Meaning trap

clean up

make clean

To make a place or thing tidy and free from dirt or mess.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

make clean

To make a place or thing tidy and free from dirt or mess.

clean up (make a large profit)

Another meaning of 'clean up' is 'make a large profit'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

We need to clean up the kitchen after dinner.daily life
In my opinion, it's important for everyone in the family to help clean up the house because it teaches responsibility.IELTS speaking

Pattern: clean up (something) | clean (something) up

WrongI'll clean up it later.

RightI'll clean it up later.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'clean it up'.

Patternclean up (something) | clean (something) up

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Please restore the kitchen to a clean and tidy condition.

Natural Can you clean up the kitchen?

'Clean up' is the everyday verb; 'restore to a clean and tidy condition' is absurdly formal.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not the same as 'clean', which can mean just removing dirt from something specific.

clean up (make a large profit) — Another meaning of 'clean up' is 'make a large profit'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.