Finding the hidden gnomes in PowerWash Simulator 2 is one of those side objectives that sounds simple until you're staring at a half-cleaned level wondering where the little ceramic troublemaker went. These gnomes are tucked into corners, hidden behind foliage, and placed in spots that reward players who actually look around instead of blasting everything in a straight line. This guide covers every known gnome location so you can track them all down without spending an hour circling the same map.
Where are the gnomes in PowerWash Simulator 2?
Gnomes in PowerWash Simulator 2 are small collectible figures scattered across levels. They aren't marked on any in-game map, and the game gives you no direct hint that one is nearby. Your best signal is simply noticing something that looks slightly out of place, often tucked behind a bush, wedged near a structure, or sitting in a shadowed corner that your pressure washer hasn't touched yet.
The gnomes can typically be moved around once you find them, which means their exact resting spot can shift slightly depending on how you've been cleaning the surrounding area. The core location, though, stays consistent.
Home base gnome location
The first gnome most players encounter sits at the home base, which also serves as the central hub you return to between jobs. When you spawn in, face the taller bush positioned just to the right of your starting view. The gnome is tucked directly behind that bush.
According to detailed community guides on GameSpot's gnome location walkthrough, the home base gnome can be moved once discovered, so don't panic if it shifts a few feet after you start washing nearby surfaces. It stays in the general area of that taller bush.
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Start every new level by doing a slow lap around the entire area before you begin washing. Gnomes are far easier to spot on dry surfaces than on wet, soapy ones.
How do you spot gnomes you keep missing?
The most common reason players miss gnomes is tunnel vision. PowerWash Simulator 2 rewards methodical cleaning, and most players develop a pattern that covers the obvious dirty surfaces while completely ignoring corners and background objects. Gnomes exploit exactly that habit.
Here are the spots worth checking in any level:
- Behind tall or dense bushes, especially ones near your spawn point
- Under staircases and elevated platforms where water runoff collects
- Along fence lines, particularly at the far ends away from the main cleaning objective
- Near decorative objects like garden furniture, planters, or ornaments
- In shadowed recesses on building exteriors
For a full breakdown of every gnome placement across all levels, the complete gnome location guide on TheGamer maps out each spot with specific directional instructions.
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If you finish a level without finding the gnome, you may need to replay it. Check each area thoroughly before hitting the completion screen.
Gnome locations by level type
While exact positions vary per map, gnomes tend to follow placement patterns based on level type. The table below summarizes what to expect:
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Gnomes in PowerWash Simulator 2 appear to be a nod to the original game's hidden collectible tradition, rewarding thorough explorers rather than speed cleaners.What happens after you find a gnome?
Finding a gnome doesn't trigger a loud fanfare or a pop-up achievement on its own. The satisfaction is mostly in the discovery and in completing your level fully. That said, gnome locations are tied into the broader achievement and completion tracking in PowerWash Simulator 2, so players going for 100% runs will need every one of them.
The Steam community has already begun cataloguing achievements tied to thorough level completion, with multiple guides noting that collectible discovery plays a role in full completion runs. If you're chasing every unlock, treating gnome hunts as mandatory rather than optional will save you backtracking time later.
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Play in co-op if you can. A second player scanning the edges while you handle the main cleaning objective cuts gnome search time significantly.
Building your gnome-hunting routine
The players who find every gnome on a first pass through a level share one habit: they treat the gnome hunt as a separate task from the cleaning job. Before touching the pressure washer, spend 60 to 90 seconds walking the full perimeter of the level. Check behind every large plant, under every raised surface, and along every fence line.
Once you've spotted the gnome, note its position and then clean normally. You don't need to interact with it mid-job; just knowing where it is means you won't accidentally finish the level without registering its location.
For more collectible guides and hidden secrets across other games, browse the full guides section at GAMES.GG to find similar walkthroughs built around the same methodical approach.