Shovels & Spray Bottles
The two progression tools in Dig & Clean: dig with shovels, clean and reveal with spray bottles.
For upgrade order tips, see the shovels & sprays guide and shovel vs spray priority.
Dig & Clean progression is tool-led. Players locate spots with a detector, dig junk and treasure with shovels, then spray finds clean with spray bottles. This page focuses on shovel and spray; detector has its own entry.
There is no unit roster, pet team, or weapon DPS ladder for Dig & Clean here. Squad-comp language belongs to other genres.
Overview
Tools feed the museum fantasy. Shovels increase how many dirty objects enter the loop. Spray bottles convert those objects into identifiable finds that can be sorted into museum keepers.
Shovel
Definition
A shovel is the dig tool. Better shovels dig dirty junk and buried treasure more effectively.
Properties
- Primary job: dig throughput (more finds entering the loop).
- Feeds: dirty junk / buried treasure pipeline.
- Upgrade signal: digs feel slow or finds are scarce.
- Does not replace: cleaning. Digs without spray leave objects unidentified.
Spray bottle
Definition
A spray bottle is the clean and reveal tool. Spray finds clean to learn what they are; buy better spray bottles as dig volume grows.
Properties
- Primary job: convert dirty finds into identified items.
- Feeds: sorting decisions and museum curation.
- Upgrade signal: dirty finds stack faster than they can be cleaned.
- Not optional cosmetics: reveal is part of the core loop.
Shovel vs spray
| Dimension | Shovel | Spray bottle |
|---|---|---|
| Loop stage | Dig / intake | Clean / reveal |
| Creates | Dirty objects | Identifiable finds |
| Unlocks | Volume into the pipeline | Sort and museum decisions |
| Neglect symptom | Empty sessions / slow digs | Dirty queue / unknown clutter |
| Decision helper | Tier list · planner | Tier list · planner |
Neither tool is universally best. The correct next buy repairs the bottleneck in the current session.
Tool pipeline
| Stage | Tool / system | Output | If neglected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dig | Shovel | Dirty junk / buried treasure | No new finds |
| Clean | Spray bottle | Identified find | Dirty queue, no museum sorting |
| Display | Museum system | Collection flex | Loop ends before the collection goal |
When to upgrade which
| State | What you observe | Usual next pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Shovel-heavy | Many digs, few cleans | Favor spray bottles |
| Spray-heavy | Clean capacity idle, few digs | Favor shovels |
| Balanced | Dig and clean keep pace | Alternate upgrades or use planner |
Decision helpers: shovel vs spray priority and the upgrade planner.
Data status
- Throughput
- How many dig objects the shovel brings into the loop per session.
- Reveal capacity
- How quickly spray bottles convert dirty objects into identifiable finds.
- Bottleneck
- The weaker of dig vs clean that currently blocks museum progress.
| Field | Status |
|---|---|
| Tool roles (shovel · spray) | Known |
| Named shovel tier list | Unknown |
| Spray bottle shop prices / rates | Unknown |
| Currency name tables | Unknown |
See also
FAQ
What tools does Dig & Clean have?
Shovels for digging and spray bottles for cleaning finds. Those are the progression tools tracked here.
What is the best shovel in Dig & Clean?
Named shovel tiers with public stats: Unknown. Buy a better shovel when digs feel slow; buy a better spray when dirty finds pile up.
What is the best spray bottle?
Upgrade spray when you dig faster than you can clean and identify finds. Cleaning is the reveal step.
Should I only upgrade shovels?
No. Shovel-only play creates a dirty queue. Spray upgrades keep digs converting into identified museum candidates.
Is Dig & Clean a unit or squad game?
No. There is no unit, pet, or clan roster on Dig & Clean reference pages.