Prospecting · Gear Review
Cleanup Buddy Review (2025)
The Micro-Gold Workhorse Every Prospector Should Own
Fine gold is where most prospectors win or lose — and it’s usually where gear begins to fail. The Dream Mat Cleanup Buddy changes that. It’s a compact, high-efficiency cleanup system designed to strip black sand away and lock micro-gold instantly, with almost zero effort.
After PCS field testing in Montana gravels, buckets of cons, and dredge leftovers, one thing became clear:
The Cleanup Buddy isn’t an accessory — it’s an advantage.
What the Cleanup Buddy Actually Is
The Cleanup Buddy is a purpose-built miniature sluice powered by Dream Mat’s micro-vortex technology. Unlike old-school riffles or carpet, each cell creates a controlled low-pressure trap that locks gold while lighter material flushes cleanly out.
This translates into:
- Less turbulence
- Less blowout
- More gold recovered — especially under 100 mesh
For Montana, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, and any fine-gold region, this system is brutally effective.
Why It Matters (and Why PCS Recommends It)
Most prospectors lose fine gold without ever knowing it. Traditional cleanup sluices simply can’t control micro-material without excessive turbulence or washout.
The Cleanup Buddy solves that by controlling water velocity inside each micro cell. Gold drops instantly. Lights flush out. Your recovery becomes predictable.
PCS Field Notes:
- Captures gold that pans and standard mats miss
- Processes heavy cons in minutes
- Runs on low water volume
- Zero learning curve — dial flow once, done
- Portable enough for pack-in prospecting
Recommended by PCS
If you want the exact model we run in the field, this is it:
Checkout the Cleanup Buddy Kit →What You Can Run Through It
This system excels with:
- Black sand concentrates
- Sluice or highbanker cons
- Dredge tailings
- Blue Bowl leftovers
- Miller table overs
- Raw creek pan material
If it fits in a scoop and contains gold, the Cleanup Buddy will show you exactly what you caught — and what you would have lost.
Recommended Setup
Run it simple. Run it clean. Here's the optimized setup:
- 800–1100 GPH bilge pump
- ¾" reinforced hose
- Shallow recirculation tub
- Level tray — do not steepen the pitch
High flow is not the objective — consistent, controlled water is.
Best Accessories to Pair With It
To build a complete micro-gold recovery station:
- 800–1100 GPH pump
- 12V 9Ah sealed lead acid battery
- ¼" or ⅛" classifier
- Snuffer bottle and fine vials
- Finishing pan
Each of these improves speed and precision during cleanup — especially with ultra-fine gold.
Should You Buy One?
You should if:
- You prospect in fine-gold country
- You process more than a few gallons of cons per week
- You want consistent, repeatable recovery
- You want more gold in the vial — not in the tailings
For claim owners, highbanker operators, and serious weekend miners — the Cleanup Buddy pays for itself fast.
Closing — The PCS Verdict
Gold recovery isn’t luck — it’s systems, gear, and discipline. The Cleanup Buddy is one of the rare tools that improves your results without adding complexity or maintenance overhead.
It earns its place in the pack because it consistently recovers gold that lesser systems lose. Simple. Effective. Field-tested.
In a world where fine gold makes the difference, the Cleanup Buddy is the edge.
More PCS cleanup methods coming soon — including advanced micro-gold finishing and water-flow tuning.