It may clean up a pile at a push (6,7)
I believe the answer is:
carpet sweeper
'a push' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'it may clean up a pile' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
'clean' could be 'sweep' (sweeping is a kind of cleaning) and 'sweep' is located in the answer.
'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'at' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for carpet sweeper that I've seen before include "Household appliance" , "Floor cleaner" , "Cleaning equipment - we respect a rep (anag)" , "Domestic appliance for picking up dust" , "Domestic cleaning equipment" .)