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Clean-App: The Mac’s Out With Old Uninstaller.

Clean AppSome Mac users try every application and utility available. Put me in that category of Mac user.

I’m constantly trying new Mac apps, always looking for something better, which means my Mac gets loaded.

How do I get rid of the those applications that I install but decide not to keep?

For now I’m using Clean-App, a straightforward Mac utility that watches what gets installed and removes all the right files.

That’s a rather simplistic one-liner for what should be easy on Mac OS X but isn’t.

The Mac’s application installation method is both remarkably easy and complex.

On the easy side, it’s drag and drop simple. Download a file, unzip or open the disk image, drag to the Applications folder. You’re done.

How does installation get much easier than that? Uninstallation should be so easy. It’s not.

On the complex side, an installer puts the new Mac app in the Applications folder. Supporting files end up getting scattered all over the place.

There’s files in the Preferences folder, there’s files in the Application Support folder; files here, files there, who knows where.

I’ve used AppZapper to rid my Mac of discarded applications, but it has limitations and doesn’t find all the files an application leaves behind.

I’ve used Yank but finally had to yank it after a few problems cropped up.

I’ve settled on Clean-App because it does two things very well.

First, it watches my Mac’s files and folders during the installation process.

That way it knows where an application installation placed various files, folders, and hidden files.

Second, Clean-App removes all those files. So far, the new version has been flawless and fast.

In simple terms, it watches your Mac’s files and folders. When an application or utility is installed, it tracks the files. It also tracks files created by the app or utility you installed.

Knowing where all the related support files reside on your Mac is useful when it comes time to remove the files.

Removal has been quick and painless, even when an application leaves behind many files in many locations.

In some respects, Clean-App is easy to use, just like AppZapper. It’s drag and drop. Drag the application you want removed to Clean-App.

It finds the appropriate files and gives you the option to Create Archive (just in case), or Delete Files.

Clean-App has a standard Mac tool bar with obvious selections. Applications, System Accessories, Languages, Cache Files, Unused Files, Log Files, Temporary Files, Hidden Files.

Scroll through the list of each, select the application you want to ”uninstall” and click to delete. It’s that simple. Categories can be searched and sorted.

Unfortunately, Clean-App doesn’t give a healthy list of what’s OK to delete from your Mac and what’s not OK. User beware.

If you’re worried about all those utilities you add to your Mac and want to get rid of a few, this is an excellent way to start. For $10, Clean-App displayed more polish and comfort than all the other uninstallers I’ve tried.

Check out the daily list of our 9 Word mini-Reviews at NoodleMac, and Kate's daily in-depth Mac software reviews at PixoBebo.

   • Article by Jeffrey Mincey • Published on Tuesday, December 4, 2007
   • Category: Encore Reviews • 6 Reader comment(s) • Email This • Digg This • Shop Now
  Page 1 of 1 Page(s) for this article.

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Readers Talk Back:
Mr. Reeee says:

AppZapper’s fun ray gun icon coupled with the ZAP delete sound just can’t be beat!

   — Posted on Wed Dec 12 at 11:31 pm by Mr. Reeee

Welles says:

Oops. I meant to say Adobe apps have their own uninstallers.

   — Posted on Tue Dec 04 at 3:29 pm by Welles

Welles says:

I’ve used Clean App for some time. It does a particularly good job after it is installed and the daemon keeps a digital ‘eye’ on installations to track all the associated files. You do still have to go through the files listed and decide whether they should be trashed or not (which Don Trenton obviously didn’t do). You also should not use it for major apps like the Adobe CS suite which comes with it’s own installer.

I like Clean App. It saves me lots of time as I tend to try out a great deal of software and only a modest percentage ‘sticks.’

   — Posted on Tue Dec 04 at 3:27 pm by Welles

iggy pence says:

I love Clean App. Works great at deleting all those crappy preference and support files installed by the utilities I try. Good for pruning your Mac.

Pay attention to what is about to be deleted. Some Mac users don’t know where their files are located, or move files into the wrong place, which Clean App can delete.

Highly recommended. Just know what you’re clicking.

   — Posted on Tue Dec 04 at 3:04 pm by iggy pence

Don Trenton says:

This is junk software that deletes every file associated with an application,. Example: Want to delete and reinstall photoshop? Works great until you find out that it also deleted months worth of photoshop client files. Developer takes no responsibility. Trust me - DO NOT use this software!

   — Posted on Tue Dec 04 at 2:50 pm by Don Trenton

  Page 1 of 1 Page(s) for Comments on this article.
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