Survival in Don't Starve Together isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about thriving in style. The Clean Sweeper, a magical tool introduced in the Return of Them update, has become the go-to item for players looking to customize their gear, structures, and even Wilson’s beard. This tool lets you swap skins on-the-fly, turning your base from a ramshackle camp into a curated aesthetic masterpiece. But unlocking its full potential requires understanding its mechanics, crafting requirements, and the ever-evolving world of cosmetic unlocks.

What Even Is the Clean Sweeper?

Image of the Clean Sweeper tool in Don't Starve Together

The Clean Sweeper is essential for customizing your gear and structures.

The Clean Sweeper is Don’t Starve Together’s answer to cosmetic flexibility. Unlike most survival tools, it doesn’t help you gather resources or fight enemies. Instead, it lets you re-skin placed objects and non-craftable items, from backpacks to decorative structures. Imagine having a Tam o’ Shanter that matches your winter camp’s icy theme or a Krampus Sack that clashes intentionally with your summer vibes—this tool makes it possible.

Crafting the Clean Sweeper requires mid-game resources:
lua Recipe: - 3 Living Logs (harvested from Totally Normal Trees or Treeguards) - 6 Nightmare Petals (collected from Dark Flowers in the Caves) - Prototyped at a Shadow Manipulator

Crafting recipe for the Clean Sweeper with required materials

To craft the Clean Sweeper, gather Living Logs and Nightmare Petals.

Once crafted, simply right-click while holding it to cycle through owned skins for any compatible item.

Skins 101: How to Look Fabulous While Starving

Skins in Don’t Starve Together fall into two categories:
1. Craftable Skins: Applied when first building an item (e.g., a floral-themed Science Machine).
2. Non-Craftable Skins: Requires the Clean Sweeper to apply (e.g., the Bone Helm or Bundling Wrap).

For example, if you craft a Log Suit, you’ll see an arrow icon letting you scroll through available skins before placing it. But for items like the Prestihatitator or Ice Flingomatic, you’ll need to place them first then sweep them with the Clean Sweeper to apply your preferred design.

The Skin Economy: Freebies, Twitch Drops, and Spool Grinding

Klei Entertainment regularly showers players with free skins through:
- Daily Gifts: Log in daily for a chance at wardrobe unlocks.
- Twitch Drops: Watch official DST streams during updates for exclusive cosmetics.
- Klei Rewards: Link your Steam account to Klei’s rewards page for points redeemable for rare skins.

Don’t like a duplicate skin? Unravel it into Spools at the Curio Cabinet. These can be woven into new skins—though be warned: higher-rarity items require thousands of Spools.

Pro Tips for the Stylish Survivor

1. The “Sweep-and-Steal” Tactic

Hosting a public server? Use the Clean Sweeper to temporarily apply rare skins to shared structures (like Chests or Crock Pots). When you log out, the skins reset—but the memory of your impeccable taste lingers.

2. Beard Management for Wilson Mains

Wilson’s beard has multiple styles, but you can’t craft them. Use the Clean Sweeper to switch between rugged lumberjack and dignified gentleman mid-game.

3. Troll Your Friends with Rapid Skin Swaps

Equip a Clean Sweeper and spam-click a placed object. Watch as your teammate’s prized Dapper Vestestment cycles through neon pink, polka dots, and “default” until they rage-quit.

When the Clean Sweeper Doesn’t Work

Problem: “I Swept It, but Nothing Changed!”

  • Cause 1: The item has no alternate skins (e.g., Razor or Trap).
  • Cause 2: Conflicting mods (disable all mods to test).
  • Cause 3: Multiplayer desync—rejoin the server.

Problem: “Where Are My Twitch Drop Skins?”

Ensure your Klei account is linked to Twitch, and claim drops via the Rewards page. Drops can take up to 24 hours to appear in-game.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Skin Strategies

The “Faux-Prestige” Base Build

Using the Clean Sweeper, create a base that looks like it’s made of Thulecite but costs nothing:
1. Craft Cheap Walls (4 Cut Stone).
2. Sweep them to the Thulecite Wall skin.
3. Flex on your friends without wasting rare materials.

Case Study: The Streamer Who Swept Too Much

Popular YouTuber AllFunNGamez once transformed an entire biome into a candyland using the Clean Sweeper and modded skins. The result? A 20 FPS slideshow—proof that even magic has limits.

The Future of Skins and Sweeping

Klei continues to expand skin options, with recent updates adding:
- Seasonal event skins (e.g., Hallowed Nights pumpkin-themed tools).
- Collaborative crossovers (e.g., Terraria’s Zenith sword skin).

Modders have also jumped in, with the Clean Sweeper Expanded mod allowing skin changes for plants, rocks, and even creatures. Want a Beefalo with a top hat? There’s a mod for that.

TL;DR: Sweep Smart, Not Hard

  • Craft the Clean Sweeper mid-game (Living Logs + Nightmare Petals).
  • Daily gifts and Twitch drops = free skins.
  • Unwanted skins? Unravel for Spools.
  • Troll responsibly.

Need More Help?
- Mod: Clean Sweeper Expanded (Steam Workshop ID 2129434533)

Now go forth—your Crock Pot won’t reskin itself.