Made sure to help with the washing up (3)
I believe the answer is:
saw
'made sure' is the definition.
('see' can be a synonym of 'make sure')
'with the washing up' is the wordplay.
'with' becomes 'w' (short for with).
'the washing' becomes 'as' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'w'+'as'='was'
'was' backwards is 'SAW'.
'to help' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for saw that I've seen before include "A maxim with teeth" , "Grasped" , "Saying; cut wood" , "Picked out" , "Cutting tool or old saying" .)