A Grimy Pro's Guide to PowerWash Simulator 2's Best Gear (And Where to Find That Damn Gnome)
Yeah, it's a chill game, but you still need the right tools for the job. Don't be the amateur showing up to a filthy mall with a garden hose.
PowerWash Simulator 2 is out, and it's got a whole new county of filth to blast. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a new intern, you need to know what gear is worth your hard-earned cash and what's just taking up space in the van. I'm here to walk you through the arsenal.
The Washers: Your Money Pits
You start your new life in Caldera County with two free "Light Duty" washers: the returning Prime Vista 1500 and the Urban X U1. The 1500 is your balanced, entry-level Toyota, while the U1 gives you a bit more power at the cost of coverage.
From there, you're spending cash to climb the ladder. The Prime Vista brand is your all-around balanced choice, while Urban X sacrifices area-of-effect for more raw power. You'll work your way up from the Prime Vista 2400 ($1,000) and Urban X U2 ($1,200), to the "Heavy Duty" Prime Vista 3000 ($5,000) and Urban X Max ($6,000), and finally to the "Professional Duty" beasts: the Prime Vista Pro ($10,000) and the Urban X Stream ($12,000).
Attachments: The Nozzle Nitty-Gritty
The washer is just the start; the nozzles do the real work. The turbo nozzle is a solid upgrade, giving you a spinning beam that covers more ground than the basic 0-degree nozzle. But the real must-have is the adaptable nozzle. Instead of fumbling between four fixed angles, this add-on lets you precisely adjust the spray, making it a total game-changer.
You've also got your extensions: Short, Long, and Extra Long. They do exactly what you'd expect, giving you more range and power to hit those annoying, out-of-reach spots. Just know that you'll lose some area-of-effect, and the price doubles for each step up.
Finally, there are the specialized, late-game attachments. The soap nozzle does what it says, loosening up stubborn dirt. The triple-tip nozzle is a monster that blasts grime with three 0-degree streams, but you can only strap it to the top-tier Prime Vista Pro. Its counterpart, the double turbo nozzle, is exclusive to the Urban X Stream and makes quick work of dirt at a distance.
The Secret Weapon You Need to Buy
Fans have been begging for it, and FuturLab finally delivered. The SwirlForce Surf Ace is the "secret weapon" of this game. It’s not a spray nozzle; it’s a surface cleaner with spinning brushes.
It's completely useless for zapping things from afar, but for huge, flat surfaces like floors and walls, it's an absolute beast. Best of all, it's cheap, costing only $500 after your first few jobs. It even has its own upgrades, like bigger cleaning heads and extensions.
Ladders, Lifts, and Other Crap
Some jobs give you extra equipment to get around. Ladders and stepladders are your basic tools for reaching a roof or second floor. Bigger jobs will provide pre-built scaffolds with stairs to climb.
For more control, you'll get scissor lifts, which are perfect for raising yourself to a specific height to get at trims and undersides. And for those really insane jobs, you get to abseil (rappel) down the side of structures, which is as close to being a cleaning-based Spider-Man as I ever want to get.
Looking Good While You Scrub
You can also spend your cash on cosmetics. This time, however, all the outfits, washer skins, van colors, and furniture for your Home Base are bought with "PowerWash Points". This is a separate currency from the cash you use for upgrades, which is a fantastic change. It means I can buy all the tacky furniture I want without sacrificing my ability to afford a new nozzle. Weirdly, you still have to clean any new furniture you buy before you can place it.
How to Find That Stupid Gnome
You know they're back. Those creepy little garden gnomes are hidden all over, but there's one stashed in your own Home Base.
If you can't find him, here's the trick. Go back to your HQ and head upstairs to the room with the Job Map and your cats. You'll notice the door leading back downstairs is always open. Just walk up to it and use the prompt to close the door. That little bastard is hiding right behind it. Picking him up nabs you the "Gnome from Home" achievement.
That’s the gear. Now you know what to buy and where to find that creepy little statue. If you're less worried about gear and more about hunting down those other hidden challenges, I've got a guide for that, too. Now get to work.