Wash vs. Clean — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 27, 2024
"Wash" specifically refers to the act of using water, often with soap or detergent, to remove dirt or contaminants, while "clean" is a broader term that encompasses any method of making something free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter.
Difference Between Wash and Clean
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Washing is a subset of cleaning, focused on the use of liquids, primarily water, to remove soil, dust, stains, or pollutants from objects such as clothes, dishes, or one's body. It implies a process that typically involves agitation, soaking, or rinsing. On the other hand, cleaning is a more inclusive term that can involve dry methods (like dusting or vacuuming), chemical cleaning (using disinfectants or solvents), or even digital cleaning (such as organizing files on a computer or removing malware).
Wash is often used when the main goal is to not just remove visible dirt but also to ensure that the item is hygienically clean, as in the case of handwashing or laundering clothes. Cleaning, while it can also aim for hygiene, focuses more broadly on the removal of unwanted substances to restore an item to its original state or to maintain its appearance and functionality.
The methods and tools used for washing are typically specific to the task and include soaps, detergents, and brushes, relying heavily on the physical action of water to carry away impurities. Cleaning, in contrast, encompasses a wider range of tools and techniques, from brooms and dusters for dry cleaning to specialized chemical agents for removing specific types of stains or buildup.
In practice, washing is usually a component of cleaning routines but not the entirety of them. For example, cleaning a kitchen may involve washing dishes and mopping floors with water and cleaning agents, but it also includes wiping surfaces with disinfectants and dusting appliances, which may not involve water at all.
While "wash" and "clean" are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation, their technical distinction lies in the methods and tools used, with washing being more narrowly focused on water-based cleaning and cleaning being the overarching process that includes washing among other methods.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Using water and detergents to remove dirt.
Removing dirt, marks, or unwanted matter by any means.
Scope
Specific to liquid-based methods.
Broad, including dry, liquid, and chemical methods.
Focus
Primarily on hygiene and removing contaminants.
On appearance, hygiene, and functionality.
Tools/Methods
Soaps, detergents, water, brushes.
Dusters, vacuums, soaps, disinfectants, brooms.
Examples
Washing clothes, dishes, hands.
Cleaning a room, organizing files, dusting furniture.
Aim
To ensure hygienic cleanliness.
To restore or maintain original state or functionality.
Application
Often used for body, clothes, and dishes.
Applied to a wide range of objects and environments.
Compare with Definitions
Wash
To use water and soap to remove dirt from something.
She decided to wash the car after the muddy drive.
Clean
Making something free of dirt or unwanted matter.
She cleans her desk every evening to keep it neat.
Wash
Involves soaking or rinsing items.
He washes his dishes every night to keep the kitchen tidy.
Clean
Can involve a variety of methods, not just washing.
Cleaning the attic took the whole day and involved dusting and vacuuming.
Wash
Aimed at hygiene and cleanliness.
They wash their clothes weekly to maintain freshness.
Clean
Aimed at restoring or maintaining condition.
He cleaned the antique vase carefully to preserve its paint.
Wash
Often requires physical agitation.
Washing the dog involved a lot of splashing and scrubbing.
Clean
Includes digital contexts.
It's important to regularly clean your computer of unnecessary files.
Wash
Focused on items typically cleaned with water.
Washing your hands frequently is important for hygiene.
Clean
Encompasses a wider range of activities.
Spring cleaning involves organizing, dusting, and sometimes painting.
Wash
Clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent
Auntie Lou had washed all their clothes
He washed down the woodwork in the kitchen
Clean
Free from dirt, marks, or stains
Keep the wound clean
The room was spotlessly clean
Wash
(of flowing water) carry (someone or something) in a particular direction
Floods washed away the bridges
Clean
Morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent
Clean living
Wash
Brush with a thin coat of dilute paint or ink
The walls were washed with shades of umber
Clean
Free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface
A clean fracture of the leg
Wash
Seem convincing or genuine
Charm won't wash with this crew
Clean
(of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh
Clean, fresh, natural flavours
Wash
An act of washing something or an instance of being washed
Her hair needs a wash
Clean
So as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter
The room had been washed clean
Wash
The water or air disturbed by a moving boat or aircraft
The wash of a motorboat
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
Wash
An inlet of the North Sea on the east coast of England between Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
Clean
Make clean; remove dirt, marks, or stains from
Clean your teeth properly after meals
I cleaned up my room
Wash
A medicinal or cleansing solution
Citrus-scented body wash
Clean
An act of cleaning something
He gave the room a clean
Wash
A layer of paint or metal spread thinly on a surface
The walls were covered with a pale lemon wash
Clean
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Wash
Silt or gravel carried by a stream or river and deposited as sediment.
