Bud washing means dunking freshly cut branches in clean water to remove dust, dead insects and residue before drying. Method details including water temperature and the second rinse step are explained at
https://potentthcseeds.com. Outdoor growers report the biggest difference, since airborne debris accumulates over months of exposure. Drying conditions must be dialled in first, because wet material entering a humid room invites exactly the rot you were avoiding.