Editing Washing (section)

{{Short description|Method of cleaning}}
[[File:Woman washing hands.jpg|right|thumb|A woman washes her hands with soap and water.]]
'''Washing''' is a method of [[cleaning]], usually with [[water]] and [[soap]] or [[detergent]]. Regularly washing and then rinsing both body and clothing is an essential part of good [[hygiene]] and health.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bockmühl |first1=Dirk P. |last2=Schages |first2=Jan |last3=Rehberg |first3=Laura |title=Laundry and textile hygiene in healthcare and beyond |journal=Microbial Cell |date=2019 |volume=6 |issue=7 |pages=299–306 |doi=10.15698/mic2019.07.682 |issn=2311-2638 |pmc=6600116 |pmid=31294042}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moyer |first=Melinda Wenner |date=2023-10-23 |title=Do You Really Need to Shower Every Day? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/well/live/shower-every-day.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hadaway |first=Alexis |date=2020-01-02 |title=Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15398285.2019.1710981 |journal=Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet |language=en |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=43–49 |doi=10.1080/15398285.2019.1710981 |issn=1539-8285|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Often people use soaps and detergents to assist in the [[emulsification]] of oils and dirt particles so they can be washed away. The soap can be applied directly, or with the aid of a [[Towel|washcloth]] or assisted with [[Sponge (tool)|sponges]] or similar [[List of cleaning tools|cleaning tools]].

In social contexts, washing refers to the act of [[bathing]], or washing different parts of the body, such as [[Hand washing|hands]], [[Hair washing|hair]], or [[Face washing|faces]]. Excessive washing may damage the hair, causing dandruff, or cause rough skin/skin lesions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ettinger |first=Jill |date=2018-10-22 |title=You Probably Wash Your Hair Way Too Much (Really!) |url=https://www.organicauthority.com/energetic-health/you-wash-your-hair-too-much |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Organic Authority |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Petersen |first=Eiko E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yKh_AT0UZwC&pg=SA6-PA13 |title=Infections in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Textbook and Atlas |date=2005-12-07 |publisher=Thieme |isbn=978-3-13-161511-4 |pages=6–13 |language=en}}</ref> Some washing of the body is done ritually in religions like Christianity and Judaism, as an [[Ritual purification|act of purification]].

Washing can also refer to washing objects. For example, [[laundry|washing of clothing]] or other cloth items, like bedsheets, or [[Dishwashing|washing dishes or cookwear]]. Keeping objects clean, especially if they interact with food or the skin, can help with sanitation. Other kinds of washing focus on maintaining cleanliness and durability of objects that get dirty, such [[Car wash|washing one's car]], by lathering the exterior with car soap, or washing tools used in a dirty process. 
[[File:Washer.600pix.jpg|thumb|right|A private home [[washing machine]]]]