Clean
Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated
Clean air.
Clean drinking water.
Wash
Kitchen slops and other food waste fed to pigs.
Clean
Not infected
A clean wound.
Wash
Malt fermenting in preparation for distillation.
Clean
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Wash
A situation or result that is of no benefit to either of two opposing sides
The plan's impact on jobs would be a wash, creating as many as it costs
Clean
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Wash
To cleanse, using water or other liquid, usually with soap, detergent, or bleach, by immersing, dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing
Wash one's hands.
Wash windows.
Clean
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Wash
To soak, rinse out, and remove (dirt or stain) with water or other liquid
Wash grease out of overalls.
Clean
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Wash
To make moist or wet; drench
Tears washed the child's cheeks.
Clean
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Wash
To flow over, against, or past
Waves that washed the sandy shores.
Clean
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Wash
To carry, erode, remove, or destroy by the action of moving water
Heavy rains washed the topsoil away.
Clean
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Wash
To rid of corruption or guilt; cleanse or purify
Wash sins away.
Clean
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Wash
To cover or coat with a watery layer of paint or other coloring substance.
Clean
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Wash
To purify (a gas) by passing through or over a liquid, as to remove soluble matter.
Clean
Blank
A clean page.
Wash
To pass a solvent, such as distilled water, through (a precipitate).
Clean
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Wash
To separate constituents of (an ore) by immersion in or agitation with water.
Clean
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Wash
To cause to undergo a swirling action
Washed the tea around in the cup.
Clean
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Wash
To cleanse something in or by means of water or other liquid.
Clean
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Wash
To undergo washing without fading or other damage
This fabric will wash.
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Wash
(Informal) To hold up under examination; be convincing
His story will not wash with the police.
Clean
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Wash
To flow, sweep, or beat with a characteristic lapping sound
Waves washed over the pilings.
Clean
Free from narcotics addiction.
Wash
To be carried away, removed, or drawn by the action of water.
Clean
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Wash
The act or process of washing or cleansing.
Clean
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Wash
A quantity of articles washed or intended for washing
The wash is on the back porch.
Clean
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Wash
Waste liquid; swill.
Clean
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Wash
Fermented liquid from which liquor is distilled.
Clean
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Wash
A preparation or product used in washing or coating.
Clean
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Wash
A cosmetic or medicinal liquid, such as a mouthwash.
Clean
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Wash
A thin layer of watercolor or India ink spread on a drawing.
Clean
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Wash
A light tint or hue
"a wash of red sunset" (Thomas Pynchon).
Clean
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Wash
A rush or surge of water or waves.
Clean
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Wash
The sound of this rush or surge.
Clean
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Wash
Removal or erosion of soil by the action of moving water.
Clean
Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
Wash
A deposit of recently eroded debris.
Clean
Not dirty.
Are these dishes clean?
Your room is finally clean!
Wash
Low or marshy ground washed by tidal waters.
Clean
In an unmarked condition.
Put a clean sheet of paper into the printer.
Wash
A stretch of shallow water.
Clean
(aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
Wash
Western US The dry bed of a stream.
Clean
(aviation) Having the undercarriage and flaps in the up position.
Wash
Turbulence in air or water caused by the motion or action of an oar, propeller, jet, or airfoil.
Clean
Empty.
The cargo hold is clean.
Mister, I want to see a clean dinner plate or there'll be no dessert for you.
Wash
(Informal) An activity, action, or enterprise that yields neither marked gain nor marked loss
"[The company] doesn't do badly. That is, it's a wash" (Harper's).
Clean
(of metal) Having relatively few impurities.
Clean steel
Wash
Used for washing.
Clean
Free of immorality or criminality.
Wash
Being such that washing is possible; washable.
Clean
Pure, especially morally or religiously.
Our kids can watch this movie because it is clean.
Wash
To clean with water.
The car is so dirty, we need to wash it.
Dishwashers wash dishes much more efficiently than most humans.
Clean
Not having used drugs or alcohol.
