I've tried to help them and they won't listen to me, so I'm 'washing my hands of' the whole mess.
She forgot to 'put the washing out'. [=to hang the laundry outside to dry]
She was in the kitchen 'doing the washing-up'. [='doing the dishes']
(..) At that same moment, Edie Britt was putting up a "for sale" sign on the lawn of the house where I once lived. Edie had also planned to spruce up the property by washing down the driveway. But she was pleased to see the rain had already taken care of that. This is what rainy days are good for. (..)2006 TvShow: Desperate Housewives Title: Listen to the Rain on the Roof Season: 3 Episode 1