Clean Up Virtually: Satisfying Physics-Based Tidying Game Review

A Vacuum, a Broom, and a Power Washer Walk Into a Cafe…

Cleaning Up! is exactly what it sounds like: a physics-based game where you enter filthy rooms and make them spotless. No time limits, no pressure—just you, a vacuum, and eventually a power washer, a mop, and a weird smelly spray that’s more confusing than useful. It’s out now on Nintendo Switch and Steam, and if you’ve ever found yourself zoning out while scrubbing virtual grime in PowerWash Simulator, this one will scratch a similar itch.

I’ll be honest: I hate cleaning in real life. But in a video game? Something about watching a trash-strewn cafe turn into a tidy, welcoming space is deeply satisfying. Cleaning Up! understands that. It throws you into massively dirty levels—think abandoned restaurants, haunted mansions, zombie-filled graveyards—and gives you the tools to bring order to chaos. No timers, no fail states. Just you, the mess, and a growing arsenal of cleaning implements.

Why You’ll Actually Want to Clean Up

The cleaning-sim genre has quietly become a cozy gaming staple. Games like PowerWash Simulator and Viscera Cleanup Detail proved that players love the meditative rhythm of restoring something filthy to pristine. Cleaning Up! follows that tradition but adds a layer of silly humor and light puzzle elements. Your sidekick is a sponge-shaped AI chatbot that cracks jokes about itself—it’s basically Clippy if Clippy were obsessed with tidiness. The characters you work for are equally absurd, shouting things like “This is a CAFE full of TRASH!” before you start.

The core loop is simple: enter a level, suck up trash with your vacuum (which has a capacity meter, so you’ll need to empty it into a bin periodically), and watch the progress bar fill up. But soon you unlock a broom for sweeping black goo into chunks, a mop for wet messes, a power washer for scrubbing furniture and watering plants (bonus points!), and that odd smelly spray that’s supposed to deodorize rooms. The spray is the trickiest tool—it’s hard to aim and feels like an afterthought—but the rest are satisfying to use.

Ghosts, Cats, and Zombies: The Unexpected Challenges

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What makes Cleaning Up! more than a simple vacuum sim are the environmental hazards and quirky obstacles. In haunted levels, you have to avoid ghosts. Cats don’t appreciate being sprayed with the power washer. Zombies need to be pushed back into their tombs. One early level introduces packages that explode if you vacuum them up—a challenge I failed at repeatedly and was relieved to see disappear from later stages.

Here’s the thing: the game frequently introduces a new tool or obstacle, uses it for one level, and then never brings it back. It’s an odd design choice. You’d think they’d stack these elements for escalating complexity, but instead it feels like the game is showing off ideas without fully committing to them. Still, the variety keeps each level feeling fresh, and the core cleaning loop is strong enough to carry the experience.

Between jobs, you can spend your earnings on upgrades—faster vacuum, longer hose, wider mop—or, more importantly, frog hats and other silly accessories for your character. The choice is yours, and the game never punishes you for prioritizing cosmetic nonsense over efficiency.

The Bigger Picture: Why We Love Making a Mess Disappear

There’s a reason these games keep popping up. In a world full of high-stakes shooters and complex RPGs, sometimes you just want to see a dirty room become clean. Cleaning Up! taps into that primal satisfaction of order from chaos, wrapped in a package that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not trying to be the next blockbuster—it’s a joyful little game about making things nice again.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, funny, and surprisingly engaging way to spend a few hours, Cleaning Up! is worth your time. It’s available now on the Nintendo eShop and Steam.