Cryptic crossword clue
Apply bleach when covering it 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word WHITEN

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
W
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The straight part
We know that "Apply bleach" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case apply bleach = whiten.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does WHITEN mean?

WHITEN verb
  1. (To cause) to become white or whiter; to bleach or blanch.

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