what is perm press
Perm press (short for “permanent press”) is a washer or dryer setting designed to clean clothes gently while reducing wrinkles, shrinking, and fabric damage.
What “perm press” actually does
- On a washer, perm press usually uses warm or cool water, milder agitation, and a slower spin to keep fabrics from getting creased or stretched.
- On a dryer, it typically uses medium heat plus a built‑in cool‑down phase so clothes don’t “bake in” wrinkles as they dry.
- Many machines label it as Casual, Wrinkle Control, Easy Care, or similar instead of “perm press.”
When to use perm press
Perm press is ideal for:
- Synthetics and blends: polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic, and other “wrinkle‑resistant” or “no‑iron” fabrics.
- Everyday workwear: blouses, button‑downs, trousers, dresses, school uniforms, and anything that tends to wrinkle but isn’t super delicate.
- Clothes labeled wrinkle‑free / wrinkle‑resistant / easy care, where the fabric finish is meant to resist creasing.
It’s usually not the right choice for:
- Very delicate items like silk, lace, fine wool, or lingerie (those should go on Delicates).
- Heavy, super‑dirty loads like towels, jeans, or work gear that benefit more from a Normal/Heavy cycle.
Quick how‑to (washer + dryer)
- Check the care label: If you see “permanent press,” “wrinkle‑resistant,” or a synthetic blend, perm press is safe.
- Sort your load: Wash similar weights and fabrics together (e.g., shirts and slacks in one load, not mixed with heavy towels).
- Choose “Perm Press” / “Casual” on the washer: Use a normal amount of mild detergent, don’t overload the drum.
- Dry on “Perm Press” / “Wrinkle Control”: Remove clothes promptly at the end of the cycle and hang or fold right away to lock in the wrinkle reduction.
Why it became a “thing”
- The term “permanent press” originally referred to specially treated garments meant to stay relatively unwrinkled after washing and drying.
- As those fabrics got popular in the mid‑20th century, washers and dryers added a dedicated permanent‑press cycle tailored to their needs.
- Today, most modern machines still keep a perm press / wrinkle‑control option because it balances decent cleaning with fabric care and convenience.
Tiny example
If you throw a bunch of polyester work shirts on “Normal,” they might come out clean but stiff and wrinkled. On perm press , they wash more gently, spin slower, and dry with medium heat and a cool‑down, so they emerge smoother and usually need little or no ironing.
TL;DR: Perm press is a gentler, wrinkle‑reducing wash/dry setting made for synthetics and easy‑care clothes, using lower agitation and medium heat to keep things smooth with less ironing.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.