Acclaim novel method when scrubbing inn (7)
I believe the answer is:
ovation
'acclaim' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'novel method when scrubbing inn' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'when' could be 'on' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'on' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Other definitions for ovation that I've seen before include "Great reception" , "Enthusiastic applause, often standing" , "Overwhelming reception" , "Enthuiastic applause, often standing" , "Enthusiastic applause, perhaps standing" .)