was washing, used to wash
Jenny lavaba la pared de la cocina dos veces al año.
Jenny washed the kitchen wall twice a year.
Sami se lavaba las manos.
Sami was washing his hands.
Él se lavaba donde encontraba agua.
He would wash himself wherever he found water.
— 3 Idiotas (2009)
La gente del palacio se lavaba las manos con cerveza y se afeitaba con miel.
The people in the palace washed their hands with beer and shaved with honey.