Method of imparting durable press properties to cotton textiles without using formaldehyde

A method for imparting durable press properties to a cotton-containing textile, which method avoids using formaldehyde and the problems associated therewith, which method comprises treating the textile with an aqueous finishing solution comprising at least one curing catalyst and an acetal of glutaraldehyde having the formula ##STR2## R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of:

• (i) an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• (ii) a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• (iii) a polyoxyalkylene group containing polyoxyethylene units, polyoxypropylene units, or a mixture thereof and wherein the polyoxyalkylene group has a molecular weight of less than 2000, preferably less than 1000;
• (iv) a polyoxyalkenyl-substituted aryl group wherein the polyoxyalkenyl-substituted substituent contains polyethylene units, polypropylene units or a mixture thereof and wherein the substituent has a molecular weight of less than 2000, preferably less than 1000;
• and
• R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of
• (i) a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• (ii) a polyoxyalkylene group containing polyoxyethylene units, polyoxypropylene units, or a mixture thereof and wherein the polyoxyalkylene group has a molecular weight of less than 2000, preferably less than 1000;
• (iii) a polyoxyalkenyl-substituted aryl group wherein the polyoxyalkenyl-substituted substituent contains polyethylene units, polypropylene units or a mixture thereof and wherein the substituent has a molecular weight of less than 2000, preferably less than 1000.