Washing

Washing is one way of cleaning, namely with water and often some kind of soap or detergent. Washing is an essential part of good hygiene and health.

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 washcloth.

People usually wash themselves periodically. Little children, the sick, and people with disabilities may be washed by a caregiver. Often a shower or a bathtub is used for persons washing themselves or others. Showers or baths are commonly taken in the nude and often in private.

In Europe, some people (especially Italians) use a bidet to wash their external genitalia after using the toilet.

More frequent is washing of just the hands, e.g. before and after preparing food and eating, after using the toilet, after handling something dirty, etc. Hand washing is important in reducing the spread of germs.

Brushing one's teeth is also a kind of washing.

Washing also refers to laundry, often hung on a washing line or tumble dried. Washing also refers to washing our faces when we rise in the morning. We also wash our face often to keep ourselves cool.

Excessive washing may damage the hair or cause rough skin or skin lesions.