Cleaners don't have gents to check (5)
I believe the answer is:
deter
'check' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cleaners don't have gents' is the wordplay.
'cleaners' becomes 'detergents' (detergent is a kind of cleaner).
'don't have' suggests deleting specific letters.
'detergents' with 'gents' taken out is 'DETER'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for deter that I've seen before include "Inhibit" , "Warn off" , "Dishearten" , "Discourage or prevent from doing something" , "Frighten off; prevent" .)