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hand-wash

American  
[hand-wosh, -wawsh] / ˈhændˌwɒʃ, -ˌwɔʃ /
Or handwash

verb (used with object)

  1. to launder by hand rather than by washing machine.

    to hand-wash socks in a hotel-room sink.


Etymology

Origin of hand-wash

First recorded in 1810–15; hand ( def. ) + wash ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But you can prolong their life with a few easy moves: Avoid metal utensils and high heat, both of which weaken their coating, and hand-wash them after they’ve cooled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

It’s worth the hassle of having to hand-wash the laundry.

From Slate ● Dec. 14, 2024

He built a fence from dead branches and dug a ditch so he could hand-wash his laundry and wash himself.

From Seattle Times ● May 12, 2024

The only drawback is that the mug and lids are all hand-wash only.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2022

I am not a big water user and have followed past recommendations, such as use dishwasher not hand-wash dishes, low-flow toilets, etc. and there is not much left to do.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2022

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