The Element Encyclopedia

by Theresa Cheung
Washing in dreams is a fairly common theme, and almost always relates to something that is troubling or worrying the dreamer in waking life. The harder the hands or body are scrubbed, the greater the need for the unconscious to be free of guilt or some kind of burden.

The same applies to washing stains in clothes.

If you are taking a shower or bath in your dream, this could indicate a problem that overshadows you in waking life.

If you are washing your hair, this is connected to your emotions, and if you are washing your genitals, there may be some kind of sexual adventure in waking life that you are ashamed of. You could also be worried about sexually transmitted diseases.

If you are cleaning your home, this could suggest that you want to get more organized in your waking life, but before you can do that you need to dispose of dirt or dust; this may refer to ways of thinking or responding that are clouding your judgments in waking life.

If you were watching a washing machine in your dream, this is a reference to your daily routine and the boredom you feel.

If you are trapped in the washing machine, you feel stifled by your daily routine; it will therefore be important to make changes in daily life as soon as possible.

The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary

by Nancy Wagaman
Cleaning (such as washing, sweeping, wiping up, or polishing) can represent: Getting rid of unwanted things such as feelings, thoughts, situations, or relationships (or a desire to do so).

Making an improvement in your life or making things more orderly in your physical, emotional, or mental world.

Fixing a mistake (or a desire to do so).

Denial, trying to “erase” facts, or trying to get rid of feelings or evidence.

Cleaning up after someone else can represent: fixing their problems, coming to their rescue, taking responsibility for them, or supporting their irresponsibility.

Consider also the context, who’s cleaning what, their motivation, and your feelings about what’s happening.

See Water, Soap, Sink, Cleaning Person, Washing Yourself, Napkin, Towel, Absorbing, Bleach

Dreamers Dictionary

by Garuda
Vision: Dreaming about cleaning: it is time to pay more attention to your relationships and to be more supportive. Cleaning and making yourself look better be more humble and modest. Dreaming about cleaning is a challenge to always improve and polish your character, removing the stains that might cling to it.

Depth Psychology: Remove emotional, mental, and moral blemishes that are clogging up fragile spiritual connections.

It is also important which objects are being cleaned or what is being “swept” out—pay attention to the rest of the images.