Daily Word Hints

Strands hints for August 31, 2026

Strands · August 31, 2026 · Every hint stays hidden until you tap it

Today's Strands clue is "With a little elbow grease". Use the hints below to find the theme words and the spangram.

LVPETEOEOWDRSTNENGLENRTECASWCUREASRBSASBACOPHLEH
Hint 1: How many words to find

There are 6 theme words plus one spangram.

Hint 2: The spangram

The spangram has 9 letters, starts with P, and runs from the top of the board to the bottom.

Hint 3: Theme word lengths and first letters
  • 6 letters, starts with B
  • 8 letters, starts with C
  • 9 letters, starts with D
  • 5 letters, starts with S
  • 4 letters, starts with S
  • 7 letters, starts with S
Show the spangram

POWERWASH

Show all theme words

BLEACH, CLEANSER, DETERGENT, SCRUB, SOAP, SOLVENT

About this puzzle

How to play Strands

Strands deep dive

More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.

The solved board
LVPETEOEOWDRSTNENGLENRTECASWCUREASRBSASBACOPHLEH

Gold squares are the spangram, green squares are theme words.

What the theme words mean
  • BLEACH: (uncountable) A chemical, such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide, or a preparation of such a chemical, used...
  • CLEANSER: Someone or something that cleanses, such as a detergent.
  • DETERGENT: Any non-soap cleaning agent, especially a synthetic surfactant.
  • SCRUB: (transitive) To rub hard; to wash with rubbing; usually, to rub with a wet brush, or with something coarse or rough, ...
  • SOAP: (chemistry) A metallic salt derived from a fatty acid, commonly used in cleaning products.
  • SOLVENT: A fluid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.

Play today's Strands at The New York Times

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