Permanent Press vs. Normal Wash Setting: What’s the Difference?

Choosing the right wash cycle for a load of laundry is essential to ensure your clothes get cleaned properly and don’t get damaged in the process. It’s important to follow care instructions on clothing labels and to understand what each cycle on your washing machine is in order to select the correct one.

Permanent press is a type of wash cycle that’s gentle on clothes and designed to minimize wrinkles and creases. It uses a low water temperature and a slow speed to deeply clean garments while maintaining the fabric’s smooth finish and design details such as pleats and cuffs.

To help you get all the benefits of this wash cycle, learn about what permanent press is, when to use it, what garments it’s best suited for, and tips for using it.

What Is Permanent Press?

A permanent press setting on a washing machine helps reduce wrinkles, creases, fading, and pilling. It’s more gentle than a regular wash cycle because it uses a lower water temperature, operates at a slower speed, and reduces abrasion.

A permanent press setting is designed to prevent new wrinkles and maintain a smooth finish on details such as pleats and cuffs. It can be used on a variety of natural fibers such as cotton and linen, as well as delicate synthetic fibers like rayon, nylon, and polyester.

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When to Use Permanent Press

There are several factors that call for the permanent press cycle on your washing machine. The first is a delicate fabric that wrinkles easily, whether it is composed of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a blend of the two. Use the permanent setting on materials made from natural fibers such as cotton and linen, and those made from synthetic fibers, such as rayon, nylon, spandex, and polyester.

Permanent press is the ideal cycle to use for garments that cannot be ironed, as permanent press will maintain the fabric’s smooth finish and prevent new wrinkles and creases from forming. Use this cycle whenever a garment’s care instructions call for it, but when not specified, it’s a good option for garments such as dress shirts, button-downs, and pleated skirts.

You may notice some clothes are labeled as wrinkle-free, which means that they have been pretreated with a permanent press finish and therefore can typically be washed on this cycle. However, always make sure you read the care instructions on your clothing to prevent shrinking, discoloration, and damage.

Even though a garment appears to be made from one type of fabric, it may be woven from a blend of different fibers which can alter the type of wash cycle that can be used.

Best Garment Types for Permanent Press

• Dress shirts and button-down shirts that wrinkle easily
• Dress pants and pants with pressed cuffs
• Garments made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, rayon, polyester, or spandex
• Garments made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen which tend to wrinkle easily
• Shirts, skirts, or dresses with pleats
• Garments that cannot be ironed
• Garments whose care instructions encourage the permanent press setting

The Difference Between Permanent Press vs. Other Cycles

The three most common wash cycles that you will see on a washing machine are a normal (sometimes called regular) cycle, a permanent press, and a delicate cycle. Depending on the type and age of your washing machine, you may see other options, but these three wash cycles are the most common and provide a suitable wash option for a variety of different types of materials and garments.

The main difference between a permanent press and a normal cycle is the water temperature and the spin speed. A permanent press cycle uses a lower water temperature and has a slower spin speed than a normal cycle in order to reduce agitation, prevent creasing, and maintain a smooth fabric finish.

It may seem like a permanent press cycle is the same thing as a delicate cycle given that it’s a gentle wash option, but the two actually do differ in several ways. While both use a slower speed and are well suited for delicate fabrics, a delicate cycle uses an ultra-slow speed all the way through as well as a lower water temperature than a permanent press cycle. It’s perfect for very fragile fabrics such as lace and delicate clothing like undergarments and lingerie.

Tips for Using Permanent Press

Follow these helpful tips for best results when using the permanent press cycle on your washing machine:

• Don’t overload the washer. Oversized loads don’t get washed as thoroughly and items are more likely to get creased and wrinkled, which defeats the whole purpose of a permanent press cycle. Aim to fill your washer about 75% of the way up to leave enough room for items to fully submerge in water and detergent.
• Avoid using permanent press on materials such as lace, silk, wool, and cashmere, and garments such as lingerie and sweaters.
• Permanent press works best on lightly and moderately soiled clothes. Avoid using it on heavily soiled items as the low agitation and speed aren’t strong enough to deep clean them.
• Don’t use the permanent press cycle on heavy items such as blankets, jeans, or jackets. Like heavily soiled items, these need a heavy-duty cycle with a higher speed.
• Once the cycle is done, immediately take the washed clothes out of the washer and either place them in the dryer or hang them up to dry. The longer you leave them in the washer, the more likely they are to get wrinkled.