Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons was die stoompyp en die stoomspuitstuk. - We wash the steam wand and the steam nozzle.

Breakdown of Ons was die stoompyp en die stoomspuitstuk.

What does ons mean here?

Here ons means we, because it is the subject of the sentence.

A useful thing to know is that Afrikaans ons can also mean:

So the form stays the same, and the sentence structure tells you what it means.

Examples:

In your sentence, it is clearly the subject, so it means we.

Is was here the verb to be or the verb to wash?

By itself, was can be ambiguous in Afrikaans.

It can be:

So Ons was ... could mean either:

Normally, context or the given translation tells you which one is meant.

A very useful contrast:

So if the intended meaning is past washed, Afrikaans usually uses het + gewas, not plain was.