scouring
nounUK /ˈskaʊə.rɪŋ/
US /ˈskaʊ.ɚ.ɪŋ/
The act of cleaning something very hard by rubbing it.
She gave the dirty pan a good scouring before cooking.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Searching a place very carefully to find something.
The scouring of the woods for the lost dog took all day.
3. Wearing away or eroding a surface by water or wind.
The scouring of the riverbank left deep grooves in the soil.
4. Cleaning wool or cloth by washing and beating it.
The old mill was used for the scouring of fleece.