Custom Fields — Wash Docs

Wash can send a post's custom fields to Shopify as article metafields, so your theme can show them. It covers plain WordPress custom fields (post meta), Yoast and Rank Math SEO data, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

Metafield sync is part of the Pro plan and above. ACF fields need the Business plan or above.

What syncs where

Wash puts each kind of field in its own metafield namespace:

Source	Shopify namespace	Example
WordPress core data	`wash`	`wash.wp_permalink`, `wash.featured_image_url`
Yoast SEO, Rank Math	`wash_seo`	`wash_seo.meta_title`, `wash_seo.meta_description`, `wash_seo.focus_keyword`
ACF fields	`wash_acf`	`wash_acf.subtitle`
Other custom fields	`wash_custom`	`wash_custom.reading_time`

The core fields are wp_post_id, wp_permalink, wp_post_type, wp_modified_date and featured_image_url.

Keys are lowercased, anything other than letters, digits and underscores becomes _, and keys are cut to 64 characters. Custom fields whose names start with an underscore are WordPress internals and are skipped.

Turning it on

Meta Fields Configuration in WordPress

Go to Settings > Wash Connector and open the Sync Settings tab
Make sure Sync Metafields is ticked (it is by default) and save
Open the Meta Fields tab
Click Refresh Fields. Wash scans your posts and lists every field it finds, with its Namespace, Source and Type
Switch on Sync for each field you want in Shopify

Each switch saves straight away and the choice is copied to the Wash app ("Saved & synced to Shopify"). The first time a post with that field syncs, Wash creates the metafield definition in Shopify for you, so you don't have to add it under Settings > Custom data yourself.

The same list is in the Shopify app, under the connection's Settings > Meta Fields.

The Meta Fields tab in the connection settings in Shopify

Field types

Wash picks the metafield type from the field. For ACF it uses the field's own type:

ACF field type	Shopify metafield type
Text, Email, Select, Radio, Button Group	Single line text
Textarea, WYSIWYG	Multi-line text
Number	Decimal
Range	Integer
True / False	Boolean
URL, Image, File, Page Link, oEmbed	URL
Date Picker	Date
Date Time Picker	Date and time
Color Picker	Color
Post Object, User	Integer (the WordPress ID)
Checkbox, Link, Relationship, Taxonomy, Google Map, Gallery, Group, Repeater, Flexible Content	JSON

For plain custom fields, Wash looks at the stored value: numbers become numbers, true/false becomes a boolean, and anything else is text.

Using metafields in your theme

Optional fields can be empty, so wrap them in a check.

Reading time

{% if article.metafields.wash_custom.reading_time %}
  <span class="reading-time">
    {{ article.metafields.wash_custom.reading_time }} min read
  </span>
{% endif %}

Call to action from ACF

With an ACF group holding cta_text (Text) and cta_url (URL):

{% if article.metafields.wash_acf.cta_text %}
  <a href="{{ article.metafields.wash_acf.cta_url }}" class="cta-button">
    {{ article.metafields.wash_acf.cta_text }}
  </a>
{% endif %}

FAQ from an ACF repeater

A repeater arrives as a JSON array:

[
  {"question": "How does it work?", "answer": "..."},
  {"question": "What are the benefits?", "answer": "..."}
]

{% assign faqs = article.metafields.wash_acf.faq_items.value %}
{% if faqs %}
  <div class="faq-section">
    {% for faq in faqs %}
      <h4>{{ faq.question }}</h4>
      <p>{{ faq.answer }}</p>
    {% endfor %}
  </div>
{% endif %}

SEO fields

{% if article.metafields.wash_seo.meta_description %}
  <meta name="description" content="{{ article.metafields.wash_seo.meta_description | escape }}">
{% endif %}

Translations

When a blog-mapping rule sends translations into Shopify Markets, translated custom fields and SEO fields are registered as translations of the same metafields.

Importing from Shopify

Import from Shopify can bring metafields back as custom fields. Fields in Wash's own namespaces come back under their original names.

Troubleshooting

The Meta Fields tab says metafield sync is disabled

Tick Sync Metafields on the Sync Settings tab and save.

A field isn't in the list

Click Refresh Fields after adding the field to at least one post
Fields starting with an underscore are skipped
For ACF, check the plugin is active and the field group is assigned to posts

A field doesn't show up in Shopify

Check its Sync switch is on
Check the post has a value for it
Sync the post again. Existing articles only change when they're synced
In your theme, use the namespace from the table above (wash_custom, not wash)