It’s inevitable that during our travels on the internet, we’ll download files and images that are only needed for one-time use. It’s way too easy to forget about these files, as they get dumped into the Downloads folder, which you likely only access to see the most recently downloaded item. Otherwise, it’s out of sight, out of mind.
Unfortunately, if you let it get out of control, it can be taxing on your laptop and organization. The same can be said for any excess left to sit anywhere on your hard drive. For a clean, decluttered laptop, clear out your Downloads folder and Recycling bin, perform the occasional disc cleanup to remove temporary files and try to hold onto only your most important files.
Deleting temporary files is a bit easier on a Windows laptop than a Macbook. The former can be done via the designated Disk Cleanup application. For a Macbook, the most efficient way is by downloading a third-party application like MacCleaner or MacKeeper. Otherwise, you need to search for them in Finder manually, which increases the risk of deleting a critical file.
If you’re not sure if you may need a file in the future, you should consider investing in a flash drive to serve as external storage. You can move files you’re unsure of to the drive to keep them from cluttering your laptop. That way, if you do wind up needing them, they’re available.
