Cleaning

cleaning
    n 1: the act of making something clean; "he gave his shoes a
         good cleaning" [syn: {cleaning}, {cleansing}, {cleanup}]
    

Cleaning \Clean"ing\, n.
   1. The act of making clean.
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   2. The afterbirth of cows, ewes, etc. --Gardner.
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Clean \Clean\ (kl[=e]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cleaned}
   (kl[=e]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaning}.] [See {Clean}, a.,
   and cf. {Cleanse}.]
   To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or
   extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
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   {To clean out}, to exhaust; to empty; to get away from (one)
      all his money. [Colloq.] --De Quincey.
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62 Moby Thesaurus words for "cleaning":
      abstergent, abstersion, autoclave, bowdlerization, broom, brush,
      carpet sweeper, catharsis, cathartic, cleansing, comb, currycomb,
      depurative, detergent, detersion, dishcloth, dishwasher, diuretic,
      doormat, dry cleaning, duster, dustpan, emetic, expurgation,
      expurgatory, facecloth, hackle, hairbrush, handkerchief, holystone,
      hose, lustral, lustration, mop, napkin, pumice stone, purgation,
      purgative, purge, purging, purification, purificatory, purifying,
      rake, scraper, scrub brush, scrubber, serviette, sponge,
      steam cleaning, sudarium, swab, toothbrush, toothpick, towel,
      vacuum cleaner, washboard, washer, washing machine, whisk, wisp,
      wringer