Crossword Genius

Smell in unpacked suitcase: cleaner appears (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sponge

'suitcase cleaner appears' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'smell in unpacked' is the wordplay.
'smell' becomes 'pong' (pong can informally mean a bad smell).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'unpacked' becomes 'se' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pong' placed within 'se' is 'SPONGE'.

(Other definitions for sponge that I've seen before include "Scrounge; wiper" , "Madeira, say" , "'Porous, absorbent substance (6)'" , "clean with damp cloth" , "Bathroom scrubber" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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