| MOPED | Went round sadly as a cleaner the editor briefly took to (5) |
| TOWBOAT | A bow that's OTT, sadly, as a tug (7) |
| NOTATED | "I don't want any rubbish!" the editor briefly wrote down (7) |
| HOUNDED | Dog the Editor briefly pursued (7) |
| NONDRIP | Nip round, sadly having lost union some paint (7) |
| PIANO | The Petty Officer briefly took Mr Hislop in to see an instrument (5) |
| CAIRO | The commanding officer briefly took the air in an African capital (5) |
| BROOM | Good time to have registered as a cleaner (5) |
| ADDED | A theologian and editor briefly joined (5) |
| DETER | Discourage this man from starting as a cleaner |
| MOPUP | Do an absorbing job as a cleaner (3,2) |
| ACHED | Each editor briefly suffered mental anguish |
| TOOTHPASTE | Also, back in the past, possibly used as a cleaner (5-5) |
| CAROLSINGER | Woman to resign, sadly, as performer (5,6) |
| NAKEDEYE | Yankee editor briefly edited the Observer, unassisted (5,3) |
| CHARRED | Worked as a cleaner, getting blackened a bit? |
| DESPOTS | Works as a cleaner for the tyrants (7) |
| CHADOR | Cloak is cleaner - the same on the inside |
| STEELWOOL | Lose towel swimming with cleaner - the abrasive one from household (5,4) |
| CHARTER | The cleaner the better half will hire (7) |
