Serena & Lily · Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants
Serena & Lily Marisol Outdoor Pillow
Outdoor pillow likely has PFAS-based water-repellent coating, the brand won't disclose PFAS status.
This outdoor pillow almost certainly has a water-repellent coating typical of garden textiles, commonly made with PFAS-based treatments. The brand shares no information about PFAS in products.
The better-graded swap
Room & Board
Room & Board Modern Cast Outdoor 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
outdoor fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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
Outdoor textiles with water-repellent coating treatments commonly contain legacy PFAS-based fluorochemicals. Serena & Lily's silence on water-repellent coating type strongly suggests use of conventional PFAS chemistry, though direct confirmation is not available.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and particle shedding
Over time, water-repellent coating coatings on outdoor fabrics can crack, peel, and shed microparticles, especially under UV exposure and repeated cleaning. No recalls or complaints specific to the Marisol pillow are on record, but this is a general risk in the category.
What’s reassuring
Dye migration or azo dye contamination
No public information suggests the Marisol pillow uses restricted azo dyes or has failed color-fastness testing. Premium outdoor fabrics often meet better dye standards than budget alternatives.
Antimony in polyester
The pillow material is not confirmed to be 100% polyester; most outdoor cushions use blended synthetics. No specific testing data for antimony levels in this product exists in public records.
Flame retardants
Outdoor cushions are not typically subject to furniture flammability standards and generally do not carry added flame retardants. No evidence of such treatments on the Marisol line is available.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Marisol pillow uses outdoor-grade fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. water-repellent coating treatments on outdoor textiles are typically applied to resist moisture and staining in wet environments. Most conventional water-repellent coating finishes historically used PFAS-based chemistry (perfluorinated compounds), though some manufacturers have shifted to alternatives not based on PFAS in recent years. Serena & Lily does not publicly specify which water-repellent coating technology is used on this product, leaving the PFAS status opaque.
The brand's record and disclosure
Serena & Lily is a home furnishings brand owned by RCS Capital Partners with a focus on premium design. The brand does not maintain a public chemical disclosure policy or PFAS commitment statement on its website. No major product recalls or safety controversies are documented for this product line. The company's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is typical of many mid-to-premium home goods brands that have not yet adopted third-party certification or transparency standards.
How it compares in its category
Most outdoor cushion covers use water-repellent coating-treated synthetic fabrics (polyester, polypropylene, or acrylic blends). Competitors range from budget brands (often using PFAS-water-repellent coating without disclosure) to certified alternatives like those with OEKO-TEX or bluesign certification, which restrict PFAS. The Marisol pillow sits in the premium segment but does not distinguish itself via chemical transparency or third-party vetting, making it harder to assess relative safety.
If you buy it
Store the pillow indoors during off-season to reduce UV and weather exposure, which can degrade the water-repellent coating over time. Spot-clean with mild soap and water rather than machine washing if possible, as laundering degrades water repellency. Do not tumble-dry at high heat; air-dry instead. Replace the pillow if the fabric shows cracking, peeling, or loss of water beading, as degraded coatings may shed particles.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Serena & Lily 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.