I've been clean this time for eight months.
Wash
(transitive) To move or erode by the force of water in motion.
Heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.
The flood washed away houses.
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!
Wash
(mining) To separate valuable material (such as gold) from worthless material by the action of flowing water.
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.
Wash
(intransitive) To clean oneself with water.
I wash every morning after getting up.
Clean
(informal) Devoid of profanity.
Wash
(transitive) To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and moisten.
Waves wash the shore.
Clean
Smooth, exact, and performed well.
I'll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.
A clean leap over a fence
Wash
(intransitive) To move with a lapping or swashing sound; to lap or splash.
To hear the water washing
Clean
(obsolete) Total; utter. still in "clean sweep"
Wash
(intransitive) To be eroded or carried away by the action of water.
Clean
(informal) Cool or neat.
Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!
Wash
To be cogent, convincing; to withstand critique.
Clean
That does not damage the environment.
Clean energy;
Clean coal
Wash
(intransitive) To bear without injury the operation of being washed.
Some calicoes do not wash.
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
Clean land;
Clean timber
Wash
(intransitive) To be wasted or worn away by the action of water, as by a running or overflowing stream, or by the dashing of the sea; said of road, a beach, etc.
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
Wash
To cover with a thin or watery coat of colour; to tint lightly and thinly.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely.
Clean limbs
Wash
To overlay with a thin coat of metal.
Steel washed with silver
Clean
Ascended without falling.
Wash
(transitive) To cause dephosphorization of (molten pig iron) by adding substances containing iron oxide, and sometimes manganese oxide.
Clean
Removal of dirt.
This place needs a clean.
Wash
(transitive) To pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid for the purpose of purifying it, especially by removing soluble constituents.
Clean
(weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
Wash
The process or an instance of washing or being washed by water or other liquid.
I'm going to have a quick wash before coming to bed.
My jacket needs a wash.
Clean
(transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.
Can you clean the windows today?
Wash
A liquid used for washing.
Clean
(transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.
Clean your room right now!
Wash
A lotion or other liquid with medicinal or hygienic properties.
Mouth wash
Hand wash
Clean
To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
Wash
The quantity of clothes washed at a time.
There's a lot in that wash: maybe you should split it into two piles.
Clean
(intransitive) To make things clean in general.
She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.
Wash
(arts) A smooth and translucent painting created using a paintbrush holding a large amount of solvent and a small amount of paint.
Clean
To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
Wash
The breaking of waves on the shore; the onwards rush of shallow water towards a beach.
I could hear the wash of the wave.
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.
Wash
The bow wave, wake, or vortex of an object moving in a fluid, in particular:
Clean
To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
Wash
The bow wave or wake of a moving ship, or the vortex from its screws.
The ship left a big wash
Sail away from the wash to avoid rocking the boat.
Clean
(video games) clean up
Wash
The turbulence left in the air by a moving airplane.
Clean
To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.
Wash
The backward current or disturbed water caused by the action of oars, or of a steamer's screw or paddles, etc.
Clean
Fully and completely.
He was stabbed clean through.
You must be clean mad.
Wash
(nautical) The blade of an oar.
Clean
Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
Wash
Ground washed away to the sea or a river.
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
Wash
A piece of ground washed by the action of water, or sometimes covered and sometimes left dry; the shallowest part of a river, or arm of the sea; also, a bog; a marsh.
Clean
Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
Wash
A shallow body of water.
Clean
Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
Wash
In arid and semi-arid regions, the normally dry bed of an intermittent or ephemeral stream; an arroyo or wadi.
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.
Wash
A situation in which losses and gains or advantages and disadvantages are equivalent; a situation in which there is no net change.
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
Wash
A fictitious kind of sale of stock or other securities between parties of one interest, or by a broker who is both buyer and seller, and who minds his own interest rather than that of his clients.
Clean
Free from ceremonial defilement.
Wash
Waste liquid, the refuse of food, the collection from washed dishes, etc., from a kitchen, often used as food for pigs; pigwash.
Clean
Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy.
Wash
In distilling, the fermented wort before the spirit is extracted.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Wash
A mixture of dunder, molasses, water, and scummings, used in the West Indies for distillation.
Clean
Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Wash
A thin coat of paint or metal laid on anything for beauty or preservation.
Clean
Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously.
Wash
Ten strikes, or bushels, of oysters.
