---
key: mechanic/activity-simulators--t131
type: mechanic
id: activity-simulators--t131
lang: en
title: 'Cleaning, sorting and restoration'
summary: >-
  Restoration turns dirty or damaged objects into ordered states through
  suitable tools and work-area selection.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/activity-simulators--t131/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/activity-simulators--t131.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/activity-simulators--t131.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Activity and profession simulators
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-3817d420df0baa92
  - source-c644379f96fb5b7b
sources:
  - id: source-3817d420df0baa92
    title: 'Robert Nystrom: State'
    url: >-
      https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-c644379f96fb5b7b
    title: PowerWash Simulator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: uses
    direction: outgoing
    label: Sources in the selection
    key: resource/state-pattern
    title: 'State: Game Programming Patterns'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern'
    jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.json'
    markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.md'
placements:
  - catalogId: activity-simulators
    id: t131
    title: Activity and profession simulators
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/activity-simulators/#t131'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Cleaning, sorting and restoration'
    description: >-
      Restoration turns dirty or damaged objects into ordered states through
      suitable tools and work-area selection.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/strategy-powerwash-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: PowerWash Simulator
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1290000/ss_8782c713c59761ebaacabb214672655a1599ce79.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780392261
      credit: FuturLab / FuturLab
      rights: © FuturLab / FuturLab. All rights reserved.
      caption: A water jet cleans a dirty van
      alt: A water jet cleans a dirty van
      markers:
        - x: 51
          'y': 58
          label: Boundary between clean and dirty surfaces
        - x: 7
          'y': 10
          label: The counter shows cleaning is 11% complete
    tips:
      - Show remaining patches and explain which tool suits the surface.
    examples:
      - title: PowerWash Simulator
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/activity-simulators
---
# Cleaning, sorting and restoration

id: activity-simulators--t131
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/activity-simulators--t131
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/activity-simulators--t131/

Restoration turns dirty or damaged objects into ordered states through suitable tools and work-area selection.

## At a glance

![A water jet cleans a dirty van](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-powerwash-00.webp)

[PowerWash Simulator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/) · © FuturLab / FuturLab. All rights reserved.

1. Boundary between clean and dirty surfaces
2. The counter shows cleaning is 11% complete

- Show remaining patches and explain which tool suits the surface.

- [PowerWash Simulator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/)

## How it works

Restoration turns dirty or damaged objects into ordered states through suitable tools and work-area selection.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t131-variants"></a>

- Cleaning removes a specific contaminant type. <a id="t131-v1"></a>
- Sorting assigns objects to categories. <a id="t131-v2"></a>
- Removing a layer reveals a hidden surface. <a id="t131-v3"></a>
- Repair preserves desirable signs of aging. <a id="t131-v4"></a>

## Design example

A restorer cleans a sign while preserving original paint and visible marks of the artist's work.

Prototype check: Test completion boundaries and remaining-work feedback to avoid hunting one invisible leftover pixel.

## Context and limits

Activity simulators turn observation, operation sequences and limited tools into a testable work task. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials

- Sources in the selection: [State: Game Programming Patterns](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern) (key: resource/state-pattern)

## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [Robert Nystrom: State](https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown) (id: source-3817d420df0baa92)
- [PowerWash Simulator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/) (id: source-c644379f96fb5b7b)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors