Start with a clean ___

Archive answer — July 18, 2026

45 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“SLATE” is the published 5-letter fill for 45 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Universal Crossword

This clue’s Saturday, July 18, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

37 clues
  1. 1Wings and flippers
  2. 6Women's undergarment, for short
  3. 10Entirely
  4. 13Like a clock with hands
  5. 15Not nice
  6. 16Wasabi ___
  7. 17"Quiet!"
  8. 19WNBA score units
  9. 20"Doesn't matter which you choose"
  10. 21Like Catherine Zeta-Jones and corgis
  11. 23Wireless standard initials
  12. 24Inc. alternative
  13. 25Made amends
  14. 27Apologetic text that drops -ad
  15. 28"Mixed-___" (former sitcom)
  16. 29Singer Redding
  17. 31Prince Buster's genre
  18. 33Childbirth pros
  19. 35Allocate
  20. 37Get out of ___ free card
  21. 38Reach by ship
  22. 40"The Marvels" director DaCosta
  23. 41Video genre that might include slime cutting or pressure washing
  24. 44Name hidden in "For Pete's sake!"
  25. 45Start with a clean ___SLATE
  26. 46Amazing, in slang
  27. 48Pained cries
  28. 49Bit of hair or smoke
  29. 53Just do something, in slang
  30. 55"Gotcha!"
  31. 57One of 31 in mayo
  32. 58Yoga's ___ pose, aka navasana
  33. 59"Ta-ta!"
  34. 62Actress Fisher
  35. 63"Don't worry about me!"
  36. 64Throw lightly
  37. 65Tot with sauce?

Down

37 clues
  1. 1Place for a clip-on mic
  2. 2Indigenous people who invented dog sleds and snow goggles
  3. 3Nonreflective finish
  4. 4Like a snoozefest
  5. 5Without anyone else involved
  6. 6"Hurry it up!"
  7. 7Trojan demigod
  8. 8___ tai
  9. 9Bisected
  10. 10Fruity drink from the "Dark Ages" of mixology
  11. 11"Time to eat!"
  12. 12A wish might be made on a fallen one
  13. 142010s term whose rejection by Gen Z led to the "soft life" era
  14. 18Vet, for a pet
  15. 22Grandson of Adam and Eve
  16. 26"I'm sorry to hear it"
  17. 27Holiday season workers with beards
  18. 28"Really?"
  19. 30Unexpected obstacle
  20. 311986 Best New Artist Grammy winner
  21. 32Fast-food offerings for children
  22. 34What's not heard in the silence of the lambs?
  23. 36Like a cotton ball
  24. 37Scribble
  25. 39"All hail Weezy, call it bad weather" rapper
  26. 42Gridiron unit
  27. 43Wood in archery bows
  28. 47Short stay
  29. 50Baggage marker
  30. 51Tactic used at Vicksburg
  31. 52Peeling knife
  32. 53Neither good nor bad
  33. 54___-savvy
  34. 56Zach's role in "The Hangover"
  35. 58Smallest unit of data
  36. 60AirPod's place
  37. 61De Armas of "No Time to Die"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Wings and flippers

    Answer: LIMBS

  2. 6. Women's undergarment, for short

    Answer: CAMI

  3. 10. Entirely

    Answer: ALL

  4. 13. Like a clock with hands

    Answer: ANALOG

  5. 15. Not nice

    Answer: MEAN

  6. 16. Wasabi ___

    Answer: PEA

  7. 17. "Quiet!"

    Answer: PUTALIDONIT

  8. 19. WNBA score units

    Answer: PTS

  9. 20. "Doesn't matter which you choose"

    Answer: EITHERONE

  10. 21. Like Catherine Zeta-Jones and corgis

    Answer: WELSH

  11. 23. Wireless standard initials

    Answer: LTE

  12. 24. Inc. alternative

    Answer: LLC

  13. 25. Made amends

    Answer: ATONED

  14. 27. Apologetic text that drops -ad

    Answer: MYB

  15. 28. "Mixed-___" (former sitcom)

    Answer: ISH

  16. 29. Singer Redding

    Answer: OTIS

  17. 31. Prince Buster's genre

    Answer: SKA

  18. 33. Childbirth pros

    Answer: OBS

  19. 35. Allocate

    Answer: ASSIGN

  20. 37. Get out of ___ free card

    Answer: JAIL

  21. 38. Reach by ship

    Answer: SAILTO

  22. 40. "The Marvels" director DaCosta

    Answer: NIA

  23. 41. Video genre that might include slime cutting or pressure washing

    Answer: ODDLYSATISFYING

  24. 44. Name hidden in "For Pete's sake!"

