Ready for Haunted Housework? How Cleaning Up! Reinvents Cozy Sims

When Sweeping Meets Spooky

Cozy cleaning simulators have carved a comfortable niche in recent years. From the satisfying rinse of PowerWash Simulator to the meditative unpacking in Unpacking, developers have turned everyday chores into stress-relieving escapes. Just when pastel palettes threatened to lull the genre into a monotony, indie studio Unbound Creations debuts Cleaning Up!—an absurd mash-up of broom handles and boos. Here, tidy-ups collide with ghostly gags, creating a charmingly chaotic experience that’s as soothing as it is ridiculous.

Why “Cleaning Up!” Feels So Fresh

Timing is everything in gaming, and Cleaning Up! strikes the perfect balance between the familiar cozy sim loop and over-the-top comedy. I braced for rinse-and-repeat routines, but Unbound Creations surprises at every scrub: neon-green slime oozing from hidden cracks, spectral sponges fluttering like bats, and poltergeist pranks that have you dropping your controller in fits of laughter. It evokes the playful slapstick of Rain on Your Parade, swapping carnival chaos for haunted hijinks—and I couldn’t be more hooked.

Deep Dive: Gameplay Mechanics

At its core, Cleaning Up! follows a classic tidy-earn-upgrade cycle. But a bevy of paranormal interruptions and environmental hazards keeps each session feeling novel. Here’s how the gameplay loop unfolds:

• Mission Briefing: Survey the cluttered environment, tag ghostly hotspots, and select from your starter kit: mop, broom, or foam sprayer. Each job promises a unique twist, from slime outbreaks to spirit invasions.
• Dynamic Mess Generation: Dust piles, slime patches, goo pockets, and spectral residue shift position every playthrough. Even familiar rooms transform under ultraviolet light, revealing hidden grime and ghostly graffiti.
• Tool Cycling: Seamlessly switch between mop, broom, power washer, and foam blaster. Certain poltergeists vanish only when drenched in UV-enhanced spray, while others slip free of standard cleaning arcs.
• Ghost Encounters: More than jump scares, these are slapstick face-offs. Dodge flying sponges, trap spirits in foam nets, and savor cartoonish defeat animations that reward your quick reflexes.
• Performance Ratings: Earn a cleanliness score and time bonus. Spend coins and experience points on branching upgrades, unlocking new tool variants and suit skins with gameplay perks.

Tools and Upgrades Unpacked

Progression in Cleaning Up! takes on an RPG-lite flavor. You start with a battered mop and dented bucket, but soon amass an arsenal worthy of a ghostbuster:

• Power Washer Variants: Choose precision nozzles for tight corners or wide jets to blast thick ghost dust off chandeliers. Upgrades increase pressure, range, and special cleaning effects.
• Foam Blasters: Deploy slippery foam mats that dissolve grime and send poltergeists careening into capture traps. Higher tiers add electrified foam or scented variants that stun mischievous spirits.
• Stealth Brooms: Ultra-quiet brushes let you sweep around sensitive spooks without triggering a haunting. Late-game models even leave behind temporary anti-ghost zones.
• Gadget Gloves: Magnetic gloves pick up sharp debris and spectral shards without risk of sprain—plus they double as spirit detectors at higher levels.
• Costume Skins: From disco-cleaner suits to glowstick janitor outfits, each skin grants unique XP bonuses and visual flair—Unbound’s trademark silliness in full effect.

Each upgrade path feels meaningful, but if you’ve farmed cozy sims to max level before, some mechanics may ring familiar. The true magic lies in how those tools interact with the haunted context: when novelty sticks, you stay invested.

Level Design and Variety

Cleaning Up! escorts you through a delightfully creepy roster of cluttered, cursed locations:

• Victorian Penthouses: Dusty chandeliers, secret passageways, and ghostly socialites demanding polished portraits before vanishing into mist.
• Hoarder Hideaways: Mountains of newspapers, toppled bookcases, and hidden puzzles that reward you with cryptic diary pages.
• Suburban Basements: Flooded corners, moldy floors, and graffiti clues leading to tiny specters trapped behind crates.
• Abandoned Amusement Parks: Cotton candy stalls caked in ghost goo—clean them to reveal carnival spooks, then chase them for bonus multipliers.

To fend off monotony, “Nightmare Mode” variants crank up grime speed, summon volatile poltergeists, or layer in hazards like electrified puddles. These tougher challenges boost replay value, though the core tidy-up cycle remains intact.

