It is often said that the journey is the reward, but geocachers may argue that a journey is even more rewarding when it ends with a find rather than a DNF! Regular maintenance is an important (and required) way to ensure that your geocache is a reward for those who seek it. If a cache falls into disrepair, then a reviewer may take action via the sweeping* process.

* Sweeping describes the action reviewers take on caches with maintenance issues. Some regions have specific reviewers who do this, while other reviewers do it as part of their normal reviewing.

We asked community volunteer reviewers what they want you to know about cache maintenance and sweeping. Here are some of the top items:

• Each geocache has a hidden Health Score, which comes from an algorithm based on a combination of logs and circumstances. A low Health Score may indicate that a cache needs owner attention. If the Health Score drops below a certain point, an automatic email is sent to the cache owner. These emails alert owners that they might need to check on their cache.
• The cache owner is responsible for both the cache page and the cache container. Most maintenance issues relate to containers, but COs must also keep the online cache page up-to-date.
• If it appears that your cache is missing or in disrepair, temporarily disable the cache listing to keep it from appearing in search results. After you have checked the cache and performed any necessary maintenance, re-enable the listing and post an Owner maintenance (OM) log.
• Post an OM log each time you check on your cache or perform any maintenance. This shows reviewers and the community that the cache is being maintained. In addition, if the “Owner attention requested” attribute (red wrench) is on your cache page, posting an OM log is the only way to remove it.
• Do not post an OM log only to share your future plans for maintaining the cache. The log type should only be used when you’ve actually addressed an issue or confirmed that your cache is in good shape.
• It’s important to post communication about maintenance on the cache page and not in private emails or messages to reviewers. Reviewers rely on viewing a timeline of cache owner activity on the cache page.
• Maintenance by someone other than the cache owner may not prevent a cache from being disabled or archived. The cache owner must respond on the cache page, even if someone else has helped them with maintenance.

The sweeping process is intended to help improve the overall caching experience, so please be kind to volunteer reviewers who are trying to help you navigate the situation. Just as they want to support you to publish your caches, they also want to support you to ensure your cache remains on the game board!