Dear Home Ec 101,

Your recent post about sorting laundry brought up a question I’ve been meaning to ask someone for years. What, exactly, is permanent press?

Thanks!

~Baffled in Beaufort
Heather says:

We love the questions that find their way into our mailboxes. I never knew exactly what permanent press was, either. I’m a casual dresser and don’t own much that doesn’t fall under: denim, cotton, or cotton.

Permanent press refers to articles of clothing that have been chemically treated to resist wrinkles. It is a lot like giving your pants a perm. Certain fabrics when exposed to methanol or other chemicals tend to retain their shape at the time of exposure.

I learned something new.  Thank you for the question.

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