Fresh stain is initially easy to clean (8)
I believe the answer is:
sanitise
'clean' is the definition.
(I know that sanitise is a type of clean)
'fresh stain is initially easy' is the wordplay.
'fresh' indicates an anagram.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'easy' is 'e'.
'stain' anagrammed gives 'sanit'.
'sanit'+'is'+'e'='SANITISE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for sanitise that I've seen before include "Make hygienic being in siesta" , "Clean up, make hygienic like a Sistine" , "Make hygienic, sterilise" , "Clean and sterilize" , "Make hygienic or more acceptable" .)