10 June 2018 - Wash and Wear

What You Should Know about Wash-and-Wear

 "Wash-and-wear garments tend to retain their original shape and appearance after repeated wear and laundering, with little or no ironing."

If you are like me you are wondering:

"Are there garments that are not wash-and-wear?"

I had to turn to Google.

So here is a term you might recognize.

Permanent Press

Easy Care, No Iron, Wash and Wear.

These are terms used for clothing that have been treated to be wrinkle resistant.

In the 1940's, clothing would be treated with urea-formaldehyde.

(again with the formaldehyde)

However, there tended to be some after effects like yellowing, odors, and complications with bleaching clothing treated this way.

Our Almanac actually says that "A fishy odor may indicate a finish which has not been fully cured."

EW. 

In the 1950's, blended clothing was manufactured to prevent wrinkles and make them easier to care for. This is when we started seeing cotton polyester blends hit the market.

Then washer and dryers started to have settings with terms like "Permanent Press" for these blended cloths. This cycle provides a "cooling down" period that helps the fabric stay wrinkle free.

Today, most dryers have this feature and you probably use it not really knowing why.

Our Homemaker Heroine is hanging her Wash-and-Wear clothing.

This is because the spin cycle would actually add additional wrinkles to clothes.

So removing the clothes before the spin and letting them drip dry would help keep them wrinkle free.

Today we don't have to worry about this because "Easy Care" clothing has become more advanced to withstand wrinkles from the spin cycle. 

I bet you never thought twice about laundry.

I swear I throw my laundry on the bed and hang it up later.

I care not about wrinkles.

I don't iron!!!

I hate the iron and all it involves.

Thank you 2018 for your wrinkle free garments!