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cleanser

/ˈklɛnzər/
/ˈklɛnzə/
IPA guide

Other forms: cleansers

A substance you use to scour, scrub, or wash something is a cleanser. Even if you sweep the kitchen floor every day, eventually you'll need to give it a deep clean with a mop and a cleanser.

Cleanser and cleaner are very similar, and they can be swapped in usage. However, it's more common to save cleanser for the stuff used to do the cleaning, rather than the person who cleans. You might wash your face with a special cleanser every night, or sprinkle a powerful cleanser in the tub to get it extra clean. And a palate cleanser is something (like sorbet) that clears tastes from your mouth before you taste something else.

Definitions of cleanser
  1. noun
    a preparation used to remove dirt or unwanted substances
    see moresee less
    types:
    bathroom cleaner
    a preparation for cleaning bathrooms
    dentifrice
    a substance for cleaning the teeth; applied with a toothbrush
    detergent
    a cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension
    shampoo
    cleansing agent consisting of soaps or detergents used for washing the hair
    soap
    a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
    bar soap
    soap in the form of a bar
    castile soap
    a good hard soap made from olive oil and sodium hydroxide
    dishwasher detergent, dishwashing detergent, dishwashing liquid
    a low-sudsing detergent designed for use in dishwashers
    laundry detergent
    any of various detergents designed for use in a washing machine for clothing
    liquid detergent
    a detergent in liquid form
    liquid soap
    soap in liquid form
    leather soap, saddle soap
    a mild soap for cleansing and conditioning leather
    soap flakes
    soap that has been cut into flakes to make suds faster
    built-soap powder, soap powder, washing powder
    soap in powdered form mixed with alkaline builders
    green soap, soft soap
    a soft (or liquid) soap made from vegetable oils; used in certain skin diseases
    bath soap, face soap, toilet soap
    soap used as a toiletry
    toothpaste
    a dentifrice in the form of a paste
    tooth powder, toothpowder
    a dentifrice in the form of a powder
    type of:
    formulation, preparation
    a substance prepared according to a formula
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