Undusted: Letters from the Past is one of those quietly emotional indie games that sneaks up on you. On the surface, it’s about cleaning old objects. But as you polish away the dust, layer by layer, you uncover stories, memories, and regrets.
This Undusted Letters from the Past Guide walks you through every achievement in the game — story-based, grind-based, and hidden ones — while also sharing tips I wish I knew before my first playthrough. If you’re aiming for that 100% completion, this will help you get there efficiently, without spoiling the heart of the experience.
Undusted Letters from the Past Guide Wiki- Achievements
Before diving into achievements, let’s talk basics.
1. The Goal
Every level presents an object — a relic tied to a story from the past. Your task is to clean it completely (100%) using different tools. Each level has its own atmosphere, music, and emotional tone, so take your time.
2. Tools of the Trade
You’ll unlock multiple cleaning tools as you progress:
- Sponge – good for broad surfaces
- Toothbrush – great for detail work and edges
- Cloth – essential for glass and delicate items
- Air Gun – used to blow away fine dust
Each tool feels slightly different, and learning when to swap between them saves you a lot of frustration.
3. Hints and Patience
You can use hints to highlight dirty spots — but some achievements require no hint usage, so be mindful. Try moving the camera around; many missed patches are simply at odd angles or hidden under handles or lids.
4. Enjoy the Story
Don’t rush. The emotional payoff in Undusted builds slowly through each object’s transformation. By the final levels, you’ll realize every speck of dust tells a part of someone’s life.
Story Achievements
These are unlocked automatically as you clear levels and progress through the game’s story. You’ll earn one per level, with the final one awarded for completing the ending cinematic.
| Icon | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A Dusted Key | Clear Level 1 | |
| Bunny Ears! | Clear Level 2 | |
| Shattered | Clear Level 3 | |
| Shining in the Darkness | Clear Level 4 | |
| A Little Ditty | Clear Level 5 | |
| No Means No | Clear Level 6 | |
| Snow-capped | Clear Level 7 | |
| Left Behind | Clear Level 8 | |
| In Darkness Found | Clear Level 9 | |
| Words Gone Astray | Clear Level 10 | |
| Shouldn’t Have Said That | Clear Level 11 | |
| What Was Left Inside | Clear Level 12 | |
| What Had Always Been There | Clear Level 13 | |
| Unexceptional | Clear Level 14 | |
| If I Had Called First… | Clear Level 15 | |
| Nothing Left Undusted | Clear Level 16 | |
| Letters From the Past | Finish the story and watch the final cinematic |
Tip: Don’t worry about missing anything in these levels — all story achievements are unmissable.
Grinding Achievements
These require a bit of dedication. The good news? You’ll unlock most of them naturally as you play.
| Icon | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A Shining Start | Clean 4 objects to 100% | |
| Nearly Spotless | Clean 8 objects to 100% | |
| Every Last Speck | Clean all objects to 100% | |
| Simple and Clean | Clean all items to 100% using only the sponge and toothbrush | |
| Patience is an Art | Clean any object using only the air blow gun | |
| No Help Needed | 100% any stage (excluding tutorial) without hints |
Notes:
- For Simple and Clean, levels 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17 include “extra” tools that make things easier — resist the urge to use them.
- Level 6 doesn’t count for this achievement.
- When cleaning glass objects without the cloth, move your brush or sponge slowly rather than scrubbing quickly. It takes longer, but it works.
Personal Tip:
I recommend attempting Simple and Clean on your second playthrough. Your first run should be focused on story and pacing, not perfection. Once you’re familiar with each level’s structure, go back and tackle the challenge runs.
Hidden / Secret Achievements (Spoilers)
Now for the fun ones — these require curiosity, experimentation, and a bit of playfulness. If you love interacting with every switch, lever, and button, you’ll likely find many of these naturally.
| Icon | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| It’s Still Not Working! | While hints are unavailable, try to use them 3 times | |
| Clean as an Ocarina | On Level 5, play a major scale in order on the ocarina using the brush. If you’re not musically inclined, the correct note order can be seen in the image below (major scale). | |
| Squeak! | Use the cloth for the first time (unlocked in Level 7) | |
| Let It Snow | On Level 7, clean the glass and shake the snow globe | |
| Too Pretty to Clean | On Level 7, clean off a flower | |
| With These Hands | On Level 8, push the pocket watch button to open it | |
| Echo… Echo… Echo… | On Level 9, turn on the MIDI controller, twist the right knob to the left, and press the drum buttons to hear the echo | |
| Air it Out! | Use the air blow gun (Level 11) | |
| Dad’s Final Song | On Level 11, turn the crank on the side of the music box to hear its melody | |
| Say Cheese! | On Level 12, open the camera lens and flash (red button on the back), then press the shutter to take a photo | |
| Like She Once Did | On Level 14, press the typewriter keys five times | |
| An Excuse to Call You | On Level 15, listen to the phone’s easter egg by dialing on the rotary phone correctly (lift the receiver, turn clockwise to the stop, release, and repeat for each digit — you’ll hear a beep for each correct number) | |
| Etched in Heart | After finishing the story, Level 17 unlocks. Clean the hidden object there to earn this achievement. |
Personal Commentary:
Most of these secret achievements are simple once you know where to look. The rotary phone one (An Excuse to Call You) is probably the most confusing — it’s easy to miss a correct rotation and lose progress. Take it slow and listen for the confirmation beep.
Also, don’t miss Dad’s Final Song — it’s one of the most emotional moments in the game and worth experiencing fully.
Walkthrough Tips for 100% Completion
Work Methodically:
Start from one corner of the object and move systematically. Random scrubbing just creates frustration when you’re at 99%.
Zoom and Rotate Often:
Dirt hides in tiny corners. Don’t forget you can rotate the object fully.
Use Lighting to Your Advantage:
Shine angles can help reveal leftover dust or smudges that don’t show clearly in normal lighting.
Save the Challenge Runs for Later:
Doing “tool-limited” achievements early can drain your patience. Focus on enjoying the story first.
Level 17 Unlocks Post-Story:
You’ll only see it after completing the ending cinematic. It’s a quiet but touching epilogue — and the perfect closure to your cleaning journey.
Undusted: Letters from the Past is more than just a cleaning simulator — it’s about memory, love, and the things we leave behind. Each level tells its own quiet story, and by the time you finish, you’ll understand the emotional thread tying them all together.
Getting 100% achievements isn’t difficult — it’s just time-consuming and requires a little care. Play at your own pace, appreciate the details, and you’ll unlock everything naturally.