Clean
To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
Wash
(architecture) The upper surface of a member or material when given a slope to shed water; hence, a structure or receptacle shaped so as to receive and carry off water.
A carriage wash in a stable
Clean
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Wash
(television) A lighting effect that fills a scene with a chosen colour.
Clean
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from;
Clean the stove!
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Wash
(stagecraft) A lighting fixture that can cast a wide beam of light to evenly fill an area with light, as opposed to a spotlight.
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Wash
To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and moisten; hence, to overflow or dash against; as, waves wash the shore.
Fresh-blown roses washed with dew.
[The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist.
Clean
Clean and tidy up the house;
She housecleans every week
Wash
To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as, heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.
Clean
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Wash
To remove by washing to take away by, or as by, the action of water; to drag or draw off as by the tide; - often with away, off, out, etc.; as, to wash dirt from the hands.
Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.
The tide will wash you off.
Clean
Be cleanable;
This stove cleans easily
Wash
To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint lightly and thinly.
Clean
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.;
The other players cleaned him completely
Wash
To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed with silver.
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
Wash
To cause dephosphorisation of (molten pig iron) by adding substances containing iron oxide, and sometimes manganese oxide.
Clean
Remove while making clean;
Clean the spots off the rug
Wash
To pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid for the purpose of purifying it, esp. by removing soluble constituents.
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from
Wash
To perform the act of ablution.
Wash in Jordan seven times.
Clean
Remove shells or husks from;
Clean grain before milling it
Wash
To clean anything by rubbing or dipping it in water; to perform the business of cleansing clothes, ore, etc., in water.
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
Wash
To bear without injury the operation of being washed; as, some calicoes do not wash.
Clean
Free of restrictions or qualifications;
A clean bill of health
A clear winner
Wash
To be wasted or worn away by the action of water, as by a running or overflowing stream, or by the dashing of the sea; - said of road, a beach, etc.
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
Wash
To use washes, as for the face or hair.
Clean
Free from impurities;
Clean water
Fresh air
Wash
To move with a lapping or swashing sound, or the like; to lap; splash; as, to hear the water washing.
Clean
Without difficulties or problems;
A clean test flight
Wash
To be accepted as true or valid; to be proven true by subsequent evidence; - usually used in the negative; as, his alibi won't wash.
Clean
Ritually clean or pure
Wash
The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once.
Clean
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination;
A clean fuel
Cleaner and more efficient engines
The tactical bomb is reasonably clean
Wash
A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and sometimes left dry; the shallowest part of a river, or arm of the sea; also, a bog; a marsh; a fen; as, the washes in Lincolnshire.
These Lincoln washes have devoured them.
Clean
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers;
Good clean fun
A clean joke
Wash
Substances collected and deposited by the action of water; as, the wash of a sewer, of a river, etc.
The wash of pastures, fields, commons, and roads, where rain water hath a long time settled.
Clean
Free from sepsis or infection;
A clean (or uninfected) wound
Wash
Waste liquid, the refuse of food, the collection from washed dishes, etc., from a kitchen, often used as food for pigs.
Clean
Morally pure;
Led a clean life
Wash
The fermented wort before the spirit is extracted.
Clean
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Wash
That with which anything is washed, or wetted, smeared, tinted, etc., upon the surface.
Clean
Of a surface; not written or printed on;
Blank pages
Fill in the blank spaces
A clean page
Wide white margins
Wash
A liquid cosmetic for the complexion.
Clean
Marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play;
A clean fight
A sporting solution of the disagreement
Sportsmanlike conduct
Wash
The blade of an oar, or the thin part which enters the water.
Clean
Thorough and without qualification;
A clean getaway
A clean sweep
A clean break
Wash
A liquid dentifrice.
Clean
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense;
A clean voting recor
A clean driver's license
Wash
The flow, swash, or breaking of a body of water, as a wave; also, the sound of it.
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons
Wash
A liquid preparation for the hair; as, a hair wash.
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
Wash
Ten strikes, or bushels, of oysters.
Clean
Free of drugs;
After a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Wash
A medical preparation in a liquid form for external application; a lotion.
Clean
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Wash
Gravel and other rock débris transported and deposited by running water; coarse alluvium.
Clean
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Wash
A thin coat of color, esp. water color.
Wash
The dry bed of an intermittent stream, sometimes at the bottom of a cañon; as, the Amargosa wash, Diamond wash; - called also dry wash.
