Nellie's School of Clean: What Do All These Laundry Labels Mean?

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Hi, I’m Rose! I’m 20, recently moved out for university, and currently working as a summer intern at Nellie’s. One thing nobody tells you about moving out? Suddenly, laundry instructions and washing machine settings become your problem.

Honestly? Why are there so many buttons?

Delicate? Permanent press? Tumble dry low? I had absolutely no idea what any of it meant.

So today, I’m breaking down the laundry settings, clothing labels, and dryer rules I wish someone had explained to me sooner. Welcome back to Nellie’s School of Clean.

What Do Clothing Labels Actually Mean?

I used to cut tags off my clothes immediately because they annoyed me, which turns out was not a smart move. Those little symbols actually tell you exactly how to wash and dry your clothes without ruining them.

Here are the most common instructions:

Machine Wash Cold

This means the item should be washed using cold water.

Cold water is usually safest for:

  • Preventing shrinking
  • Protecting colours
  • Preventing fading
  • Making clothes last longer

Most of my everyday laundry gets washed in cold, using Nellie’s Laundry Soda which dissolves seamlessly in cold water. This is important because a lot of detergents don’t fully break down during cold washes. 

Tumble Dry Low

This means the item can go in the dryer, but only on a lower heat setting.

High heat can damage fabrics way faster than people realize, especially:

  • Athletic wear
  • Leggings
  • Sweaters
  • Graphic tees

Hand Wash Only

Do people actually hand wash things anymore? Sometimes if it says so (I see you wool!). Although it feels like you’ve been transported back to the Victorian era. 

But honestly, if I’m being careful with most of my laundry, I usually put hand wash items into a mesh laundry bag and run them on a delicate setting in the wash with cold water.

Do Not Bleach

Pretty self explanatory, don’t bleach it!

This is why I love using Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener, it works as a substitute for bleach on whites and works great on colours too!

Dry Clean Only

Unfortunately, this one usually means business.

If something is expensive, structured, wool, silk, or sentimental, I wouldn’t risk throwing it into the wash. 

Washing Machine Settings Explained

Why do washing machines have 14 different settings when most of us only use one?

Here’s the simple version.

Normal

This is your everyday setting which you will probably use most often. 

Good for:

  • T-shirts
  • Socks
  • Pyjamas
  • Basic cotton clothes

If you’re unsure, this is usually the safest option.

Delicate

This setting uses gentler movement and lower spin speeds.

Use it for:

  • Sweaters
  • Thin fabrics
  • Lingerie
  • Anything you’re emotionally attached to

Heavy Duty

Best for:

  • Towels
  • Bedding
  • Hoodies
  • Very dirty clothes

Hotter water and stronger agitation help clean heavier fabrics more thoroughly. If I have stains on my clothes, Nellie’s WOW Stick never fails to do the trick. I just wet the stain and the stick, rub the WOW Stick on the stain before throwing the item in the wash, and it works like a charm. 

Permanent Press

I ignored this setting for months because I had no idea what it meant, but it’s actually for fabrics that wrinkle easily.

Good for:

  • Button-ups
  • Synthetic fabrics
  • Nicer everyday clothing
  • Mixed fabrics
  • Everyday loads

What Should Never Go in the Dryer

Things I usually avoid putting in the dryer:

  • Leggings
  • Bras
  • Wool sweaters
  • Silk
  • Athletic wear
  • Anything labeled “air dry”
  • Expensive clothes I care too much about
  • Clothes that already fit tight on me

Heat breaks down elastic over time and can shrink fabrics really fast! 

However, when I do use the dryer, Nellie's Scented Wool Dryerballs or Nellie's Lamby Dryerballs are a game changer because they help clothes dry faster and reduce static naturally without needing dryer sheets.

Things I Learned the Hard Way

Here are some other useful miscellaneous tips when it comes to a successful load of laundry:

  • Always check pockets before washing
  • Chapstick in the dryer is catastrophic
  • Overstuffing the washer means clothes won’t clean properly
  • Zip hoodies up before washing them
  • Towels create lint on literally everything
  • Read the clothing label before you panic after shrinking something

Laundry gets way less intimidating once you understand what the settings and labels actually mean.

And if you’re still figuring it out, trust me, so am I.

Lamby Wool Dryerballs laundry Laundry Soda Laundry Starter Bundle Oxygen Brightener wow stick

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