---
title: "Performance Fabric Cushions: Washable and Pre-Shrunk, No Coating"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/performance-fabric-cushions-stain-resistant/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-07-31"
updated: "2026-07-31"
keywords: "performance fabric cushions, stain resistant cushion fabric, washable cushion fabric, performance velvet cushions, kid friendly cushion fabric"
---

# Are your cushion fabrics performance fabrics, like Crypton?

*Performance is a word with many coats of paint on it. Here is what it means on these swatch cards, my friends, and what it does not.*

Also asked as: Any performance fabric?; Performance velvet like Crypton?

> **The quick answer:** Yes, the shop describes its cushion fabrics as performance fabrics made for durable daily use: machine washable, pre-shrunk and suited to high-use rooms. The exception is the striped fabrics, which are 100% cotton and may not last as long. There is no branded stain-proof finish like Crypton and no coating, so for families with small kids, velvet and soft fabric are the easiest to wash and wipe.

![Mustard piped bench cushion on a rustic oak farmhouse bench beside a white kitchen island, pillows and wildflowers on top](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/mustard-cushion-oak-farmhouse-bench-kitchen-island-1600.webp "A mustard cushion turns a plain oak bench against the kitchen island into a proper seat.")

## Key facts

- The shop describes its fabrics as performance fabrics for durable daily use.
- The fabrics are machine washable and pre-shrunk.
- The velvet is sold as a performance velvet.
- Striped fabrics are 100% cotton and may not last as long.
- There is no branded stain-proof finish and no coating.
- Velvet and soft fabric are the easiest to clean for families with small kids.

## Five fabric families, read for daily life

| Fabric | Sold as | Cleaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velvet | Performance velvet | Machine-washable cover; wipes easily | Homes with small kids |
| Soft fabric (microfiber) | Performance fabric | Easiest to wipe clean | The heaviest daily use |
| Linen | Performance fabric | Machine washable, pre-shrunk | Everyday seats; choose velvet over it for hard use |
| Striped cotton | 100% cotton, not a performance fabric | Washable | Lighter use; may not last as long |
| Outdoor range | Separate outdoor fabrics | Made for wet conditions | Anywhere the cushion may get wet |

## What “performance” means here, and what it does not

Here the word means three plain things: the cloth washes in a machine, it is pre-shrunk so the cover still closes afterward, and it is woven for rooms that get used hard. That is the [performance fabric](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#performance-fabric) promise on these cards.

It does not mean a coating. No stain-proof finish is applied, branded or otherwise. Your protection is the zip-off cover and the wash, so on [performance and pet-friendly fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/performance-and-pet-friendly/) and on [velvet](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/velvet/) alike, blot a spill quickly and wash the cover when it needs it. The [performance fabric Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/performance-fabric-cushions-explained/) goes deeper.

## The striped exception

Stripes are the charmers of the swatch box, crisp as a seersucker morning. But the [striped cottons and ticking](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/striped-cotton-and-ticking/) are 100% cotton, and they may not last as long as the rest.

For a kitchen [bench cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/) that meets juice and crayons daily, velvet or soft fabric is the kinder choice. Which room will your cushion live in, and who spills there most?

> **Tailor's margin:** Performance fabric cushions without a coating still survive a family: choose velvet or soft fabric, and wash the zip-off cover at 86°F (30°C).

> The 100% cotton stripes are the one fabric here not sold as a performance fabric, so pick velvet or soft fabric for a bench that meets daily spills.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Do you work with performance fabric?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. All the fabric charts on the linen bench listing are performance fabrics made for durable daily use. The exception is the striped fabrics, which are 100% cotton and may not last as long.

**A common question:** Are these performance fabrics, the way Crypton is?

**The workshop's answer:** The shop describes all its fabrics as performance fabrics, and the velvet is a performance velvet from a named mill. For homes with small kids, velvet and soft fabric are the easiest to wash and clean.

**A common question:** Do you have performance fabrics that wash easily?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. All the shop's fabrics are machine-washable performance fabrics and are pre-shrunk, which suits high-use areas.

**A common question:** Is your fabric stain-resistant?

**The workshop's answer:** In that reply the shop didn't name a performance fabric. It described its linen as high quality, durable and easy to clean, and pointed families to the soft microfiber fabric as the easiest to wipe clean.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Does velvet come with a stain-repellent coating?

No. The velvet has no stain-repellent coating, so blot spills quickly with a dry cloth and rely on the zip-off cover: it machine washes at 86°F (30°C) max on a gentle cycle.

### Which fabric wears hardest on a busy bench?

All are upholstery-grade and wear well, and velvet, soft fabric and linen are broadly equal. For the heaviest use choose soft fabric, pick velvet over linen, and use the outdoor range anywhere the cushion may get wet.

### Is faux leather an option for a wipe-clean seat?

Yes, faux leather is available at a small extra cost, and one textile in the range has a leather-like feel. For wipe-clean seating without leather, velvet works well.

### Do performance fabrics contain PFAS?

Some do. Many stain finishes that make spills bead up rely on fluorinated (PFAS) chemistry, and a stain-proof label won't tell you which. Ask any maker for a written statement about the finish and the full fiber content. The workshop says its standard fabrics have no added coatings, but it hasn't supplied PFAS test documents, so this site makes no PFAS-free claim.

## Related at the atelier

- [What is 'soft fabric' made of? Is it natural or synthetic?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/what-is-soft-fabric-poly-cotton/): Soft fabric is a poly-cotton blend: the workshop's name for its best-selling upholstery weave, codes 901 to 946, thick and durable with a soft hand.
- [Is your velvet stain resistant and easy to clean with kids around?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/velvet-cushion-stain-resistant-easy-clean/): Yes, the velvet is stain resistant and easy to clean: it's a 100% polyester high-performance velvet with good stain resistance and durability.
- [What colors does the corduroy come in, and can I get black, maroon or lilac?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/corduroy-color-options-black-maroon/): The corduroy comes in a fixed, limited palette, 9 colors on the teddy sofa listing, and black, maroon, fuchsia, lilac and lavender are not among them, with no plans to add them.
- [Mudroom Bench Cushion in Denim Blue: Why Each Prop Is There](https://cushionguide.com/readings/denim-blue-bullnose-mudroom-bench-cushion/): A mudroom bench cushion looks best in a mid-tone performance weave such as denim blue, surrounded by warm props: brass hooks, a tweed or canvas layer, two oatmeal pillows and leather boots below.
- [Indoor Bench Cushion in Dusty Rose: What to Borrow from Outdoors](https://cushionguide.com/readings/dusty-rose-woven-cushion-edge-pink-peonies/): An indoor bench cushion can borrow three habits from outdoor cushions: firm high-density foam that keeps the boxing taut, a removable zippered cover, and a flecked or textured weave that hides daily…
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Blue Damask: How It Ages Day to Day](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-damask-pad-oak-storage-bench-floating-shelf/): A large-repeat damask is a forgiving choice for a bench used every day.
- [Performance fabric on a cushion: what the word does and doesn't promise](https://cushionguide.com/guides/performance-fabric-cushions-explained/)
- [Cushion fabric pilling: why it happens and how to handle it](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-fabric-pilling/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/performance-fabric-cushions-stain-resistant/