What Exactly Is the Permanent Press Setting on Your Washing Machine? Here's When (and Why) You Should Use It

It seems like doing laundry should be a straightforward process, but there are so many details involved in making sure your clothes are maintained properly. Reading the care labels is important for understanding how to wash and dry your clothes, but so is taking stock of the types of wash and dry cycles on your appliances. If your washer and dryer have a setting that says "perm press" on it, you might be scratching your head. What exactly is perm press? And does it have any real benefit for your clothes? We spoke with two laundry experts to learn what this type of wash cycle is, how it works, and tips for getting the most out of it.

What Is Perm Press?

First, to understand what the perm press cycle is, you have to understand what a permanent press finish is. "Permanent press is a fabric finish that resists wrinkles and helps garments maintain a smooth appearance," says Brayden Hazlewood, appliance expert at Rectifyhome.com. This finish makes it so that certain clothing and textiles don't need to be ironed after washing.

Textiles that are likely to be finished with a permanent press finish include cotton, rayon, and linen due to their susceptibility to wrinkling. Other types of fabrics like polyester and nylon can have features like pleats permanently pressed into them as well, according to Mary Gagliardi (aka "Dr. Laundry"), Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert. "Note that while you see 'permanent press' on care labels and clothes washers as a cycle option, the term durable press is more favored by the textile industry because the chemical treatments that reduce the need to iron cellulosic fabrics after washing don’t last forever," Gagliardi says, noting that the terms "permanent press," "wrinkle-free," and "durable press" tend to be used interchangeably.

So, clothes that have been treated with permanent press finishes to keep them from wrinkling or to preserve features like pleats from falling out should be washed and dried using the perm press cycle settings on your washer and dryer. But you can also wash and dry other clothing that you'd like to avoid heavy wrinkles on in the perm press cycle. "The permanent press cycle in washing machines and dryers is designed to reduce wrinkles and simplify garment care," says Hazelwood.

How the Perm Press Cycle Works

The perm press cycle works by operating at lower water and heat temperatures and slower spin speeds to reduce wrinkles. "This does several things. First, it doesn’t add new wrinkles and it maintains details like cuffs on trousers," Gagliardi says. "It also helps maintain the finish so it lasts (is durable) longer. And, it reduces abrasion, which is important because chemically treated cellulosic fibers like cotton and rayon have lower resistance to abrasion after treatment, which means creases you want on hems and cuffs may wear out sooner."

The Difference Between Perm Press vs. Normal Cycles

The main difference between perm press and normal cycles is the temperature in both the washer and dryer. "For the wash cycle, it’s water temperature and spin speed (both are lower for permanent press than normal or heavy duty)," says Gagliardi. "For the dryer, it typically includes a lower drying temperature and a longer cool-down period."

These cooler temperatures and slower spin speeds help to prevent wrinkles from forming and setting in your clothes. "While a normal wash and dry cycle focuses on cleaning and drying clothes efficiently, the permanent press cycle introduces additional steps to minimize wrinkles," says Hazelwood. "This includes cooler temperatures and gentle agitation in the wash, followed by a cool-down period in the dryer."

When to Use Perm Press

Besides fabrics that have been treated with a permanent press finish (you'll often find these types of garments labeled "wrinkle-resistant," "wrinkle-free," or "wrinkle control"), it can be helpful to wash and dry synthetic fabrics in a perm press cycle as well. "Clothes made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and blends often benefit from the permanent press cycle," says Hazelwood. "These fabrics are prone to wrinkling, and the cycle's cool-down phase helps set the fabric in a way that reduces creases." Clothing made from natural fibers like cotton and linen, which wrinkle easily, can be washed in the perm press cycle, too.

Of course, make sure you read your clothing's care label for further instructions—you don't want to inadvertently damage items, like delicates, or not get certain clothing clean enough, like jeans. "Permanent press cycles are typically less aggressive (lower agitation, spin speed, and wash temperature) than normal or heavy duty cycles, but more aggressive relative to a delicate or hand wash cycle," Gagliardi says. "A permanent press wash cycle may be too aggressive for garments labeled machine wash delicate or hand wash, and not aggressive enough for heavily soiled clothing like denim work clothes."

Tips for Using Perm Press Cycles

There are a couple of things to keep in mind to get the most out of your washer and dryer's perm press setting to ensure wrinkle-free clothing.

Sort Laundry Ahead of Time

"To make the most of the permanent press cycle, consider sorting garments by fabric type and color," says Hazelwood. This has the benefit of ensuring that items that need special care don't make it into your normal wash cycle.

Wash Perm Press Garments More Frequently

It sounds counterintuitive, but you should wash your perm press items a bit more frequently than the clothing that gets tossed in a regular cycle. "By washing items frequently, you limit the opportunity for soil to build up or penetrate the fabric," Gagliardi says. "Really dirty clothes need hotter wash temperatures to get them clean, so more frequent washing at the preferred lower temperature/agitation before clothes get too dirty actually helps preserve durable press and wrinkle-free garments."

Keep Your Wash Load Small

A smaller wash load means fewer wrinkles for your clothing. "Avoid overcrowding the machine to allow for proper agitation," says Hazelwood.

Use Cooler Wash and Dry Cycles If Your Machines Don't Have Perm Press

If for some reason your washer/dryer set doesn't have a permanent press cycle option, you can use cooler water and cool dry cycles to mimic the wrinkle-reducing effects of a perm press wash. "On most washers, this would be accomplished by using the permanent press cycle, but if a washer or dryer doesn’t have this cycle, it’s good to know the preferred washing and drying conditions for durable press and wrinkle-free fabrics," Gagliardi says.

Remove Clothes Quickly From the Dryer

Letting your clothes sit in a ball in the dryer is going to go a long way towards negating the effects of using perm press. "Promptly remove clothes from the dryer to minimize wrinkles," says Hazelwood.