    Answer: TESSA

  25. 45. Start with a clean ___

    Answer: SLATE

  26. 46. Amazing, in slang

    Answer: MARV

  27. 48. Pained cries

    Answer: OWS

  28. 49. Bit of hair or smoke

    Answer: WISP

  29. 53. Just do something, in slang

    Answer: SENDIT

  30. 55. "Gotcha!"

    Answer: AHA

  31. 57. One of 31 in mayo

    Answer: DIA

  32. 58. Yoga's ___ pose, aka navasana

    Answer: BOAT

  33. 59. "Ta-ta!"

    Answer: SEEYALATER

  34. 62. Actress Fisher

    Answer: ISLA

  35. 63. "Don't worry about me!"

    Answer: ICANMANAGE

  36. 64. Throw lightly

    Answer: TOSS

  37. 65. Tot with sauce?

    Answer: THREENAGER

Down

  1. 1. Place for a clip-on mic

    Answer: LAPEL

  2. 2. Indigenous people who invented dog sleds and snow goggles

    Answer: INUIT

  3. 3. Nonreflective finish

    Answer: MATTE

  4. 4. Like a snoozefest

    Answer: BLAH

  5. 5. Without anyone else involved

    Answer: SOLELY

  6. 6. "Hurry it up!"

    Answer: CMON

  7. 7. Trojan demigod

    Answer: AENEAS

  8. 8. ___ tai

    Answer: MAI

  9. 9. Bisected

    Answer: INTWO

  10. 10. Fruity drink from the "Dark Ages" of mixology

    Answer: APPLETINI

  11. 11. "Time to eat!"

    Answer: LETSDIGIN

  12. 12. A wish might be made on a fallen one

    Answer: LASH

  13. 14. 2010s term whose rejection by Gen Z led to the "soft life" era

    Answer: GIRLBOSS

  14. 18. Vet, for a pet

    Answer: DOC

  15. 22. Grandson of Adam and Eve

    Answer: ENOS

  16. 26. "I'm sorry to hear it"

    Answer: THATSASHAME

  17. 27. Holiday season workers with beards

    Answer: MALLSANTAS

  18. 28. "Really?"

    Answer: ISITSO

  19. 30. Unexpected obstacle

    Answer: SNAG

  20. 31. 1986 Best New Artist Grammy winner

    Answer: SADE

  21. 32. Fast-food offerings for children

    Answer: KIDSMEALS

  22. 34. What's not heard in the silence of the lambs?

    Answer: BAA

  23. 36. Like a cotton ball

    Answer: SOFT

  24. 37. Scribble

    Answer: JOT

  25. 39. "All hail Weezy, call it bad weather" rapper

    Answer: LILWAYNE

  26. 42. Gridiron unit

    Answer: YARD

  27. 43. Wood in archery bows

    Answer: YEW

  28. 47. Short stay

    Answer: VISIT

  29. 50. Baggage marker

    Answer: IDTAG

  30. 51. Tactic used at Vicksburg

    Answer: SIEGE

  31. 52. Peeling knife

    Answer: PARER

  32. 53. Neither good nor bad

    Answer: SOSO

  33. 54. ___-savvy

    Answer: TECH

  34. 56. Zach's role in "The Hangover"

    Answer: ALAN

  35. 58. Smallest unit of data

    Answer: BIT

  36. 60. AirPod's place

    Answer: EAR

  37. 61. De Armas of "No Time to Die"

    Answer: ANA

The answer to “Start with a clean ___” in the Universal Crossword is SLATE — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for July 18, 2026 at 45-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Start with a clean ___” answer

SLATE(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does SLATE fit?

SLATE is the published 5-letter answer at 45-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Start with a clean ___” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Start with a clean ___”?

The answer is SLATE.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: SLATE.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Universal Crossword for July 18, 2026 at 45-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the Universal answers page for July 18, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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