An empty recycle bin = A happy PC
The most common question I get from my family and friends is, “How can I clean my PC for free? It used to be super fast, but now it’s really sluggish.” I bet this sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Well, if you use the tip I’m about to show you, I can promise you that your PC will start to run much more quickly and efficiently. Once you take advantage of this simple tip, you’ll never have to bother with asking a friend or colleague, “Is it possible for you to clean my PC for free?”
Can You Please Take Out the Trash?
Whenever I want to clean my PC for free, the very first place I start is by making sure my recycle bin is empty. This is totally the easiest way to get your computer running more efficiently again.
Here’s why emptying your recycle bin on a consistent basis is important. Your recycle bin is essentially a directory of old files that you’ve deleted. For example, it might feel like you’ve removed that “Michael Bolton’s Greatest Hits” CD from your iTunes because it’s no longer visible in your “music I hope no one ever knows I love” playlist. Unfortunately, the file is still taking up space on your hard drive because it’s hanging out in your recycle bin.
To use a springtime cleaning analogy, just because you empty your bedroom closet of unwanted clothes into a big Hefty bag doesn’t mean those clothes aren’t still taking up space in your home. You still have to get rid of that bag to truly create space. This is exactly what you’re doing when you empty your PC’s bin.
Don’t Just Trash It. Empty It
Now that you’ve loaded your recycle bin with embarrassing music or other unwanted files, here are the four steps for emptying your recycle bin to help your computer run faster. These are the steps that work for me whenever I want to clean my PC for free:
- Find the “Recycle Bin” on your desktop. Double-click to see all the files you’ve deleted on your PC.
- This is your last chance to save any files you might not want to delete. Yes, this means the live version of “When a Man Loves a Woman” that you adore so much. Not ready to part ways with this ballad just yet? You can save it by right-clicking this file – and any others – and selecting “Restore” from the menu items.
- Now that you’re confident you’re ready to dump out the trash, close the Recycle Bin, right-click the icon on your desktop, and select “Empty Recycle Bin.”
- When you see “Yes” at the confirmation screen, just select it. It you have a lot of old files in your bin it could take a few minutes for Windows to fully empty it out.
So Fresh and so Clean
Whenever I want my PC to run a bit more smoothly, emptying the recycle bin is a great way to clean my PC for free. I know it can work wonders for you as well so give it a shot today. If you think you need something a bit more heavy-duty for your computer, then click here to check out an all-in-one PC cleaning solution.
Have any additional tips to speed up a PC? Let us know in the comments below!
