spot-clean

present singular third person spot-cleans · participle present spot-cleaning · participle past spot-cleaned · past spot-cleaned · alternative spotclean · alternative spot clean

1. To clean only those parts that are soiled, rather than cleaning the entire thing, area, etc.

   To spot-clean, you can either use a dry-cleaning solution or a very mild, nonperfumed soap or Woolite and water.

   2011, Mark Montano, Carly Sommerstein, Window Treatments and Slipcovers For Dummies, page 68

   2 more examples

   “You can ruin the cloth if you try to spot-clean it,” warns Susan Fritz, co-owner of Denver Doll Hospital, a doll-cleaning and restoration business.

   1999, Jeff Bredenberg, Clean It Fast, Clean It Right, page 151

   If you need to spot-clean a dryclean-only fabric, try using Energine Cleaning Fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores.

   2002, Linda Cobb, The Queen of Clean's Complete Cleaning Guide