Ballard Designs · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Scalloped Outdoor Pillow Cover - Kiwi/White - 20" x 20" - Ballard Designs
Outdoor pillow likely water-repellent coating-treated, PFAS risk unclear.
Scalloped outdoor pillow covers typically get water-repellent coating finishes to resist moisture and stains. Ballard Designs won't disclose PFAS status.
The better-graded swap
Crate and Barrel
Crate & Barrel Surya Yellow Throw Pillow
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 or poly-blend with stain/water resistance treatment
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.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester-blend fabrics may use formaldehyde-based dyes or finishing agents to set colors and improve wrinkle resistance. Ballard Designs does not disclose dye chemistry. Formaldehyde off-gassing from new textiles is typically brief and decreases after initial airing; outdoor pillow covers are less likely to accumulate volatile levels than upholstered furniture.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes and azo dye breakdown metabolites
The kiwi and white colors could involve azo dyes, which are common in polyester textile dyeing. Some azo dyes can break down under UV exposure or sweating to produce aromatic amines; Ballard does not specify whether dyes meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or similar restrictions. Risk is low for decorative outdoor pillows that are not in direct prolonged skin contact.
PFAS
The specific water-repellent coating chemistry is unknown and undisclosed. Historically, outdoor textiles have been treated with PFOA or other legacy PFAS; newer PFAS-free alternatives exist but are not confirmed here. Without manufacturer transparency or testing, the presence of PFAS in the treatment cannot be ruled out, making this the primary non-PFAS hazard concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Polyester fabrics shed microfibers during washing and weathering. Regular hosing or hand rinsing is less likely to trigger shedding than machine washing, but degradation over time will release fibers. Outdoor pillows are not high-shedding compared to apparel, and shedding is typically collected in soil rather than ingested, but the mechanism is present.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Flame retardants
Polyester textile fibers do not require added flame retardants for regulatory compliance in home furnishings unless specifically marketed as fire-resistant. No evidence that Ballard Designs applies antimony-based dyes or additives to outdoor pillow covers; outdoor textiles for non-upholstered use are not subject to strict flammability codes.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This pillow cover is polyester or a polyester-blend fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish to handle outdoor weather. water-repellent coating treatments are the primary concern here, historically many outdoor textiles used PFOA-based fluorochemicals, though some brands have shifted to PFAS-free alternatives without public disclosure. The polyester substrate itself is stable under normal use, but the chemical treatment is the variable.
The brand's record and disclosure
Ballard Designs does not publicly disclose water-repellent coating chemistry or PFAS avoidance for outdoor textiles on their website or product specifications. The brand has no known third-party certifications (e.g., bluesign, GOTS, OEKO-TEX) that would rule out fluorochemicals. This silence is typical of mid-market home furnishings but leaves consumers without assurance about treatment composition.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor pillow covers across the furniture category almost universally use water-repellent coating treatments; Ballard's lack of transparency is standard rather than exceptional for non-premium brands. Premium outdoor textile brands (e.g.Sunbrella, certain REI house items, and similar brands sometimes specify that their water-repellent coating treatment contains no PFAS, but cost significantly more. This product sits in the middle of the category with typical risk profile and typical opacity.
If you buy it
Hand wash or hose rinse only; avoid machine washing, which can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially mobilize treatment chemicals. Do not dry-clean. Inspect the cover annually for UV damage, mold growth, or coating degradation, especially in high-humidity climates; replace if the surface becomes chalky or flaking. Store indoors during off-season to extend life and reduce weathering.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Ballard Designs has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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PFAS
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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from coating or dyes
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⚠Starting grade for this product type
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Formaldehyde / VOCs
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Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
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⚠Starting grade for this product type
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Westport Slim Outdoor 68in Sofa Cushion
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Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding and degradation
Limited concern
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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.