Don’t forget your computer when cleaning all your stuff. From software to hardware, there are some easy ways to get your Windows 10 laptop or desktop organized and working great.
Uninstall apps you don’t use
This tip may seem obvious, but it is a good place to start. Many applications that you install add startup programs or system services in the background that make the PC take longer to start up and use resources in the background. Some programs confuse the File Explorer context menus with options. Others – especially PC games – can use up a lot of disk space.
It’s okay if you use these apps and find them beneficial, but it’s easy to install a large number of apps and end up without using them. To clean things up, uninstall apps you don’t use.
In Windows 10, you can go to Settings> Applications> Applications and features to see a list of applications that you can uninstall. You can also access the traditional “Uninstall or change a program” panel in the classic Control Panel.
As you go through the list, remember that certain programs in it are “dependencies” that other programs need. For example, there is a good chance that you will see several “Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable” items here. You will want to leave those installed.
If you don’t know what a program is or what it does, do a web search for it. You may find that the program is a necessary and useful utility for your PC’s hardware, for example.
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Remove browser extensions you don’t need
Browser extensions are similar to applications. It is easy to install a bunch and end up not using them. However, browser extensions can slow down your web browsing, and most of them have access to everything you do in the browser. This makes them a security and privacy risk, especially if they are created by a company or individual that you do not trust.
If you installed the official browser extension made by the password management company you already trust, that’s one thing. But if you installed a small extension that provides an occasionally useful function and was done by an unknown person – well, it might be better without it installed.
Browse the extensions installed on your web browser and remove those that you don’t use or trust. In Google Chrome, for example, click the menu> More tools> Extensions to find them. In Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu> Add-ons. In Microsoft Edge, click on the menu> Extensions.
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Adjust your startup programs
We recommend uninstalling unnecessary and unnecessary programs. But sometimes you may want to leave a program installed, preventing it from starting at startup. Then, you can start the program only when you need it. This can speed up the startup process and clear the system tray or the notification area.
To find the Startup Program controls in Windows 10, right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager” (or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc). Click on the “Startup” tab – and if you don’t see it, click on “more details” first. (You can also find a similar tool in Settings> Applications> Start up.)
Disable any programs that you do not want to run at startup. Many of them will not be needed. Keep in mind that this can affect functionality – for example, if you choose not to run Microsoft OneDrive or Dropbox at startup, they will not start and sync your files automatically. You will have to open them after completing the computer startup process for this to happen.
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Organize your desktop and files
Spring cleaning is not just about making your PC run faster. It is also about making it faster to use it. Having a properly organized file structure will make it easier to find the files you need, without the unnecessary files getting in the way.
Cleaning up your messy work area is a big part of that. And if you don’t want to clean up your desktop, just consider hiding the desktop icons, which you can easily do by right-clicking on the desktop and deselecting View> Show desktop icons.
Also, consider opening File Explorer and organizing your personal files and folders. There is a good chance that your Downloads folder, in particular, will need cleaning – or just a quick deletion of old downloads that you no longer need. Whatever folders you use frequently, consider pinning them to the Quick Access sidebar in File Explorer to make it easier for you to access your stuff.
RELATED: How to organize your messy Windows desktop (and keep it that way)
Clean the taskbar and the Start menu
While you’re at it, consider pruning or rearranging the taskbar icons. If your taskbar is full of icons for apps you don’t need, deselect them by right-clicking and selecting “Unpin from the taskbar”. Rearrange them by dragging and dropping to reposition them wherever you want on the taskbar.
Take a look at customizing your Start menu as well. The standard Windows 10 Start menu contains shortcut blocks that you are unlikely to use. If you have never customized it, now is a good time to ensure that only the programs you actually use are fixed in your tile area.
And while you’re at it, you can have a variety of programs running in the background with an icon in the system tray. You can hide the icons in the notification area with a quick drag and drop, leaving the program running while removing the icon from the taskbar.
