What do Americans call washing clothes?

Author: Emile Feest  |  Last update: Friday, April 18, 2025

Laundry is the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well.

What is the American word for laundry?

In the US, I've only ever heard "laundry," never "the washing." (Although I have heard "the wash," but "laundry" is most common in the US.)

What's it called when you wash clothes?

To launder is to wash your clothes or other things made from cloth, like sheets and towels.

What is laundry in USA?

Laundry is used to refer to clothes, sheets, and towels that are about to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed. I'll do your laundry.

What do Americans call a washing machine?

A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a machine designed to launder clothing.

How do Americans do laundry?

What is the terminology for washing clothes?

Here is a list of words to learn for this lesson:
  • fabric softener.
  • bleach.
  • laundry.
  • a laundry basket.
  • a clothes peg.
  • a tap.
  • machine wash cold.
  • machine wash hot.

What is washer in American English?

1. : a flat thin ring or a perforated plate used in joints or assemblies to ensure tightness, prevent leakage, or relieve friction. 2. : one that washes. especially : washing machine.

What do British people call laundry?

I am English and would usually say 'do the wash' or 'do the washing,' although people here do say laundry sometimes. We say it because England was conquered by Normans from France >1000 years ago, and words like 'laundry' that mean normal things like 'washing' came from their language.

How to wash laundry in America?

  1. Step 1: Read your garment's care tag. ...
  2. Step 2: Sort and separate laundry. ...
  3. Step 3: Load laundry into the washer. ...
  4. Step 4: Add laundry detergent. ...
  5. Step 5: Choose a washing cycle. ...
  6. Step 6: Dry laundry in a dryer or air dry. ...
  7. Step 7: Choose a drying cycle. ...
  8. Step 8: Fold or hang clothes once dry.

What is a New York style laundry?

They're also sometimes known as New York laundries due to the innovative and space-saving apartment-style solutions required there. A European laundry is essentially a smaller laundry space that's incorporated into another part of the house rather than being its own standalone room.

What is washing slang for?

In the 21st century, slang senses of washed up and washed out dropped, apparently, their prepositions, e.g., washed for “irrelevant” “out of fashion.” You know you're washed when you're out and all you can think about is going to bed 😩

What do Americans call washing up?

Polite houseguests in the U.S. will offer to do the dishes (wash and dry the dishes) after a meal. The British equivalent do the washing-up is confusing to many Americans for whom the verb wash up usually means to wash yourself, especially your hands and face.

What is washing of clothes called?

Laundry is the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with this universal human need are of interest to several branches of scholarship.

What is a laundry list slang?

A laundry list is "a usually long list of items," and it's used to refer to lists of varying kinds: Indeed, ask any bartender about the most memorable first dates they've witnessed, and you'll get a laundry list of cringe-worthy encounters. They've seen women spring from barstools mid-date and storm out.

Is laundry an American term?

From here this little set of words evolved to give us the old French word lavanderie, which is itself a name for a place where people who washed laundry -unsurprisingly called lavandiers- would work. English took its version from the French by the way.

What is a wash cloth in America?

A washcloth, wash cloth, washrag (American English), or flannel (British English) is a rectangular or square piece of cloth used in washing the body.

How often do Americans do laundry?

◊ Laundry was the primary household responsibility of 76% of women and 24% of men in a Whirlpool survey of 2,500 consumers; some 78% of those surveyed do approximately nine loads of laundry each week.

What are people who wash clothes called?

A person who washes clothes is called a dhobi , washerman or laundryman.

Should you rinse soap off dishes?

Okay, but should you be rinsing the soap off your dishes? The short answer: Yes.

What do Americans call a washing line?

(also clothesline especially in North American English) (also line North American English, British English) (British English also washing line)

What do Americans mean by detergent?

: a cleansing agent: such as. a. : soap. b. : any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents.

What is the feminine of washer?

A washerwoman or laundress is a woman who takes in laundry.

What is washcloth in American English?

washcloth. The word washcloth is an Americanism that combines the words wash and cloth. In the UK, the terms face cloth or flannel are much more likely to be used to describe towels or cloths used to wash the face and body.

Previous article
What are the side effects of ultrasonic pest repellers?
Next article
How likely is a frozen pipe to burst?