I hit the bazaar on the edge of the base and watched a fresh contract blink red. The sector needed cleaning before the launch window—money or a missed deadline, one of the two. I walked you through the shortest, busiest route between those outcomes.
How to complete Moon Sweepers
I’ve seen players plant their base and treat the map like a sandbox instead of a ledger.
You start on the Moon to fulfill contracts, not charity. Clean patches, collect Lunar Dust, deliver it to the depot, and convert that work into cash. Your base becomes a lighthouse for your operation. That light guides every decision: which tool to buy, which sector to clear next, and how aggressively you push for higher-tier vehicles or processing gear.
Quick checklist for the roadmap:
- Clean the surface to harvest Lunar Dust.
- Carry and deliver the dust to the depot to complete contracts.
- Spend proceeds on tools, containers, and quality-of-life upgrades.
- Scale into vehicles and production to turn dust into higher-value goods.
How do I clean the Moon efficiently in Moon Sweepers?
Start local. Establish your base, then sweep sectors closest to your hub until you’ve cleared roughly 15 sectors. At that point your income curve bends upward and you can start buying tools that actually matter.
Use the Toothbrush until you can afford the Household Broom. Don’t buy every tool on sight—prioritize carriers and upgrades that expand how much dust you can pack and how fast you can return to the depot.
Cleaning the Moon
Most early runs feel like scrubbing a kitchen after a party: messy but manageable with the right order of operations.
At the very start you’ll only have a Toothbrush. That’s fine—sweep tightly, finish nearby plots, and avoid wasting credits on marginal upgrades. Save better tools until you clear at least 15 sectors; this preserves cash and raises your effective earnings per minute.
Tool decisions matter more than tool quantity. Every cleaning instrument has two metrics: cleaning capacity and carry capacity. Prioritize the Household Broom after the Toothbrush; it raises your collection rate substantially. Skip wide brooms until you can afford carriers and container upgrades that scale your haul.
There are five upgrade categories in the tech tree. Learn them and buy only where you’ll see returns in cash per hour.
Containers
| Upgrades | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Toothbrush | Starter cleaning tool. |
| Nail Brush | Slightly improved clearing tool. |
| Hand Brush | Allows you to clean much more efficiently. |
| Household Broom | First broom you can acquire for relatively cheap. |
| Wide Broom | Improved version with larger operational radius. |
| Dust Compactor | Raises carry capacity of containers. |
| Auto-Packer | Automates dust packaging to save time. |
Cleaning
| Upgrades | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Wide Heads | Improves width of cleaning tools. |
| Deep Heads | Improves cleaning depth. |
| Long Reach | Extends operational length of tools. |
| Surge Heads | Amplifies the above effects. |
Suit
| Upgrades | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Servo Stride | Bonus movement speed. |
| Lunar Leap | Provides aerial boost. |
| Helmet Lamp | Provides a source of light. |
| Exo Frame | Provides a sturdy exterior frame. |
Economy
| Upgrades | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Market Contracts | Increases payout from selling Lunar Dust. |
| Supplier Network | Bonus payments for completing a sector. |
| Region Bounty | Bonus payout when selling Lunar Dust. |
| Lunar Exchange | Launch-payout bonuses. |
Start by buying Market Contracts: it increases every contract’s value and compounds into faster gear procurement. Think in return-on-investment: what upgrade raises cash per run, not what feels flashy.
Which upgrades should I buy first in Moon Sweepers?
Buy what raises revenue or reduces downtime. Market Contracts first, then Dust Compactor and Auto-Packer when you start hauling more. After that, invest in cleaning reach and suit mobility so you spend less time walking and more time collecting.
Cleaning with Vehicles
Players who treat vehicles as cosmetic miss the math: speed multiplies effective earnings.
Build a garage for $200 (€186). Vehicles start with a Push Sweeper for $300 (€279) and go up to a Mega Vacuum Rover for $6,000 (€5,580). Vehicles increase speed and haul, and with patch 1.0.3 you can fit upgrades that make them far more efficient. Vehicles are freight trains for lunar dust.
I delayed vehicles on my first run and lost hours to walking. When cash allowed, I bought two Push Sweepers and doubled my effective sector coverage. Save Mega Rover purchases for endgame unless you have a specific cash plan—cars cost credits and they must pay for themselves.
How do I set up my garage and choose vehicles?
Pay the $200 (€186) garage fee, then buy a Push Sweeper to begin scaling. Fit vehicles with larger containers first, then engine upgrades. If you play on Steam or through Xbox Game Pass, check community threads and Moyens I/O guides for proven loadouts.
Making money
Early money is dust-for-cash; mid-game money is processed products and contracts that pay bonuses.
Start by selling raw Lunar Dust. As you scale, produce Moon Sand and Moonstone for higher yields. The Pressure Chamber converts 5 kg of Lunar Dust into Moon Sand every 12 seconds automatically. The Stone Press consumes 1 kg Lunar Dust and 1 kg Moon Sand to produce 2 kg Moonstone Block every six seconds. These processing chains shift you from hourly wages to passive, production-based income.
I haven’t covered automation here because automation is a full playstyle shift and deserves a focused guide. If you use Steam Workshop, community threads, or the Moyens I/O comments you’ll find scripts and layouts that minimize micromanagement once your factory is online.
If you want fast returns, focus on Market Contracts, Dust Compactor, and a Push Sweeper—then graduate to processing with Pressure Chamber and Stone Press. If you prefer control, invest in suit mobility to shorten runs and expand your reach. Will you cash out early for steady profit, or invest everything into production and aim for the Mega Rover—what will your playstyle bet on?