RELATED: 10 ways to customize the Windows 10 Start menu
Organize your browser and bookmarks
You probably spend a lot of time on your computer’s browser. If you use the bookmarks feature, take the time to rearrange your bookmarks in a way that makes sense.
This is easier to do in the browser bookmark manager, instead of messing with the bookmarks toolbar. In Google Chrome, click on the menu> Bookmarks> Bookmark Manager to launch it. Consider backing up your favorites before continuing if you want them again in the future. We have many tips for organizing your favorites.
RELATED: How to organize your web browser bookmarks
Perform disk cleanup to free up space
If you want to clean up some temporary files and free up disk space, try using the Disk Cleanup tool built into Windows. On Windows 10, open the Start menu, search for “Disk Cleanup” using the search box and click “Disk Cleanup” to start it. Click the “Clean system files” button to ensure that you are cleaning your Windows user account files and system files.
Depending on how much time has passed since the last time you ran this tool, you may be able to release gigabytes of unnecessary files – for example, files related to old Windows updates. Carefully review the list of things that Disk Cleanup plans to delete to ensure that the tool does not delete anything that you want to keep.
RELATED: Is it safe to delete everything in Windows disk cleanup?
Dust your PC
If you have a desktop PC, you should open it regularly and remove dust quickly. (Be sure to turn off your PC first!) You may also need to dust your laptop.
Dust generally builds up on PC fans and other components, reducing cooling efficiency. As a result, your PC may become hotter, or at least the fan will have to work harder to provide the same amount of cooling.
Although you don’t have to go crazy cleaning all parts of your PC completely, we recommend turning it off and cleaning it with compressed air (like Falcon Dust-Off or a similar brand). Never use a vacuum cleaner for this!
An essential tool
Dust-Off Electronics Duster Falcon
Compressed air is an excellent and safe way to clean dust from inside your PC. It can also help with cleaning other components, such as the keyboard.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Dirty Desktop Computer Completely
Clean your keyboard, monitor and more
Dust inside the PC can affect performance and cooling. But there is probably dust elsewhere, too: on the computer monitor screen, between the keys on the keyboard, and more.
Spring cleaning is a great time to do a thorough and pleasant cleaning. To clean your monitor, all you really need is a standard microfiber cloth, the same type you would use to clean a pair of glasses.
To thoroughly clean the keyboard, you can usually remove the keys and use compressed air or a vacuum to clean up accumulated debris.
We also have tips for cleaning all other PC peripherals. You can buy a wide variety of different products that promise to help speed up the cleaning process.
RELATED: How to clean and disinfect all your gadgets
Optional: Consider “Resetting” Windows 10
Let’s end with a geek tip: if you feel like you want to start with a fresh, clean installation of Windows, consider resetting Windows 10. Don’t confuse this with rebooting your PC – it’s more like a factory reset on other devices.
In Windows 10, “resetting” Windows is similar to reinstalling it. You will get a factory default environment, without programs installed and settings changed. You can then start from scratch. (You can choose to keep your personal files during the reset process.)
During the restart of Windows, you can choose to perform a “New Start”, which will erase any bloatware installed by the manufacturer and provide you with a new Windows 10 system straight from Microsoft. If your PC came with a large amount of waste installed by the manufacturer, this is a great option.
Warning: If you try to do this, know that after that, you will have to spend time reinstalling the software and configuring Windows 10 the way you prefer. In addition, we recommend backing up your files before going through this process, just to make sure: The reset process can keep your files if you select the right options, but it is better to be safe than sorry. It is always best to have an updated backup at all times.
Don’t want a fresh installation of Windows? Skip this step! If you followed our other tips, your PC should already be decorated.
RELATED: How to use the “new start” of Windows 10 in the May 2020 update
Now your PC is neat and ready to go. Why not clean up everything else? Take the LifeSavvy Spring Cleaning Challenge to spruce up your home in 30 days.
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