Restoration Hardware · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Restoration Hardware Outdoor Chair Sunbrella Seat Cushion Lot of 2
Sunbrella water-repellent coating finish raises PFAS concern. Skip unless you confirm PFAS status directly.
Sunbrella is a performance outdoor fabric commonly treated with water- and stain-resistant coatings historically PFAS-based. Restoration Hardware provides no public statement on PFAS content.
The better-graded swap
Blazing Needles
74 in by 19 in Outdoor Solid Polyester Tufted Chaise Lounge Cushion
85/100 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
Sunbrella acrylic fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Restoration Hardware Seat Cushion Lot is made of, ingredients and materials
These cushions use Sunbrella acrylic fabric, a solution-dyed synthetic material that resists fading and moisture. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric is the concern, most commercial water-repellent coating finishes historically relied on per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) to repel water and stains, though some water-repellent coating formulations now use non-fluorinated alternatives. Without explicit disclosure from Restoration Hardware about which Sunbrella generation or treatment this cushion uses, the PFAS risk remains unresolved. The acrylic fiber itself is stable outdoors and unlikely to shed microplastics under normal use.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Sunbrella acrylic fabric typically includes a water-repellent coating treatment; older formulations relied on PFAS compounds. Restoration Hardware provides no material specification, so the actual PFAS status of this lot is unknown. Contact the seller to confirm whether the fabric is Sunbrella's newer PFAS-free variant or an earlier treated version.
Source, ATSDR ↗Degradation and fiber shedding over UV exposure
While Sunbrella is UV-resistant, all acrylic eventually degrades outdoors. This can cause pilling and minor fiber loss, though not the microplastic risk of thermoplastic synthetics. Degradation rate depends on climate intensity and maintenance; annual cleaning and cover storage minimize this.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in acrylic solution dyeing
Sunbrella fabric is solution-dyed, meaning dye is added to the polymer before extrusion, making azo dyes less of a leaching concern than in piece-dyed textiles. No public recalls or contamination reports exist for Sunbrella acrylic fabric on azo dye grounds.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Acrylic fiber and solution-dyed fabric do not typically require formaldehyde-based resins for finishing. No standard outdoor cushion formulations in this category include formaldehyde treatments; Sunbrella's published material composition does not list such additives.
Source, ATSDR ↗Off-gassing or odor from new cushion
Sunbrella fabric and acrylic do not commonly off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in measurable amounts. If a new cushion smells strongly of chemicals, it may indicate improper storage or a non-standard treatment; air it in sunlight for 24-48 hours before use.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Restoration Hardware does not publish material safety data sheets or chemical disclosure for outdoor textiles on their website or in product documentation. The brand has not signed third-party textile safety certifications like OEKO-TEX or Greenguard and has no publicly documented commitment to PFAS elimination in sourcing. This silence is typical for luxury home goods retailers but leaves buyers without verification of treatment chemicals. Contact RH directly to ask whether these cushions are made with PFAS-free Sunbrella fabric (available since roughly 2020 on select lines) or older treated stock.
How it compares in its category
Sunbrella fabric is one of the most established and thoroughly tested outdoor cushion materials on the market, with a strong track record for colorfastness and durability in UV and moisture exposure. Many competitors (brands like Frontgate or outdoor specialty retailers) now explicitly market PFAS-free cushion options, which RH does not. Premium outdoor cushions from certified manufacturers often come with transparency about water-repellent coating chemistry; Restoration Hardware's lack of disclosure is a gap, not a reflection of product inferiority. Cost-wise, RH cushions are mid-to-high range, so you are paying for brand and aesthetics, not chemical transparency.
If you buy it
Clean cushions annually with mild soap and water; avoid high-pressure washing, which can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and any water-repellent coating. Store indoors or under cover during winter to extend fabric life and reduce exposure to UV breakdown. Do not use solvents or bleach, as these can strip the finish and potentially release residual chemicals. If water-repellent coating performance declines visibly (water no longer beads up), consider replacing the cushion rather than retreating it yourself, since commercial PFAS-free water-repellent coating sprays are still emerging and inconsistently labeled.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 52% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Restoration Hardware has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Restoration Hardware Outdoor Chair Sunbrella Seat Cushion Lot of 2?
Blazing Needles
74 in by 19 in Outdoor Solid Polyester Tufted Chaise Lounge Cushion
- Polyester fill with polyester cover
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes in polyester textiles
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral oil, argan oil blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 100% cotton canvas
- Azo dyes and dye contamination
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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.