The more you use your Mac, the more cluttered it’s likely to become. Instead of upgrading to a new machine, you can make your current one work better. To help you achieve this, we’ve put together a guide with techniques and useful apps that have helped us maintain a more organized computer. After using these tips since 2021, my 2018 MacBook Air still looks and runs almost like new.

How to Clean Your Mac’s Screen and Body

The simplest approach to cleaning your Mac is often the most effective. You’ll need water in a spray bottle and a clean microfiber cloth. You can use either regular or distilled water, with the latter being less likely to leave residue on your Mac’s display. Distilled water can be purchased at a grocery store or made yourself with simple cookware. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you can buy a 24-pack from Amazon for around $11.

A tool that can make the cleaning process easier is a Giottos Rocket Blower.

To clean your Mac, start by turning it off and unplugging it. Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the computer, taking care around the keys. Then, dampen one side of the cloth with water and clean the display. Finally, use the dry side to buff and polish the computer.

How to Organize Your Hard Drive

Cleaning your Mac’s hard drive can be overwhelming, especially if you have apps you don’t remember installing. Fortunately, macOS has a built-in tool to help. Navigate to System Settings > General > Storage, where you’ll find a tool that separates your storage into categories like Applications, Documents, Music, Photos, and more.

Delete any unused apps, and consider using a free program like AppCleaner to remove any leftover files. Also, delete any DMGs for installed apps and old iOS backups.

Tips and Tricks for Keeping a Neat Desktop and Finder

Keep your menu bar tidy by downloading an app like Bartender. Remove any unused login items by navigating to System Settings > General > Login Items.

Use macOS’s tagging capabilities to organize your files and folders. You can access tags in the Finder Settings menu (Command + ,) and apply them to files and folders by right-clicking and selecting the desired tag.

How to Organize Your Windows and Tabs

Consider downloading an app like Magnet to improve your window management. This app allows you to tile windows to the left or right side of your screen, and it’s available for $5.