Shovel
Dig tool for Dig & Clean: unearth glow spots found by the detector, feed the clean stage, and unlock higher-rarity digs.
Speed guide: dig faster · decision: best shovel.
The shovel is Dig & Clean’s dig tool. After a detector marks a glow spot, the shovel runs the dig minigame to pull a dirty find out of the ground.
Stronger shovels clear digs faster and can unearth higher-value treasures that weak shovels struggle with. Shovels do not replace spray cleaning or museum placement.
Function
- Primary job: dig throughput on marked treasure spots
- Input: detector glow + player dig action
- Output: dirty find entering the clean pipeline
- Does not reveal identity — that is the spray bottle
Dig minigame
Selecting a highlighted spot starts a dig meter. Players fill the meter with normal controls (typically rapid use input). Dig speed depends on shovel tier and the rarity/value of the target.
If the shovel is too weak for a spot, the dig may stall or fail to complete—upgrade the shovel or choose a lower-rarity glow. Full detail: dig minigame.
Named tiers (reported)
Community finish guides report named shovel lines on the starter map and second map. Treat names as Medium confidence—confirm the live gear shop before spending.
| Map band | Reported shovel names | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Starter map | Plastic Shovel · Wood Shovel · Stone Shovel · Metal Shovel · Gold Shovel · Amethyst Shovel | Medium |
| Shipwreck Cove (2nd map) | Titanium Shovel · Cobalt Shovel · Carbon Shovel · Ruby Shovel · Diamond Shovel | Medium |
Upgrades
Shovels are bought with cash in the gear shop. Community finish routes often push shovel first on each map.
| Signal | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Digs feel slow | Shovel throughput lagging | Buy better shovel |
| Great glows, cannot finish dig | Shovel tier too low | Upgrade shovel or pick easier spots |
| Many digs, dirty backlog | Spray lagging, not shovel | See [[clean faster|/guides/clean-faster]] |
Bottleneck signals
Data status
| Field | Status |
|---|---|
| Shovel as dig tool | Known (High) |
| Pairs with detector + spray | Known (High) |
| Named starter/second-map lines | Community-reported (Medium) · verify live |
| Exact shop prices / dig DPS | Unknown |
Next in this topic
Closest related pages for this intent—not a full sitemap.
FAQ
What does the shovel do in Dig & Clean?
It digs out detector glow spots through the dig minigame, creating dirty finds that must be sprayed clean.
What is the best shovel?
Named best-in-slot depends on your map and cash. Use the best shovel guide and live gear shop—no fake S-tier invent list here.
Should I upgrade shovel or spray first?
Usually shovel first if digs are slow; spray first if dirty finds pile up. See shovel vs spray priority.