Clean vs. Cleanse — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 24, 2024
Cleaning involves removing dirt and debris, primarily for appearance and sanitation. Cleansing focuses on thorough purification, often with health or spiritual connotations.
Difference Between Clean and Cleanse
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Cleaning is a general term that refers to the act of making something free from dirt, marks, or mess, typically through physical means like washing or wiping. It aims to improve the appearance and hygiene of objects or environments. Whereas cleansing is often used to denote a more thorough or profound process of making something clean, and it can extend to abstract concepts such as purifying the body or soul from toxins or negative energies.
While cleaning can apply to a broad range of activities, from tidying a room to washing clothes, cleansing is more specific and is often associated with health, wellness, and spiritual practices. For example, dietary cleanses aim to remove toxins from the body, and spiritual or emotional cleansing seeks to rid the mind or spirit of negativity. On the other hand, the goal of cleaning is more about maintaining standards of hygiene and order.
The context in which these terms are used can vary greatly. Cleaning is a routine part of daily life and is recognized as a practical, necessary activity in maintaining a healthy living environment. Cleansing, while it can also be part of regular health and wellness routines, is sometimes undertaken as part of a specific regimen or ritual, indicating a temporary or occasional effort to achieve a particular state of purity or clarity.
Despite these differences, both cleaning and cleansing share the fundamental objective of removing unwanted substances. The main distinction lies in the scope and intention behind each act: cleaning is about upkeep and sanitation, while cleansing is about achieving a deeper state of purity, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Removing dirt and debris for hygiene and appearance
Thorough purification for health or spiritual reasons
ADVERTISEMENT
Focus
Surface cleanliness and order
Deep purification and detoxification
Common Applications
Homes, public spaces, objects
Body, mind, spiritual practices
Methods
Detergents, soaps, scrubbing
Diets, fasting, rituals, specific substances
Intention
Maintenance of hygiene and aesthetics
Achieving a state of purity or clarity
Compare with Definitions
Clean
Involves physical and routine efforts.
He spends every Saturday morning cleaning his car.
Cleanse
Aimed at removing toxins or negative energies.
He believes in cleansing his diet of processed foods periodically.
Clean
Essential for a healthy living environment.
Keeping the house clean is crucial for the family’s health.
Cleanse
To purify or detoxify, often with a focus on health or spiritual well-being.
She started a juice cleanse to detoxify her body.
Clean
To remove dirt, debris, or impurities from a surface or environment.
She decided to clean the kitchen counters with a disinfectant.
Cleanse
Involves a thorough process.
The ritual bath is intended to cleanse the spirit before the ceremony.
Clean
Utilizes common household products.
Using vinegar and baking soda is an effective way to clean many surfaces.
Cleanse
May use specific diets, substances, or rituals.
Using sage to cleanse a room is common in many cultures.
Clean
Aimed at improving appearance and sanitation.
Regularly cleaning your workspace can help reduce the spread of germs.
Cleanse
Often associated with wellness and spiritual practices.
Many people cleanse their minds through meditation and mindfulness.
Clean
Free from dirt, marks, or stains
Keep the wound clean
The room was spotlessly clean
Cleanse
To free from dirt, contamination, or impurities
Cleansed the wound.
Clean
Morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent
Clean living
Cleanse
To treat (the body or an organ) with a regimen intended to remove impurities and promote health
Drank vegetable juice for a week to cleanse her digestive system.
Clean
Free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface
A clean fracture of the leg
Cleanse
To purify morally or spiritually
Cleanse the organization of corruption.
Cleansed of sin.
Clean
(of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh
Clean, fresh, natural flavours
Cleanse
To subject to ethnic cleansing.
Clean
So as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter
The room had been washed clean
Cleanse
An act of cleansing
A cleanse of the digestive system.
Clean
Used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience
He was knocked clean off his feet
I clean forgot her birthday
Cleanse
(transitive) To free from dirt; to clean, to purify.
Clean
Make clean; remove dirt, marks, or stains from
Clean your teeth properly after meals
I cleaned up my room
Cleanse
(transitive) To spiritually purify; to free from guilt or sin; to purge.
Clean
An act of cleaning something
He gave the room a clean
Cleanse
(transitive) To remove (something seen as unpleasant) from a person, place, or thing.
Clean
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Cleanse
An act of cleansing; a purification.
I regularly visit the spa for a massage and a facial cleanse.
Clean
Not infected
A clean wound.
Cleanse
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Clean
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Cleanse
Purge of an ideology, bad thoughts, or sins;
Purgatory is supposed to cleanse you from your sins
Clean
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Clean
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Clean
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Clean
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Clean
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Clean
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Clean
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Clean
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Clean
Blank
A clean page.
Clean
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Clean
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Clean
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Clean
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Clean
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Clean
Free from narcotics addiction.
Clean
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Clean
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Clean
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Clean
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Clean
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Clean
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Clean
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Clean
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Clean
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Clean
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Clean
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Clean
Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
Clean
Not dirty.
Are these dishes clean?
Your room is finally clean!
Clean
In an unmarked condition.
Put a clean sheet of paper into the printer.
