Cryptic crossword clue
Scrub a lot if swimming in river 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EXFOLIATE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
E
X
F
O
L
I
A
T
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Scrub" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case scrub = exfoliate.
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 EXFOLIATE mean?

EXFOLIATE verb
  1. To remove the leaves from a plant.
  2. To remove a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation.
  3. To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales as the result of heat or decomposition.

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