Are the Perminant Press & Enzime cycles of the 60's & 70's Obsolete?

[launderess]

Yes, the man is serious.

If one is speaking of T-shirts worn as out garments and not just under shirts or blouses, then yes a good "no iron" wash cycle can make a huge difference.

Today most T-shirts are either of knits and or contain small amounts of Lycra (elastic). Either way a proper washing and drying can make the difference between a nice smooth result that looks as if it has been pressed, or a crumpled creased mess.

 

[appnut]

In the "old days"--from the time Permanent Press came out in 1964/1965 until the time when all man-made synthetics and double knits became the predominant laundry "stack", all outer garments, regardless of whether they were no-iron or not, were all treated as if they were permanent press.  All items, even if my dad had a 100% cotton dress shirt, were all washed on permanent press (or durable press as the case of he Norge15) and dried on the Norge's wash'n'wear cycle.  If it wasn't towels, underwear or sheets, it was washed on permanent press.  Then when double knits, quiana, and such came along, all that got washed on knit/delicate. There were no jeans in our house--I didn't start wearing jeans until early to mid 1980s. If parents' friends didn't have a Kenmore or WP, I was "frustrated".  Friends had a WI59 and I enjoyed the independent wash & spin speed knobs.  Maytags caused me fits.  No cool down what so ever.  (this was when their timers had 45 second increments).  When it started the post-wash spin, I'd wait for the water level switch to "reset" with that little noise, then I'd move the timer dial to the spin-spray rinse.  I learned if I positioned it just so, I could end up with a cold spin spray rinse for 2 timer increments and they'd get a nice cool down.  These days, I don't worry about washer cool down.  Everything I wear gets dried in the dryer and thus "ironed" by the dryer.