Restoration Hardware · Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Sunbrella Outdoor Club Ottoman Cushion Covers
Sunbrella uses Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating; PFAS exposure unclear without testing
Sunbrella cushion covers feature water and stain-resistant acrylic fabric. Brand does not disclose PFAS content or water-repellent coating chemistry; independent testing unavailable.
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 acrylic fabric 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
Sunbrella cushion covers are woven from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fiber, a synthetic polymer chosen for UV and moisture resistance. The fabric receives a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, which Sunbrella has historically applied using Teflon-family coating chemistry (the source of PFAS concern). Solution-dyed acrylic itself does not leach heavy metals or off-gas formaldehyde under normal outdoor conditions, making it chemically cleaner than many polyester or cotton alternatives.
The brand's record and disclosure
Restoration Hardware does not publicly disclose the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used in Sunbrella products or provide independent testing for PFAS. Sunbrella (owned by Glen Raven) has not committed to phasing out Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating despite growing industry pressure. No recalls or established contamination events are on record for Sunbrella cushion covers. The brand's silence on PFAS formulation is a transparency gap that complicates informed purchasing.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella acrylic outperforms most polyester outdoor textiles in durability and chemical cleanliness, but lags behind PFAS-free alternatives like organic cotton with plant-based water repellents or newer non-fluorinated water-repellent coating systems. Solution-dyed acrylic avoids reactive dyes and formaldehyde finishes common in cheaper outdoor cushions. However, competitors like Crypton or some Kravet lines now offer fluorine-free water-repellent coating options, making Sunbrella's continued Teflon-family coating use a dated choice.
If you buy it
Store covers indoors when not in use to reduce UV breakdown and off-gassing from sun exposure. Wash annually with mild soap and water; high heat drying is unnecessary and may degrade the water-repellent coating layer. Inspect covers every 2-3 years for pilling, seam separation, or water-beading loss; replace if water no longer beads on the surface, signaling water-repellent coating failure and potential fiber degradation. Do not bleach or use high-pressure washers, which accelerate 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.”
Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating treatment (PFAS precursor)
Sunbrella historically uses Teflon-family coating-based water repellent, a known source of PFAS compounds. No independent testing data are publicly available for this specific product. Leaching risk is low during normal use but increases with abrasion, washing, or UV degradation over years.
Acrylic fiber shedding (microfiber)
Solution-dyed acrylic can shed microfibers during washing or wear, particularly if the weave is damaged. This is a general concern with all synthetic outdoor textiles; the magnitude is reduced by Sunbrella's tight weave and durability.
Formaldehyde in dyes or finishes
Solution-dyed acrylic is manufactured with the color integrated into the fiber before weaving, avoiding reactive dye processes that require formaldehyde. No evidence of formaldehyde-releasing finishes in standard Sunbrella production.
Off-gassing from acrylic polymer
Acrylic fiber itself does not off-gas volatile organic compounds under normal outdoor or indoor storage conditions, unlike polyurethane foams or PVC.
Heavy metals in colorants
Solution-dyed acrylic avoids azo dyes and cadmium-based pigments; the dye is chemically bound within the fiber. No recalls or testing evidence suggests heavy metal contamination in Sunbrella products.
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 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.