RST Brands · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
RST Brands Outdoor Sunbrella Sofa Cushion Cover
water-repellent coating-treated outdoor textile, PFAS content unknown, no disclosure.
Sunbrella cushion covers use durable acrylic with water-resistant finish typical of outdoor furniture. Restoration Hardware does not disclose PFAS use or testing.
The better-graded swap
Grandin Road
19" X 17-1/2" Replacement Seat Cushion - Knife-Edge, Knife Edge/Lattice Black - 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
Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic with water-repellent coating 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.
PFAS
If water-repellent coating uses fluorine-free replacements (siloxanes, hydrocarbons), leaching into soil or water during outdoor use is minimal but possible in high-moisture conditions. Vendor silence prevents confirmation of formulation safety.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-repellent coating and UV-blocking treatments may contain formaldehyde resins. Outdoor exposure and air circulation mitigate inhalation risk, but off-gassing during initial storage or on hot days is not ruled out without chemical disclosure.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding from acrylic fiber
Solution-dyed acrylic sheds microfibers when washed or weathered. Outdoor placement limits direct human skin contact, but laundering and natural degradation over years will release acrylic particles into wastewater.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in solution-dyed acrylic
Solution-dyed acrylic typically uses non-azo colorants to avoid bleeding. No recalls or testing deficiencies on record for Sunbrella acrylic in this regard.
Antimony in polyester or dye carriers
This is acrylic, not polyester, so antimony catalyst residue is unlikely. Acrylic fibers do not require antimony in manufacture.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This cushion cover is solution-dyed acrylic fabric, meaning pigment is integrated into the fiber during manufacture rather than applied afterward. This reduces dye migration and fading. The fabric carries a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, which is standard in outdoor textiles to shed rain and resist staining. water-repellent coating chemistry is the primary uncertainty here, legacy formulations used PFOA and related compounds, but modern treatments vary widely. Sunbrella brand itself does not disclose which water-repellent coating chemistry is used in RST Brands products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Restoration Hardware (RH) has not published third-party testing, chemical disclosures, or sustainability certifications for outdoor textiles in its public record. The brand does not maintain a restricted substances list or PFAS policy publicly accessible to consumers. Sunbrella (Glen Raven) owns the acrylic fiber brand and maintains OEKO-TEX certification on some lines, but RST Brands products sold under the RH label are not confirmed to carry this certification. The silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is the most significant transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor cushion covers range from untreated cotton (zero water-repellent coating, fast water absorption) to solution-dyed acrylics and polyester with water-repellent coating. Sunbrella acrylic is mid-to-premium in durability and UV resistance. However, competitors like Pottery Barn and West Elm have begun publishing PFAS testing or committing to lower PFAS concern in water-repellent coating treatments; Restoration Hardware has not. For this category, explicit water-repellent coating chemistry disclosure is increasingly standard among transparent brands.
If you buy it
Request water-repellent coating chemical disclosure from RH before purchase if PFAS exposure is a concern. Wash covers in cool water before first use to rinse surface finishes. Avoid machine drying on high heat; air dry or low heat only, as acrylic is stable but water-repellent coating coatings may degrade. Replace covers every 3-5 years depending on sun and weather exposure. Do not bleach; use mild soap and water for cleaning to preserve water repellency and avoid accelerating coating breakdown.
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
- RST Brands 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.