National Clean Your Computer Day

Every year, National Clean Your Computer Day reminds us that our work can be smoother, safer, and more productive when our digital spaces are as tidy as our physical ones. Whether you’re working onsite or remotely, your computer is the heart of your daily workflow—so taking time to clean, organize, and secure it is one of the smartest things you can do.

Here are a few actionable steps that will make your device faster, safer, and easier to use:

1. Clean Out Your Desktop and Downloads Folder

Your Desktop and Downloads folders are often the most forgotten digital junk drawers on your computer. Leaving old installers, documents, or unknown files sitting around can increase your risk of accidentally opening malware or exposing sensitive info during screen shares.

Best Practices:

  • Delete anything you no longer need
  • Move important files to secure folders
  • Empty your recycle bin
  • Turn on features like Windows Storage Sense to auto-clean older downloads

2. Clear Your Browser History and Cookies

Your browser stores history, cached data, and cookies over time. Clearing these periodically not only boosts performance but also signs you out of open applications, helping keep your work and personal data private. This is a quick way to prevent lingering access to applications you forgot were open.

3. Organize Your Files Like a Pro

Cluttered folders slow you down. Many of us waste time hunting for documents we know exist somewhere on the device.

Best Practices:

  • Use clearly defined naming conventions
  • Use folder structures that actually match how you work
  • Use cloud storage locations for long‑term safekeeping
  • Delete duplicate files

4. Review Your Emails and Delete Any That Are No Longer Needed

Deleting old emails is a critical security practice that minimizes the data available to attackers, reducing the impact of potential data breaches and identity theft. Old messages often contain sensitive information, such as outdated passwords, financial data, and personal identifiers, that can be exploited for phishing, scams, or blackmail.

Key Reasons to Delete Old Emails:

  • Reduces Risk Exposure: If your email account is compromised, the damage is directly proportional to the amount of information the hacker has access to. Deleting old emails minimizes this “attack surface”.
  • Prevents Identity Theft: Attackers use old, unmonitored accounts and emails to piece together personal information, such as Social Security numbers, addresses, or family details, for identity theft.
  • Limits Phishing Targets: Old conversations can be used to craft convincing, targeted phishing attacks.
  • Minimizes Data Leakage: Storing old, sensitive information increases the risk of it falling into the wrong hands in the event of a security breach.
  • Limits Legal Exposure: For businesses, deleting old emails is a standard practice to manage liability and prevent the inadvertent disclosure of sensitive, archived data.

Best Practices:

  • Purge Emails: Delete old emails regularly.
  • Securely Delete: Ensure emails are not just removed from the inbox but deleted from the trash to prevent recovery.
  • Close Old Accounts: Deactivate or delete old, unused email accounts.

5. Backup What Matters

Use the day to check that your important files are backed up—either to a cloud service, an external drive, or both. Don’t wait for a hardware failure or ransomware event to remind you how valuable your data is.

Best Practices:

  • Remove Bloatware: Review installed applications and uninstall programs or trial software you no longer use.
  • Update Software: Check for operating system updates and ensure your antivirus and other applications are up to date.

6. Tidy Your Physical Workspace Too

Dusty keyboards, cluttered cables, and overlooked hardware can affect your productivity and even your device’s lifespan. Quick wipes and cord management can make your workspace more comfortable and reduce the risk of overheating.

Make It a Regular Habit, Not Just a Once-a-Year Activity

While National Clean Your Computer Day is a great annual reminder, treating these step