As fall is fast approaching, we thought we’d remind you that it might be time for some cleaning, with a list of the five most efficient tips for Mac cleanup. Sure, summer has come and gone, you’ve had your fun, but now the time for paid vacations is over – here comes that time of the year when you focus on work, getting ahead, earning a promotion, and all the other serious issues that take up your life. So why not get everything up, running, and in good shape before fall hits us? Start with your beloved Mac and start today. Here are some simple things you can do, in order to make sure it’s running better.
If you’re like most people, you probably get a lot of emails – and a lot of them with attachments. Hopefully, you have a dedicated folder on your computer for saving those you do need to download. Some people save them on their desktops (see tip #5 on our list of efficient tips for Mac cleanup) or keep them in Downloads (see tip #2). But if you don’t save them to that assigned folder and simply double-click them, these files, which can be bulky .pdfs or ePub books, documents or pictures – they go right into Mail Downloads. If you do, you will need to find this folder, which is located in your Mac’s Library. Do this via Spotlight; Command-Space will make a search bar pop up. Locate it and, presto!
2. No, you don’t need those DMGs stored for all eternity
When was the last time you checked your Downloads folder? That’s the place where files go to die, isn’t it? Well, we dare you: go to that folder now, via the Finder bar, search for ‘disk image’, select ‘disk image’ under ‘Kinds’ and delete all the files the search returned. Yes, delete the DMGs – you know as well as we do that you really don’t need to store them in the Downloads folder.
3. Clearing caches is as important as they tell you
You probably already know about clearing the cache of your web browser(s) of choice. The thing about Macs is that they use file caches too, in order to store all sorts of information. This way, they stay efficient, because data stored in these files is easier to access. However, when these file caches become corrupted or outdated, they need to be cleared. You can either do this manually (start off from ~/Library/Caches, for instance), or have Clean My Mac 2 handle the job for you.
4. Get rid of (some of) those apps
Like most Mac users, you’re probably also the kind who likes to pile on the unnecessary applications. Don’t just Trash them – sometimes this is not enough. Run a utility (such as AppTrap, for instance) that will find all the associated files and folders that an app creates, run it in the background and make sure that you’re deleting everything, not just parts of the app files.
5. Clean up that desktop
Are the icons piling up on your desktop like kingdom come? Time to retire the apps you never really use, move those files into the appropriate folders and, generally speaking, de-clutter. Don’t feel like doing all the grunt work yourself? Luckily, applications like Clean My Mac 2 can take care of the job for you. They can store all the files and folders on your desktop on a hidden version of itself, which is typically located on the Menu bar or in the Finder. You’ll find all your downloaded files and saved desktop screen shots there – while, in the meantime, your desktop will stay clutter-free. These apps perform desktop de-cluttering checks at scheduled intervals and work quietly in the background, making sure everything stays clean and running smoothly.