Crossword Genius

Item for cleaning excessively black bird cages (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

toothbrush

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'item for cleaning' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'excessively black bird cages' is the wordplay.
'excessively' becomes 'too' (to too great a degree).
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'bird' becomes 'thrush' (thrush is a kind of bird).
'cages' indicates putting letters inside.
'b' put inside 'thrush' is 'thbrush'.
'too'+'thbrush'='TOOTHBRUSH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for toothbrush that I've seen before include "One found in toilet bag" , "Dental cleaner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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