Clean
(aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
Clean
(aviation) Having the undercarriage and flaps in the up position.
Clean
Empty.
The cargo hold is clean.
Mister, I want to see a clean dinner plate or there'll be no dessert for you.
Clean
(of metal) Having relatively few impurities.
Clean steel
Clean
Free of immorality or criminality.
Clean
Pure, especially morally or religiously.
Our kids can watch this movie because it is clean.
Clean
Not having used drugs or alcohol.
I've been clean this time for eight months.
Clean
(of criminal, driving, etc. records) Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.
Unlike you, I’ve never caused any accidents — my record is still clean!
Clean
(informal) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.
I'm clean, officer. You can go ahead and search me if you want.
Clean
(informal) Devoid of profanity.
Clean
Smooth, exact, and performed well.
I'll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.
A clean leap over a fence
Clean
(obsolete) Total; utter. still in "clean sweep"
Clean
(informal) Cool or neat.
Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!
Clean
That does not damage the environment.
Clean energy;
Clean coal
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
Clean land;
Clean timber
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely.
Clean limbs
Clean
Ascended without falling.
Clean
Removal of dirt.
This place needs a clean.
Clean
(weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
Clean
(transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.
Can you clean the windows today?
Clean
(transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.
Clean your room right now!
Clean
To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
Clean
(intransitive) To make things clean in general.
She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.
Clean
To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
Clean
To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
Clean
To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
Clean
(video games) clean up
Clean
To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.
Clean
Fully and completely.
He was stabbed clean through.
You must be clean mad.
Clean
Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
Clean
Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
Clean
Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.
Clean
Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven
Clean
Free from ceremonial defilement.
Clean
Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Clean
Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Clean
Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously.
Clean
To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
Clean
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Clean
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from;
Clean the stove!
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Clean
Clean and tidy up the house;
She housecleans every week
Clean
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Clean
Be cleanable;
This stove cleans easily
Clean
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.;
The other players cleaned him completely
Clean
Remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely;
The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
Clean
Remove while making clean;
Clean the spots off the rug
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from
Clean
Remove shells or husks from;
Clean grain before milling it
Clean
Free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits;
Children with clean shining faces
Clean white shirts
Clean dishes
A spotlessly clean house
Cats are clean animals
Clean
Free of restrictions or qualifications;
A clean bill of health
A clear winner
Clean
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims;
Efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Clear laughter like a waterfall
Clear reds and blues
A light lilting voice like a silver bell
Clean
Free from impurities;
Clean water
Fresh air
Clean
Without difficulties or problems;
A clean test flight
Clean
Ritually clean or pure
Clean
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination;
A clean fuel
Cleaner and more efficient engines
The tactical bomb is reasonably clean
Clean
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers;
Good clean fun
A clean joke
Clean
Free from sepsis or infection;
A clean (or uninfected) wound
Clean
Morally pure;
Led a clean life
Clean
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Clean
Of a surface; not written or printed on;
Blank pages
Fill in the blank spaces
A clean page
Wide white margins
Clean
Marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play;
A clean fight
A sporting solution of the disagreement
Sportsmanlike conduct
Clean
Thorough and without qualification;
A clean getaway
A clean sweep
A clean break
Clean
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense;
A clean voting recor
A clean driver's license
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons
Clean
Free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed;
He landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek
A clean throw
The neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
Clean
Free of drugs;
After a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Clean
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Clean
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between cleaning and cleansing?
The main difference lies in their scope and intention: cleaning focuses on removing dirt for hygiene and appearance, while cleansing aims at a deeper purification for health or spiritual reasons.
How often should one cleanse their body or space?
The frequency can vary based on personal beliefs, health goals, or cultural practices. It's often done periodically, unlike routine cleaning.
Can cleansing refer to physical objects?
Yes, but it often involves a more symbolic or health-related aspect, such as using specific rituals to purify a space.
Is cleaning always physical?
Primarily, yes. Cleaning typically involves physical actions and products to remove dirt and germs from tangible surfaces.
Is spiritual cleansing recognized in all cultures?
While the practices may vary, many cultures have some form of spiritual cleansing, though the methods and beliefs behind them can differ significantly.
Do cleaning and cleansing require professional help?
While many cleaning and some cleansing practices can be done individually, certain situations (like deep cleaning of homes or specific spiritual rituals) may benefit from professional expertise.
Are cleansing products different from cleaning products?
Generally, yes. Cleansing products might include dietary supplements, herbal concoctions, or specific substances meant for detoxification, rather than the chemical cleaners used in routine cleaning.
How do cleaning and cleansing impact mental health?
Both can have positive effects: cleaning by creating a more orderly environment, and cleansing by promoting a sense of renewal and purity.
Can cleansing be harmful?
If not done properly or with unsafe methods, yes. It's important to approach both physical and spiritual cleansing practices with care and, if necessary, professional guidance.
Can cleaning have health benefits?
Absolutely. Regular cleaning reduces the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses, and allergens, contributing to overall health.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Bourbon vs. Whiskey
Next Comparison
Pseudocode vs. AlgorithmAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
