Kenmore Permanent Press I &II

[blockeight88]

Can someone please share what exactly these cycles do to your laundry? What is the preferred wash temp/water level/ and spin? I have tried both the Perm Press I and II on my Kenmore's and don't seem to be noticing less wrinkles. Am I missing something?

From the manual:

The PERMANENT PRESS I Cycle

Includes a load cooling spray rinse that reduces wrinkling compared to other cycles. You can select up to 10 minutes
of wash time.

The PERMANENT PRESS II Cycle includes a load cooling process that reduces wrinkling compared to other cycles.

You can select up to 10 minutes of wash time.
NOTE: When the timer reaches PAUSE, the washer will drain and pause for no more than two minutes while some of the wash water is drained and replaced with rinse water.

 

[DADoES]

 
True permanent press garments are treated with a process that sets-in tailored creases and a smooth finish.  Such items should be washed in warm or hot water to relax the finish and shed wear-wrinkles.  Spin immediately after a heated wash can set-in compression wrinkles ... so the fabric is ideally cooled before spin, spun at low speed, and of course rinsed in cold water.  Synthetic fabrics that aren't formally perm-press treated may also catch set-in spin wrinkles when warm.

Really, a cool down treatment in the washer doesn't have an appreciable effect unless the clothes are line-dried.  Dryer temperatures get plenty high enough to shed spin wrinkles, followed by another cool down at end of the drying cycle.

 

[blockeight88]

Well the Permanent Press I feature doesn't seem like it does much. A cold spray after the main wash cycle? Compare this to a partial neutral drain and I don't think it's very effective. Why the difference?

 

[DADoES]

 
A route to upsell the customer to a more deluxe model that provides better fabric care.

There were several variations of the Wash-n-Wear / Permanent Press cool down across Whirlpool and Kenmore toploaders since its introduction circa 1958.

 

[blockeight88]

Oh ok. Is the partial neutral drain more effective then? Would an ideal setting be, warm/cold, low spin?

 

[qsd-dan]

I find the dryer has a much bigger impact on wrinkles rather than the washer. What make/model dryer are you using?

If your dryer has a permanent press cycle, use that. They generally have a longer cool down which helps smooth out wrinkles. The clothes need to be immediately removed and hung/folded once the drum stops, don't let them sit even one minute.

 

[blockeight88]

I am using a Kenmore 80 series set. The washer has the Perm Press I setting. The dryer does have a specific setting for Perm Press, but I wasn't sure if it's a medium heat, or just intermittent high heat.

 

[qsd-dan]

Sorry, can't give you any tips on how to use that dryer. It's radically different than the Kenmore's I've used in the past. Someone here should be able to help you out though.

 

[appnut]

All Whirlpool & Kenmore dryers of that vintage have the 10 mnute cool down phase at the end of each dry cyce--timed or auto moisture sensing. Looks like there might be a finish guard or wrinkle guard at the end of the auto cyce once it finishes the coo down. Use the medium heat for wrinkle free/perm press.

 

[coldspot66]

Use the auto moisture sensing cycle with the extended wrinkle guard (which is an extended air only cycle (no heat). That washer and dryer is the best there ever was for the $$$$.

 

[DADoES]

All dryers moderate the heat throughout the drying cycle, whether timed or auto-dry, to specific target temperatures per the selection. All temperature points swing a bit above the target per residual heat dissipating from the electric element when it turns off upon reaching the target (and probably a bit less-so from a gas burner, I’ve never used or serviced a gas dryer). Then the heat source turns back on at approx 25°F to 35°F below the target. The target temps vary but High typically is 155°F. Medium 145°F. Low 135°F. Ex Low on models that have it may be 125°. Dryers with electronic thermistors instead of bi-metal thermostats usually can hold a tighter temperature swing.

 

[blockeight88]

Would the dryer pictured below do a better job with wrinkles compared to mine? I am thinking the ultra low setting may be more gentle on the fabrics.

 

[qsd-dan]

Nobody here has explained exactly how this generation dryer works using the "Permanent Press" selection. I'm guessing it's just a lower temperature setting rather than a longer cool down period. If that's the case, this higher end model probably doesn't work any different than your current dryer. I'm also guessing the "Ultra Delicate" selection is just a lower temperature setting.

On my old 1981 Kenmore dryer, there were 2 separate moisture sensing cycle selections. A "Regular" and "Permanent Press" selection. The "Permanent Press" selection had a longer timed cooldown period vs the "Regular" cycle. It was a single thermostat machine so the temperature never changed regardless of any selection. The higher end dryer you posted looks like it has multiple thermostat temperature selections but a 10 minute cool down period regardless of the selection. Maybe it shifts into a lower temperature towards the end of the cycle, not sure though. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

From 1963-about 1969, Kenmore dryers had a unique system that throttled down the flame (gas)/heating element (electric) during the cool down phase marketed as "Soft Heat" (not sure if Whirlpool dryers had the same design under a different name). I always wondered if those machines actually ironed out wrinkles better than the non throttling model's used thereafter which were still marketed as "Soft Heat" (answers welcomed from a non biased perspective). Actually, what WAS the difference between Soft Heat and non Soft Heat models after 1970? A lower thermostat temp shift towards the end of the cycle?

 

[maytag85]

Reply #12

From what I’ve read in the archives on the Kenmore Soft Heat dryers made after 1970, all it was, was a timer that had a lower temperature already programmed in that would switch to a lower temperature right before the cool down so it basically would only have to cool down warm clothes as opposed to medium-hot clothes.

The Kenmore Soft Heat dryers built before 1970 had the variable gas valve along with dual heating elements which provided for very quick drying temperatures since the heat never shut off which helped it hold a steady drying temperature. Not sure if it helped iron things out better but definitely provided quick drying temperatures/times.

 

[qsd-dan]

Thanks Sean, that helps me understand both designs.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #14

You are very welcome. I would like to own a Kenmore Soft Heat gas or electric dryer out of curiosity one day, but not being able to select the temperatures I want wouldn’t work very well with my shirts with vinyl decals on them since they would dry and crack up at higher temperatures but definitely would be fun to see how a Kenmore Soft Heat gas dryer with the 37,000 btu burner would do with bedding and towels since those items tend to hold a lot of moisture compared to regular clothes such as t-shirts etc.

 

[launderess]

This this answer your questions?

*LOL*

 

[qsd-dan]

"but not being able to select the temperatures I want wouldn’t work very well with my shirts with vinyl decals."

Well, you probably could easily adapt a single multi temp thermostat and install a hidden switch to change the temps. That would be a fun experimental project.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #17

That’s basically the whole reason why I am putting together a customized Maytag dryer together so I will have the options between low and high heat. Have a adjustable cycling thermostat that can be set from 135F all the way to 175F which might allow me to get things dried in 26 to 30 minutes time which might debunk the 26 minutes drying time on Maytag HOH dryers.