Lavation is a noun that refers to the act of cleaning.

Our word of the day comes from the Latin word ‘lavare,’ (la VAR ay) which means ‘to wash.’ Just like its close relative lavatory, it entered English in the 15th century, bringing with it the same basic meaning.

It’s not hard to get a pet poodle into the bathtub, but getting them to use soap is a little more complicated. It’s a good thing, lavation isn’t needed for pets on a daily basis.