The treatment of cellulosic fabrics with formaldehyde reactants to give durable press fabrics, and the release of formaldehyde from these fabrics have been reviewed historically. The toxicity of formaldehyde and the results of recent epidemiological studies are summarized. Also presented are the results of recent studies sponsored by the Consumer Product Safety Commission of formaldehyde released by consumer products including durable press fabrics and formaldehyde transfer from patches of cotton fabric treated with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) to shaven rabbits wearing these patches next to their skin. The mechanism of formaldehyde release is discussed, including recent data obtained from an ongoing study at Textile Research Institute. This work shows that surprisingly large amounts of free formaldehyde are sorbed by cellulosic fabric. It also shows that the rate of cleavage of carbon-oxygen bonds in crosslinks of DMDHEU with cellulose is high under acid conditions and very low under neutral and alkaline conditions, whereas the rate of cleavage of the carbon-nitrogen bond is relatively low under acid and neutral conditions and high under allkaline conditions. The important factors in the control of formaldehyde release from durable press fabrics are summarized. -- AATA