What Is Perm Press on a Washer?

• Warm wash water cleans lightly soiled garments without the heat that helps set creases.
• A cool or cold rinse is the main wrinkle-fighting step. Some machines add a gradual cool-down or a cool spray rinse.
• Gentler agitation than Normal, so fabric is handled less roughly.
• A low final spin speed, the single most important mechanism: a slow spin leaves fabric less compressed, so fewer creases get pressed in.

Some machines also add a short rest or soak period during the cycle.

Why a cool rinse and a slow spin work

Synthetic fibers soften as they warm up. Heat, plus compression, plus a fast spin locks creases into the fabric. A cool rinse and a slow spin keep the clothes out of that zone, so they come out smoother.

How long a perm press cycle runs?

Most machines finish a perm press load in about 30 to 45 minutes, shorter than a Normal cycle. Exact times vary by model and by load size, and the cycle guide that came with your machine is the authority for your model.

On many modern high-efficiency washers, rinses are already cool and water use is already low, so the gap between perm press and Normal is smaller than it once was. The low final spin is the part that still matters most.

Wrinkle-prone and easy-care garments belong on this cycle.

• Yes: polyester, nylon, acrylic, rayon, spandex and microfiber; poly/cotton and other blends; cotton and linen that wrinkle easily; washable wool; anything labeled wrinkle-free, no-iron or easy care; dress shirts, button-downs, blouses, trousers, pleated skirts, dresses, tablecloths, casual business attire and athletic wear; garments that should not be ironed.
• No: delicates such as lingerie, lace, silk, cashmere, sweaters, knits and bras (use Delicate); heavy or heavily soiled items such as jeans, work clothes, towels, blankets and comforters (use Normal or Heavy Duty); anything that needs hot water or a high spin.

Keep the load loose. A crowded drum defeats the low-spin benefit, because the clothes press against each other and crease anyway.

If a care label says perm press but the garment is a delicate knit, follow the more conservative instruction and wash it on Delicate.

The three everyday cycles differ mainly in water temperature, agitation and final spin speed.

Perm press is the middle setting. It protects against wrinkles, not against wear on fragile fabrics, which is why delicates still need their own cycle.

A washtub with one line underneath means permanent press. A tub with no line means a normal wash, and a tub with two lines means gentle or delicate.

On the dryer side, a square with a circle inside and one line underneath means permanent press.

Under the international symbol system, that single bar means "mild process" rather than literally permanent press. At home, the US care-label reading is the one to follow.

The cycle is not always labeled "Perm Press." Common names on washer dials include Permanent Press, Perm Press, Casual, Casuals, Wrinkle Control, Wrinkle Reduction and Easy Care.

Some makers have folded the cycle into Normal/Casual or dropped it from current models, while others still list it by name. If you see one of these labels, it runs the same warm wash, cool rinse and low spin.

Full-size front-load and top-load washers usually offer the cycle under one of the names above. Compact, portable, mini and all-in-one washer dryer combos often have a shorter cycle list, such as Normal, Quick, Delicate and Rinse & Spin, with no perm press setting at all.

If your machine has no perm press cycle, choose Normal with cool or cold water and the lowest spin speed available, or Delicate for wrinkle-prone items. Dry on a low or medium setting with a cool-down if the dryer offers one.

When you compare washers, read the cycle list for perm press or one of its equivalent names, and check the spin speed options, since the low final spin is what does the work.

1. Sort wrinkle-prone garments together and keep the drum loose.
2. Select perm press or its equivalent name: warm wash, cool rinse, low spin.
3. Unload immediately when the cycle ends. Clothes left damp in the drum set wrinkles.
4. Shake each item out before it goes into the dryer.
5. Dry on the perm press or a low or medium setting with a cool-down period, then hang or fold promptly.

Wash wrinkle-prone garments more often at lower temperatures rather than letting soil build up and reaching for hot water and a long cycle. Use the amount of detergent the detergent label states.

Creases that survive a perm press wash usually come from one of a few causes.

• The drum was overloaded, so the clothes pressed against each other.
• Clothes sat in the washer after the cycle finished.
• A hot-water or high-spin cycle was selected by mistake.
• The dryer ran too hot or had no cool-down period.
• Garments were removed late and left in a pile.
• The garment simply is not wrinkle-free. Perm press reduces creases; it does not iron.