Audio-Visual Charm & Wit

Visually, Cleaning Up! feels hand-crafted. Gooey shader effects, neon-cleaners, and exaggerated character animations pop against moody backdrops. Each slime splatter and mop squeak comes to life with playful exaggeration. Sound design leans into slapstick: mops squawk like rubber chickens, vacuums emit cartoon chirps, and ghostly whispers keep you on edge—until a spirit tuts in mock disappointment.

Voice cues are sparse but punchy. Your off-screen supervisor dishes dry-wit quips, berating ghosts and praising your mess-clearing prowess in equal measure. Murmuring poltergeists and comedic crash effects add character without overwhelming the action. These elements reinforce the game’s irreverent tone in perfect harmony with its haunted premise.

Potential Pitfalls: Repetition and Replay

Despite its haunting hook, Cleaning Up! can circle back to familiar territory. Key concerns include:

• Repetition Risk: Scrubbing neon slime from ornate parlors may start to feel like déjà vu. Unlockables and Nightmare Mode inject variety, but the clean-earn-upgrade loop never truly changes.
• Challenge Ceiling: No true fail states—miss the time limit and you simply restart. Hardcore players might crave penalty mechanics or permadeath spooks.
• Narrative Thinness: A lighthearted ghost story threads through the campaign, but lore hunters seeking deep mysteries may feel under-served by its breezy approach.
• Replay Incentives: Leaderboards and collectibles beckon, yet grinding the same maps can tip the fun-to-chore ratio if novelty wears thin.

Comparisons and Inspirations

If you’ve wielded a power washer in PowerWash Simulator or peacefully organized in Unpacking, you’ll recognize the satisfying loops in Cleaning Up!. But this game flips the script with paranormal flair, turning chores into slapstick exorcisms. Its wacky spirit echoes Rain on Your Parade, swapping destruction for foam-blasted hauntings, while the more strategic Crime Scene Cleaner caters to players craving depth over silliness. Unbound Creations opts for lighthearted antics—ideal for those chasing laughs instead of precision.

Demo Experience: A Sneak Peek

The free Steam demo serves up three bite-sized stages: a cramped apartment, a haunted mansion wing, and a hoarder’s lair. In minutes, you’ll mop glowing ectoplasm, dodge lobster-poltergeists, and chase slime trails for combo points. Minor camera quirks aside, these snapshots showcase the toolbox variety and let you decide if haunted housework is your kind of cozy obsession.

Community Buzz & Developer Outlook

Early adopters on Steam forums laud Cleaning Up!’s humor, art style, and nimble updates—but flag occasional camera jams in tight spots. Rumors swirl about seasonal events: holiday-themed haunted mansions, community map challenges, and special ghost hunts. While Unbound Creations hasn’t confirmed specific DLC, their track record of regular patch notes and live-streamed dev sessions suggests ongoing support. The team’s responsiveness to feedback bodes well for polish and fresh content down the line.

Tips for New Cleaners

• Prioritize UV Spray: Vital for stubborn slime and spectral residue—upgrade early to clear messes faster.
• Balance Speed and Thoroughness: Target high-traffic zones first to avoid overwhelming buildup in later rounds.
• Use Foam Blasters Strategically: Build foam walls to herd poltergeists away from fragile antiques.
• Explore Every Nook: Hidden diary pages and collectibles often lurk under loose floorboards or behind curtains.
• Embrace Costume Bonuses: Playful skins offer small XP boosts—lean into the silliness to level up quicker.

Overall Verdict

Cleaning Up! represents Unbound Creations’ cheekiest spin on the cozy sim formula. It marries accessible mechanics, cartoonish ghost encounters, and a meaningful upgrade path with a playful sense of humor. The hand-drawn visuals, slapstick sound design, and unpredictable hauntings fully commit to the haunted premise, making each cleanup feel like a lively cartoon episode.

That said, the familiar clean-earn-upgrade skeleton remains intact. Players chasing ever-deepening systems, nail-biting challenges, or expansive storylines may find the loop predictable over time. But for those who crave lighthearted fun, quirky visuals, and a stress-free time sink, Cleaning Up! delivers more than mop-and-bucket drudgery. It’s a ghost-busting, slime-spraying good time.

Conclusion

If you’re ready to swap white-knuckle shooters for squeaky mops and spectral sponges, Cleaning Up! offers a refreshing haunted twist on cozy sims. Its combination of slapstick comedy, varied tools, and spooky surprises ensures you’ll keep coming back—until you’ve scrubbed every poltergeist into submission. Download the demo, don your ghostbusting gear, and prepare for the most entertaining housework you’ve ever tackled.