One chart reveals the core differences between 'washing' and 'selling'

Core difference: Washing is to acquire more stock at a cheaper price, selling is to sell the stock to you.

Washing: increased volume smash → reduced volume stabilization → increased volume pull (rapid recovery after a massive bearish candle at the bottom)

Selling: increased volume pull → massive stagnation → reduced volume drop (sideways bearish drop after a massive bullish candle at the top)

Washing must have a long lower shadow false breakout, selling must have a long upper shadow true breakout

Washing sees declining trading volume, selling sees continuously increasing trading volume during sideways movement

After washing, a big rise; after selling, a big drop

All false sell-offs are washes, all true washes resemble sell-offs.