Clean vs. Cleaned — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 14, 2024
"Clean" describes a state of being free from dirt or impurities, whereas "cleaned" refers to the past action of removing dirt or impurities.
Difference Between Clean and Cleaned
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Clean" is an adjective or verb, depending on usage. As an adjective, it describes something that is free from dirt, impurities, or pollutants, indicating a state of cleanliness. For example, a clean surface means there is no visible dirt or stains on it. On the other hand, "cleaned" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "clean." It indicates that the action of cleaning has already been completed. For example, when you say a room has been cleaned, it means that someone has already completed the process of removing dirt or making the room tidy.
When used as an adjective, "clean" often describes a current state or quality, emphasizing that something is presently free from unwanted substances. In contrast, "cleaned" as a verb form focuses on the action that led to the clean state, highlighting the process or effort involved in achieving cleanliness.
The choice between "clean" and "cleaned" depends on the context and the intended meaning. If the emphasis is on the present state of cleanliness, "clean" is used. However, if the focus is on the action of making something clean, particularly in the past, "cleaned" is the appropriate choice.
Understanding the difference between "clean" and "cleaned" is important for clear communication, especially when giving instructions or describing the condition of something. For example, a sign might say "Keep this area clean" to emphasize the ongoing state of cleanliness, while a completed task might be reported as "The area has been cleaned."
Comparison Chart
Form
Adjective or verb (present tense)
Verb (past tense or past participle)
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Usage
Describes a state or the act of cleaning
Refers to the action of cleaning, completed
Example
"The kitchen is clean." / "Please clean the kitchen."
"The kitchen was cleaned yesterday."
Focus
State of being free from dirt or impurities
Completion of the cleaning action
Context
Present cleanliness or ongoing action
Past action that resulted in cleanliness
Compare with Definitions
Clean
As an adjective: Free from dirt or impurities.
The clean dishes were put away in the cupboard.
Cleaned
Often used in passive construction.
The car was cleaned before being returned to the owner.
Clean
Indicates a current state or ongoing action.
Keep the workspace clean to maintain a healthy environment.
Cleaned
Past tense verb: Action of making clean completed.
The floors were cleaned last night.
Clean
Used in instructions or standards.
The hospital protocol requires all surfaces to be clean.
Cleaned
Indicates completion of a task.
The cleaning checklist was fully completed, and all areas were cleaned.
Clean
Emphasizes cleanliness as a quality or requirement.
Clean air is essential for good health.
Cleaned
Highlights the effort or process of cleaning.
The windows had not been cleaned in months.
Clean
As a verb (present tense): Act of removing dirt.
Please clean your room before guests arrive.
Cleaned
Refers to a past event leading to cleanliness.
After the party, the house was thoroughly cleaned.
Clean
Free from dirt, marks, or stains
Keep the wound clean
The room was spotlessly clean
Cleaned
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Clean
Morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent
Clean living
Cleaned
Not infected
A clean wound.
Clean
Free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface
A clean fracture of the leg
Cleaned
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Clean
(of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh
Clean, fresh, natural flavours
Cleaned
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Clean
So as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter
The room had been washed clean
Cleaned
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Clean
Used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience
He was knocked clean off his feet
I clean forgot her birthday
Cleaned
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Clean
Make clean; remove dirt, marks, or stains from
Clean your teeth properly after meals
I cleaned up my room
Cleaned
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Clean
An act of cleaning something
He gave the room a clean
Cleaned
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Clean
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Cleaned
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Clean
Not infected
A clean wound.
Cleaned
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Clean
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Cleaned
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Clean
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Cleaned
Blank
A clean page.
Clean
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Cleaned
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Clean
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Cleaned
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Clean
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Cleaned
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Clean
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Cleaned
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Clean
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Cleaned
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Clean
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Cleaned
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Clean
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Cleaned
Free from narcotics addiction.
Clean
Blank
A clean page.
Cleaned
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Clean
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Cleaned
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Clean
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Cleaned
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Clean
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Cleaned
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Clean
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Cleaned
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Cleaned
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Clean
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Cleaned
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Clean
Free from narcotics addiction.
Cleaned
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Clean
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Cleaned
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Clean
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Cleaned
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Clean
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Cleaned
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Clean
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Cleaned
Simple past tense and past participle of clean
Clean
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Cleaned
Having been made clean.
Clean
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Cleaned
Made clean
Clean
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Clean
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Clean
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Clean
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Clean
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Clean
Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
Clean
Not dirty.
Are these dishes clean?
Your room is finally clean!
Clean
In an unmarked condition.
Put a clean sheet of paper into the printer.
Clean
(aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
Clean
(aviation) Having the undercarriage and flaps in the up position.
Clean
Empty.
The cargo hold is clean.
Mister, I want to see a clean dinner plate or there'll be no dessert for you.