Wash
A thin coat of metal applied in a liquid form on any object, for beauty or preservation; - called also washing.
Wash
The upper surface of a member or material when given a slope to shed water. Hence, a structure or receptacle shaped so as to receive and carry off water, as a carriage wash in a stable.
Wash
An action or situation in which the gains and losses are equal, or closely compensate each other.
Wash
The disturbance of the air left behind in the wake of a moving airplane or one of its parts.
Wash
Washy; weak.
Their bodies of so weak and wash a temper.
Wash
Capable of being washed without injury; washable; as, wash goods.
Wash
A thin coat of water-base paint
Wash
The work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
Wash
The dry bed of an intermittent stream (as at the bottom of a canyon)
Wash
The erosive process of washing away soil or gravel by water (as from a roadway);
From the house they watched the washout of their newly seeded lawn by the water
Wash
The flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
Wash
A watercolor made by applying a series of monochrome washes one over the other
Wash
Garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
Wash
Any enterprise in which losses and gains cancel out;
At the end of the year the accounting department showed that it was a wash
Wash
Clean with some chemical process
Wash
Cleanse (one's body) with soap and water
Wash
Cleanse with a cleaning agent, such as soap, and water;
Wash the towels, please!
Wash
Move by or as if by water;
The swollen river washed away the footbridge
Wash
Be capable of being washed;
Does this material wash?
Wash
Admit to testing or proof;
This silly excuse won't wash in traffic court
Wash
Separate dirt or gravel from (precious minerals)
Wash
Apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc., to
Wash
Form by erosion;
The river washed a ravine into the mountainside
Wash
Make moist;
The dew moistened the meadows
Wash
Wash or flow against;
The waves laved the shore
Wash
To cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking;
The cat washes several times a day
Common Curiosities
Why do some labels say "clean with a damp cloth" instead of "wash"?
This suggests using a minimal amount of water to remove dirt or stains, indicating a method that is more controlled and less immersive than washing.
What's the difference between washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen?
Washing dishes focuses on removing food and grime with water and soap, while cleaning the kitchen may include this along with other tasks like wiping surfaces and organizing.
Is hand sanitizer a form of washing?
Hand sanitizer is more aligned with cleaning, as it disinfects without the use of water, which is a key component of washing.
Why is it important to distinguish between wash and clean?
The distinction helps clarify the appropriate methods and tools for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, ensuring effective and safe cleaning practices.
Is using a dishwasher considered washing?
Yes, using a dishwasher is a form of washing as it involves water and detergents to clean dishes.
Can something be clean but not washed?
Yes, an item can be clean (free of dirt and debris) through methods like dusting or wiping without being washed with water.
Can you clean a surface without making it wet?
Yes, you can clean a surface without making it wet by using dry methods such as dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming to remove dirt and debris.
Is steam cleaning considered washing?
Steam cleaning is a hybrid method; it uses water in vapor form to clean and sanitize, fitting both into washing (due to the use of water) and cleaning (because it's effective without direct water contact on the surface).
Can I clean something without washing it?
Yes, cleaning can involve dry methods such as dusting or using chemical cleaners that don't require water.
How does digital cleaning differ from traditional cleaning?
Digital cleaning involves organizing and removing unnecessary digital files or software, contrasting with traditional cleaning's focus on physical spaces and objects.
Is washing always necessary for cleaning?
No, washing is a specific method of cleaning involving water and often detergents, but cleaning can be achieved through other means as well.
Why is washing hands with soap and water recommended over just cleaning them with a wipe?
Washing hands with soap and water is more effective in removing germs, including viruses and bacteria, because it combines the cleaning action of soap with the rinsing action of water, whereas wipes may not remove all types of germs.
How does washing clothes differ from dry cleaning them?
Washing clothes involves water and detergents to remove stains and dirt, while dry cleaning uses chemical solvents to clean clothes without water, beneficial for delicate fabrics.
What does it mean to wash fruits and vegetables?
Washing fruits and vegetables involves rinsing them under water to remove dirt, bacteria, and traces of pesticides, enhancing their safety and cleanliness for consumption.
What's the difference between air cleaning and washing?
Air cleaning involves removing pollutants and contaminants from the air using filters or purifiers, without the use of water, whereas washing typically refers to cleaning solid surfaces or items with water.
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