Decorating attic in grubby clothes (5)
I believe the answer is:
icing
'decorating' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'attic in grubby clothes' is the wordplay.
'clothes' says the answer is hidden in the clue (the letters clothe the hidden word).
'ICING' is hidden in the letters of 'attic in grubby'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for icing that I've seen before include "Showing effect of cold snap" , "Cake covering" , "it's dangerous on the roads" , "Cake frosting" , "Top cake layer" .)