Clean
(of metal) Having relatively few impurities.
Clean steel
Clean
Free of immorality or criminality.
Clean
Pure, especially morally or religiously.
Our kids can watch this movie because it is clean.
Clean
Not having used drugs or alcohol.
I've been clean this time for eight months.
Clean
(of criminal, driving, etc. records) Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.
Unlike you, I’ve never caused any accidents — my record is still clean!
Clean
(informal) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.
I'm clean, officer. You can go ahead and search me if you want.
Clean
(informal) Devoid of profanity.
Clean
Smooth, exact, and performed well.
I'll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.
A clean leap over a fence
Clean
(obsolete) Total; utter. still in "clean sweep"
Clean
(informal) Cool or neat.
Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!
Clean
That does not damage the environment.
Clean energy;
Clean coal
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
Clean land;
Clean timber
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely.
Clean limbs
Clean
Ascended without falling.
Clean
Removal of dirt.
This place needs a clean.
Clean
(weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
Clean
(transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.
Can you clean the windows today?
Clean
(transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.
Clean your room right now!
Clean
To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
Clean
(intransitive) To make things clean in general.
She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.
Clean
To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
Clean
To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
Clean
To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
Clean
(video games) clean up
Clean
To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.
Clean
Fully and completely.
He was stabbed clean through.
You must be clean mad.
Clean
Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
Clean
Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
Clean
Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.
Clean
Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven
Clean
Free from ceremonial defilement.
Clean
Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Clean
Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Clean
Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously.
Clean
To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
Clean
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Clean
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from;
Clean the stove!
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Clean
Clean and tidy up the house;
She housecleans every week
Clean
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Clean
Be cleanable;
This stove cleans easily
Clean
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.;
The other players cleaned him completely
Clean
Remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely;
The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
Clean
Remove while making clean;
Clean the spots off the rug
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from
Clean
Remove shells or husks from;
Clean grain before milling it
Clean
Free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits;
Children with clean shining faces
Clean white shirts
Clean dishes
A spotlessly clean house
Cats are clean animals
Clean
Free of restrictions or qualifications;
A clean bill of health
A clear winner
Clean
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims;
Efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Clear laughter like a waterfall
Clear reds and blues
A light lilting voice like a silver bell
Clean
Free from impurities;
Clean water
Fresh air
Clean
Without difficulties or problems;
A clean test flight
Clean
Ritually clean or pure
Clean
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination;
A clean fuel
Cleaner and more efficient engines
The tactical bomb is reasonably clean
Clean
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers;
Good clean fun
A clean joke
Clean
Free from sepsis or infection;
A clean (or uninfected) wound
Clean
Morally pure;
Led a clean life
Clean
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Clean
Of a surface; not written or printed on;
Blank pages
Fill in the blank spaces
A clean page
Wide white margins
Clean
Marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play;
A clean fight
A sporting solution of the disagreement
Sportsmanlike conduct
Clean
Thorough and without qualification;
A clean getaway
A clean sweep
A clean break
Clean
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense;
A clean voting recor
A clean driver's license
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons
Clean
Free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed;
He landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek
A clean throw
The neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
Clean
Free of drugs;
After a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Clean
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Clean
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Common Curiosities
Can "clean" be used as a verb?
Yes, "clean" can be used as a verb to describe the act of removing dirt or making something tidy.
How is "cleaned" used differently from "clean"?
"Cleaned" is used to refer to the action of cleaning that has already been completed, often in the past, while "clean" can describe a current state of being free from dirt or the act of cleaning in the present.
Is "cleaned" always used in the past tense?
"Cleaned" is primarily used in the past tense or as a past participle to indicate that the cleaning action is complete.
Can "clean" indicate an absence of moral corruption?
Yes, "clean" can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something as free from corruption or wrongdoing.
Is it correct to say "The room is cleaned every day"?
Yes, this sentence uses "cleaned" in the passive voice to indicate that the action of cleaning the room happens regularly, every day.
What does it mean when something is described as clean?
When something is described as clean, it means it is free from dirt, impurities, or unwanted substances, indicating a state of cleanliness.
Can "cleaned" be used to describe a future action?
To describe a future action, you would typically use "will be cleaned" or "is going to be cleaned," maintaining "cleaned" in a form that indicates a future completion.
How does context affect the choice between "clean" and "cleaned"?
The choice depends on whether the emphasis is on the current state of cleanliness ("clean") or on the completion of a cleaning action ("cleaned").
How can I tell if I should use "clean" or "cleaned"?
Use "clean" to describe a present state of cleanliness or the ongoing action of cleaning. Use "cleaned" to refer to a cleaning action that has been completed in the past.
What is the adjective form of "cleaned"?
"Cleaned" does not have a distinct adjective form; "clean" serves as the adjective, describing something that is free from dirt or impurities.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
