Wash it once too much to seduce (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
hit on
'seduce' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'wash it once too much' is the wordplay.
'too much' says the answer is hidden in the clue (the clue hides the answer plus unneeded letters).
'HIT ON' is hidden in the letters of 'wash it once'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hit on that I've seen before include "Discover (something) by chance" , "Discovered suddenly or, in modern slang, made advances towards" , "try a pass?" , "Discover; single out" , "Serendipitously find" .)