Dab with a towel

BLOT

Think of what you might do to a freshly written ink spot to prevent it from smudging—just press lightly.

Dab with a towel" is a straightforward definition for "blot," which means to gently press something (like ink or moisture) with an absorbent material to soak it up. The clue doesn’t rely on wordplay—it’s a direct hint pointing to the action of blotting, which fits the answer perfectly. Think of how you’d pat a spill with a napkin or dry your hands without rubbing.