Sailor came up with an article to wash (5)
I believe the answer is:
bathe
'wash' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'sailor came up with an article' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'came up' is a reversal indicator (I've seen 'come up' mean this).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'an article' becomes 'the' (the definite article in English).
'ab' in reverse letter order is 'ba'.
'ba'+'the'='BATHE'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for bathe that I've seen before include "plunge" , "Immerse oneself in water" , "Take a swim; envelop" , "go into rollers?" , "Swim in sea" .)