first use to rinse surface finishes. Avoid machine drying on high heat; air dry or low heat only, as acrylic is stable but water-repellent coating coatings may degrade. Replace covers every 3-5 years depending on sun and weather exposure. Do not bleach; use mild soap and water for cleaning to preserve water repellency and avoid accelerating coating breakdown.
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.”
water-repellent coating chemical leachates (non-PFAS formulations)
If water-repellent coating uses fluorine-free replacements (siloxanes, hydrocarbons), leaching into soil or water during outdoor use is minimal but possible in high-moisture conditions. Vendor silence prevents confirmation of formulation safety.
Azo dyes in solution-dyed acrylic
Solution-dyed acrylic typically uses non-azo colorants to avoid bleeding. No recalls or testing deficiencies on record for Sunbrella acrylic in this regard.
Formaldehyde-based resins in coating finishes
water-repellent coating and UV-blocking treatments may contain formaldehyde resins. Outdoor exposure and air circulation mitigate inhalation risk, but off-gassing during initial storage or on hot days is not ruled out without chemical disclosure.
Antimony in polyester or dye carriers
This is acrylic, not polyester, so antimony catalyst residue is unlikely. Acrylic fibers do not require antimony in manufacture.
Microplastic shedding from acrylic fiber
Solution-dyed acrylic sheds microfibers when washed or weathered. Outdoor placement limits direct human skin contact, but laundering and natural degradation over years will release acrylic particles into wastewater.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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 Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Target
Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover
Cotton or cotton-blend slipcover fabric
Low PFAS concern for bare textile slipcover without stated treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Target
ARDEN Elastic Deep Seat Cushion Cover 2-Pack
polyester/cotton blend upholstery fabric
Lower concern. Soft furnishings rarely treated with PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Pottery Barn
Cammeray Dining Chair Cushion Slipcover
cotton/polyester blend upholstery fabric
Likely lower concern; typical furniture fabric without known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More outdoor furniture 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.