rinse

Rinse is both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to wash something briefly with clean water to remove dirt, soap, or other residues. As a noun, rinse can denote the act of rinsing or a liquid used for rinsing, such as a mouth rinse or a conditioner rinse.

In everyday use, rinsing follows washing. People rinse dishes after washing to remove detergent, rinse hands with water after washing, or rinse hair after shampoo by applying and then removing a conditioner. Household appliances may include a rinse cycle that uses clean water to clear away soap and debris. Rinsing is also common in food preparation and produce handling, to reduce surface residues.

In oral care, a mouth rinse (mouthwash) is a liquid designed to freshen breath or reduce oral bacteria; it is swished in the mouth and then spat out. Some rinses have active ingredients such as antiseptics or fluoride.

In laboratories and industry, a rinse refers to a sequence of washing steps intended to remove contaminants. Glassware is often rinsed with deionized or distilled water, and then with an appropriate solvent as needed. In textiles and dyeing, rinsing removes unfixed dye and finishing chemicals to improve color fastness and fabric feel.