Crossword Genius

Sailors on tub needed to soften water (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bath salts

'needed to soften water' is the definition.
(bath salts are used to soften bath water)

'sailors on tub' is the wordplay.
'sailors' becomes 'salts' (salt is a kind of sailor).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'tub' becomes 'bath' (synonyms).
'salts' put after 'bath' is 'BATH-SALTS'.

(Other definitions for bath salts that I've seen before include "Perfumes" , "tip these into the water" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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