What is the "permanent press" cycle on a washing machine, and when should it be used?

Setting the permanent press button affects two parts of the washing machine. First, it reduces the agitation level during the first cycle of the machine, the wash cycle. (Have you noticed on the care label that one minus sign beneath a washing tub means permanent press while two minus signs means delicate? The minus means a reduction in agitation level. So two minus signs are more gentle than one). Second, it adds a cool-down rinse cycle after the wash. This is only a sketch of what a permanent press setting is though. I don't think there are regulations on washing machines about this though (maybe??). So the best thing would be to read up on permanent press in the manual or call the manufacturer up and ask about your model.

When should it be used? I think there's many schools of thought on it though. The care-label school of thought would say "use permanent press when the care-label says so"; this misses some nuance though. For example, just because the care label says use permanent press doesn't mean you have to use it; you could use a more gentle cycle. And, one could put non-permanent press cloths in a permanent press washing cycle if they wanted too.

There's also the personal testimony school of thought (aka "what I've been doing for years") and this is as varied as the number of people in the world. These experiences will be influenced by the person's washing machine, clothing they've been washing, water hardness, detergents, etc. So, advice from this school of thought doesn't translate the same way for everyone.

I think the thing is this: the permanent press setting on a washing machine is designed to change the agitation level and rinse cycle temperature to preserve the integrity of clothing that has been treated as a permanent press fabric but that would otherwise be damaged in a normal cycle.

The permanent press cycle is used for clothing that is permanent press. A permanent press is a fabric that has been chemically processed with methanol to resist wrinkles and hold its shape. Treating fabric with the simplest form of alcohol (methanol) has a lasting effect on the fabric. The permanent press cycle helps keep the process intact and that is what it was specifically designed to do. Obviously, it should be used on clothing that is labeled permanent press.

I wash and dry all my clothing in the permanent press cycle. Clothing comes out less wrinkled which means no ironing or less ironing.  I've been doing this for years.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/amorylovins/33/low-cost-ways-to-conserve-water-at-home.html

Apparently it wastes more water: "Avoid the permanent press cycle when washing clothes, which uses an additional 5 gallons for the extra rinse."

Doesn't answer the question, "what is the permanent press cycle?" The information on how the fabric is treated in informational but not helpful to anyone trying to figure out the permanent press cycle on the washing machine.

I thought the answer was helpful. Once you know what and how permanent press clothes are treated and then observe your machine as it runs through that cycle you can put one-and-one together. On my machine the perm. press cycle is shorter and seems not as vigourous as the regular cycle (somewhere between gentle and regular). Now I know why. I am guessing that if you are interested in saving energy you could also use the permanent press cycle for clothes that are not very dirty (shorter cyle, less vigorous = less energy).

"...A permanent press is a fabric that has been chemically processed with methanol to resist wrinkles and hold its shape....The permanent press cycle helps keep the process intact and that is what it was specifically designed to do. Obviously, it should be used on clothing that is labeled permanent press."

Thats the answer, guest.
I have a uniform shirt I just got (paramedic School) and was wondering how to avoid wrinkles.
I've done the buttons up and turned it inside out. Am going to try the permanent press on cold water.
Will see how that plays out (i don't want it to shrink).
Now should I hang it to dry, or tumble it on a low setting in the dryer to avoid ironing? Hmm