Arhaus · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Arhaus Montara Outdoor Pillow
Outdoor pillow likely has water-repellent coating; brand silent on PFAS.
Arhaus stays silent on whether this pillow contains PFAS. Outdoor textiles normally get water-repellent treatments that may include PFAS, but specifics are unknown.
The better-graded swap
Grandin Road
19" X 17-1/2" Replacement Seat Cushion - Knife-Edge, Knife-Edge/Pesto - Grandin Road
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester with water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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
Water-repellent finish on outdoor textiles is manufactured with fluorinated compounds in nearly all cases. Arhaus has not disclosed alternatives. Risk is environmental persistence and bioaccumulation; skin contact during normal use is not an established acute hazard, but coating degradation over years may increase particle and chemical shed.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester dyes and finishing processes may involve formaldehyde resins as cross-linkers, particularly in color-fast outdoor textiles. Off-gassing is typically minimal in outdoor use (well-ventilated). No specific testing on Arhaus pillows available. Risk is low but not ruled out.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Water-repellent coating coatings degrade with sun exposure, washing, and friction. As coating breaks down, polyester microfibers and residual coating chemicals may shed. No field data on Montara pillow durability, but this is inherent to the outdoor textile design approach.
What’s reassuring
Flame retardants
Polyester outdoor pillows are not routinely treated with additive flame retardants beyond those in the base fiber. No recalls or testing data on record for Arhaus Montara pillows. This hazard is not a primary concern for this product category.
Source, EPA ↗Heavy metals
Polyester textiles may use azo dyes, which are restricted in EU but permitted in the US. Arhaus does not disclose dye chemistry. Risk is low for outdoor pillows (skin contact brief, pigments fixed to fiber). No recalls on record.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Arhaus Montara outdoor pillows are polyester with a water-repellent (water-repellent coating) finish. Polyester fiber itself is chemically stable and does not leach significant compounds during normal use. The water-repellent coating is the material of concern, it repels water and stains but is almost certainly applied using fluorinated compounds (PFAS-class chemicals), which are industry standard for outdoor textiles and carry documented persistence and bioaccumulation concerns.
The brand's record and disclosure
Arhaus is a design-focused furniture retailer without public commitments to PFAS-free certifications or transparency disclosures about water-repellent coating chemistry in outdoor textiles. No major recalls or safety violations on record for this product line. The brand's silence on chemical content is typical for mid-market home goods but does not indicate active avoidance of problematic chemicals.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor pillows across most brands (Sunbrella, mainstream retailers) use water-repellent coating-coated polyester or acrylic, all of which likely contain PFAS. Arhaus does not stand out as worse or better. Some premium alternatives use untreated natural fibers or PFC-free water repellents, but at higher cost and with trade-offs in durability. This product is middle-of-the-road for the outdoor textile category.
If you buy it
Keep pillows out of direct flame and avoid machine washing in hot water, which may degrade the water-repellent coating and increase any shedding of coating particles. Inspect seams and fabric surface annually for wear; replace if stuffing becomes exposed. Store indoors during winter in cold climates to extend coating life. Do not apply additional chemical water treatments, which may contain additional PFAS.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Arhaus has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Acadia Outdoor 61in Sofa Cushion
Polyester cushion cover; likely acrylic or polyester-blend upholstery
PFAS
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from coating or dyes
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
High concern
Mildew and bacterial growth if moisture trapped
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern likely, but West Elm discloses nothing.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
West Elm
Acadia Lounge Chair Cushion
Polyester upholstery cushion cover
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Limited concern
Lower concern cushion, but West Elm provides no PFAS transparency.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
West Elm
Westport Slim Outdoor 68in Sofa Cushion
Polyester/cotton blend cushion cover, no specified water or stain treatment
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding and degradation
Limited concern
Mold and bacterial growth if waterlogged
High concern
Lower PFAS concern. Standard outdoor cushion with no reported treatments flagging risk.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
More outdoor furniture cushion protectants 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.