Better Homes & Gardens · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Better Homes & Gardens Outdoor Patio Dining Seat Cushion
High uncertainty. Outdoor cushions often use PFAS-based water-repellent coating.
Outdoor patio cushions typically get water and stain repellent finishes. Better Homes & Gardens won't say if theirs contain PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports Navy Blue W/fish Replacement Director's Seat Cotton
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 fabric with water/stain 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.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating composition uncertainty
Outdoor cushions commonly use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes to achieve durable water and stain repellency. Better Homes & Gardens does not disclose whether this product uses PFAS, fluorocarbon-free alternatives, or wax-based treatments. Degradation over years may alter coating stability.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production often uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst. Antimony is not typically released into contact with skin during normal cushion use, but high-temperature washing or degradation could theoretically increase migration. No test data on this specific product is publicly available.
Flame retardants
Cushion padding and internal structure may contain brominated or phosphorus-based flame retardants common in furniture. Better Homes & Gardens does not disclose flame retardant chemistry. These compounds are not skin-contact hazards in intact cushions but can off-gas or release if filling is damaged or overheated.
Source, EPA ↗Microfiber shedding and coating particle release
Polyester fabrics can shed microfibers, especially with wear and weathering. water-repellent coating coatings may flake or fragment as they degrade under UV and moisture stress over months or years, potentially releasing coating particles into air or soil.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public reports of formaldehyde resin finishes on this specific product line. Polyester cushions typically use lower-formaldehyde dye chemistry than cotton textiles, and outdoor exposure would rapidly off-gas any residual formaldehyde. Not flagged as a primary concern for this category.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Better Homes & Gardens outdoor cushions are polyester fabric with a durable water and stain repellent (water-repellent coating) finish. Polyester itself is stable, but the water-repellent coating is the concern, these finishes often rely on PFAS-based chemistry to achieve water beading and stain resistance in outdoor environments. The fabric may also contain antimony as a polyester production catalyst and could have been treated with flame retardants common in furniture padding. None of these chemicals typically migrate into skin during normal contact, but degradation over years of UV and weathering can alter coating integrity.
The brand's record and disclosure
Better Homes & Gardens (Walmart's house brand) does not publicly disclose water-repellent coating treatment chemistry, PFAS testing, or flame retardant use for this product line. No independent certifications (Oeko-Tex, GOTS, or GREENGUARD) are listed for these cushions. The brand has no established record of proactive chemical transparency compared to premium outdoor furniture makers. Walmart's general sustainability commitments are broad and do not specifically address PFAS in garden textiles.
How it compares in its category
Most mass-market outdoor cushions use similar polyester-plus-water-repellent coating construction; this is standard practice. Premium alternatives (Sunbrella, Ballard Designs) often disclose PFAS-free water repellency or use wax-based treatments, though at higher cost. Budget outdoor cushions rarely distinguish themselves on chemical transparency. This product sits at the typical commercial baseline, functional and durable, but without assurance that water-repellent coating coatings lack PFAS compounds or that flame retardants are absent.
If you buy it
Wash new cushions before first use to reduce loose surface finishes. Store indoors during heavy rain or winter to minimize UV and moisture degradation of the water-repellent coating, which may release coating particles over time. Replace cushions every 3-5 years if heavily used outdoors, as UV breakdown can compromise both water resistance and coating integrity. Do not machine wash in hot water or bleach, as these can strip or disrupt the repellent finish and increase leaching risk. Children should not mouth or chew cushion fabric.
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
- Better Homes & Gardens 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.