Stuff leading tradesmen use removing paint stains (5)
I believe the answer is:
turps
'stuff' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both substances as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'leading tradesmen use removing paint stains' is the wordplay.
'leading' suggests taking the first letters (the leading letter of the word).
The first letters of 'tradesmen use removing paint stains' is 'TURPS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for turps that I've seen before include "Paintbrush cleaner" , "cleaning agent" , "Brush-cleaning spirit" , "Paint cleaner" , "Oil used in paints" .)