Results from studies of lowering formaldehyde release from durable press finished cotton fabrics are presented. Cotton fabrics were crosslinked with DMDHEU in presence of magnesium chloride hexahydrate as a catalyst and polyhydroxy alcohols as a formaldehyde scavenger. The most effective concentration of polyhydroxy alcohol additives for lowering formaldehyde release from finished fabrics was 4% level, but the easy care properties of finished fabrics were decreased. It was desirable to use polyhydroxy alcohol additives at less than 4% concentration of pad bath. The large reduction of formaldehyde release from finished fabrics was at pH 5 in the pad solution and at pH 4-7 in the wash water. The glycol class of polyhydroxy alcohol is water souble, and is compatible and effective with crosslinking agent; too much can reduce durable press performance to unacceptable levels because the polyhydroxy alcohols interfere with the crosslinking reaction between cellulose and DMDHEU.