for FREE

Cleaning your computer every now and then is good practice. It can ensure that it stays performing within expectations for longer and keeps you from needing to do something more drastic, like reinstalling Windows, to get back some of that performance.

Windows has been getting pretty good at conducting maintenance by itself, but if that doesn’t work quite well for you, then you can try out Browser Cleaner. Though its name may lead you to believe it’s mainly a browser-focused maintenance tool, it also features system-wide cleaning capabilities, as well as a File Shredder function and Drive Wipe feature for Premium users.

Perhaps the highlight of the software is how effortless it is to use. Cleaning your computer essentially requires clicking the Scan button, after which you can sit back and wait for the analysis and subsequent maintenance to be handled.

The default configuration may be a bit too much for some users, however, which is why I would recommend looking through the settings and customizing them to fit your needs.

For instance, some users may not want their cookies deleted for a certain browser, which is all the more reason to configure your settings. The Windows and Applications menus are also worth looking into, as they contain many other maintenance-related matters of varying levels of importance.

The Windows section includes some options that are good to clean up sometimes. Temp files can occupy quite a bit of space if left unchecked, and there’s also the option to erase various caches to save some additional storage. This can be worth doing in some cases, but I wouldn’t necessarily always go along with it, as performance can take a hit until certain caches are rebuilt.

The Applications menu is a bit of a mixed bag, in that it included fixes for lots of software that I simply didn’t have on my system. As was the case with the Windows menu, most of these options pertained to cache and temp file cleaning, which can be useful in some cases.

I should also mention that the Free version pop-ups are a bit grating, as another would come in quick succession after dismissing the first, reminding you to upgrade to the Premium edition.

As is often the case with such software, their viability depends on your system and workflows. Browser Cleaner is worth a try if you’re experiencing system slowdowns or anything similar, but when you consider that Windows has been getting better at maintaining your system by default, I’d argue the software’s value proposition chiefly rests on its Drive Wipe and File Shredder amenities, and less so on its cleanup capabilities.