Third person singular present of clean; removes dirt, stains, or unwanted substances from something. Makes something free from contamination or impurities.
From Old English clǣne meaning 'clear, pure', from Proto-Germanic *klainaz. The verb form developed from the adjective, showing how language naturally extends meaning from states to actions.
The concept of 'cleanliness is next to godliness' appears in many cultures but isn't actually biblical - it was popularized by John Wesley in the 18th century. The human obsession with cleanliness helped us survive disease but also led to the hygiene hypothesis about modern allergies.
Cleaning work is systematically gendered feminine across cultures, tied to unpaid domestic labor and low-wage service work. Women perform ~2.5x more unpaid cleaning labor, with cultural messaging that cleanliness is a woman's responsibility.
Use 'cleans' neutrally; avoid pairing exclusively with female pronouns or characters. Acknowledge cleaning as skilled labor.
["sanitizes","maintains","restores"]
Cleaning workers (predominantly women and migrants) maintain public health and dignity. Recognize this as essential infrastructure, not invisible labor.
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