Crossword Genius

Use soap, OK? Told to remove love spots (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

polka dots

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'spots' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'use soap ok? told to remove love' is the wordplay.
'use' is an anagram indicator.
'to remove' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'love' becomes 'o' (love means zero in tennis).
'soap'+'ok'+'told'='soapoktold'
'soapoktold' with 'o' removed is 'sapoktold'.
'sapoktold' anagrammed gives 'POLKA-DOTS'.

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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