A guest asked: “How to clean up my WordPress?” Here’s a complete guide to cleaning up your WordPress site for better speed, security, and organization.
Note: Before you do any of this stuff, backup first.
Remove Unused Plugins & Themes
- Go to Plugins, Installed Plugins, and delete deactivated / unused plugins
- Go to Appearance, Themes, Keep only the active theme & one default (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four)
Clean the Database
Use a plugin like “WP-Optimize” or “Advanced Database Cleaner” to:
- Remove post revisions
- Delete spam/trash comments
- Clean transient options
- Optimize database tables
Delete Unused Media Files
Use Media Cleaner plugins to find unused images and files. Delete them. Such media and files are also called orphaned media.
Clear Cache
If you use a caching plugin (like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, Hyper Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache), clear all caches and regenerate cache if needed.
Audit & Remove Unused Widgets and Shortcodes
Remove unused widgets from Appearancem, Widgets. If you’ve removed plugins, check for leftover shortcodes in content. You can use plugin “Remove Orphan Shortcodes” to do that.
Security & Malware Scan
Use “Wordfence” or “iThemes Security” to:
- Scan for malware
- Remove suspicious files
- Tighten security
Check Broken Links
Install “Broken Link Checker” plugin. Scan posts/pages for broken links. Fix or remove dead links.
Disable XML-RPC & REST API (if not needed)
You can disable unused features for better performance and security using “Disable Everything” or “Perfmatters” plugins.
Optional Tools
- Query Monitor – Debug performance issues
- Asset Cleanup – Remove unused scripts/styles from pages
- Health Check & Troubleshooting – Built-in site diagnostics
So by using these techniques and wordpress plugins, you can clean up your wordpress website quickly and effectively.
Check out these videos: