It's time to think about spring cleaning. You may want to work on your Mac's software, but definitely don't use a vacuum cleaner. Here are some applications that can help. Some will delete unwanted programs while others scan your Mac to free up space on your hard drive. Useful apps include App Cleaner, App Zap, Disk Cleaner Pro, Quick Cleaner, and CleanMyMac. Before using anything that will delete files on your computer, it's always very important to back up your hard drive.

For this review, I used an 11-inch MacBook Air running OS X Yosemite, along with the latest availalbe versions of the apps.

AppCleaner

Although it's not available in the Mac App Store, this application can be downloaded from the developer's website:

According to the website, "AppCleaner is a small application which allows you to thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps. Installing an application distributes many files throughout your System using space of your Hard Drive unnecessarily. AppCleaner finds all these small files and safely deletes them."

Finding Applications to Delete

When AppCleaner opens, focus should be on the "Applications" button. If not, use Tab or Shift\ +\ Tab to get to it. Select the "Applications" button. VoiceOver does not give any feedback that something is happening, but if you move to the right there will be a search button. Activating the Search button will present an edit box for searching for a particular application. Type the name of the application into the edit box, and move right for a table with the search results. Another option is to ignore the Search button, and continue moving right to the applications table and interact with it.

Deleting an Application

If you use the Search button to find an application or if you locate the application in the table, the information will be displayed in the same way. VoiceOver will say whether the check box next to the application's name is checked or unchecked. There is a button to show in Finder, and finally the application's name and path. Check the box if you want to delete the application. Move right, past the app's information to the search button and select it. This is not the same search button as described above.

VoiceOver will not give feedback that the app's files are displayed, but by moving to the left, the files can be located in a table. Each file has a check box which is checked by default. Move back to the right and activate the "Delete" button. You will hear the familiar sound as when items are added to the trash. That's where the deleted files will be moved.

This application is easy to use. It would be improved with increased VoiceOver feedback, but with some practice this isn't a serious issue. It is important to keep in mind Applications Apple has pre-installed on your Mac cannot be deleted.

App Zap

According to the Mac App Store, "App Zap has one function only, and that is to get rid of unwanted apps and all their related files. Simplicity and security are the driving force behind the build. From the moment you click on the App Zap icon you need to be in control of removing apps in the most efficient and expedient fashion. If you click on the advanced function the app will search for all related files of the app to be eliminated."

Finding Applications to Delete

When this application opens, you will be on a button. Initially VoiceOver only says, "Button." However, with hints enabled, after a few seconds VoiceOver will add, "Show all installed apps." The same situation occurs with the second button which is "Show Help." The final button is used for choosing how App Zap deletes files. This button is completely unlabeled.

Activate the "Show all installed apps" button. VoiceOver will not indicate that anything new has happened on the screen. Move left, and App Zap will state the number of apps found. Move right, past the buttons, to a table listing all the applications. Each entry will include a check box, the application's name, and four buttons. Select the check box next to the name of the application you wish to delete.

Deleting an Application

To the right of the application's name are four unlabeled buttons. As with the "Show all apps" button, VoiceOver will eventually speak the button's function. The first button is "Back," the second is "Just remove selected app," the third is "Remove all selected apps and all related files," and the fourth is "Browse app for related files." Choose which action you want to take, and a dialogue box will appear presenting the option to remove the checked files. There will be "Yes" and "No" buttons for this action. When applications are being deleted, App Zap will say it is deleting files, but no feedback is given when the task is complete.

In comparison, App Zap has more significant VoiceOver issues than AppCleaner, and it does not give enough feedback.

Disk Cleaner Pro

According to the iTunes Store, "Disk Cleaner Pro removes tons of unnecessary files on your Mac to free up hard drive space.

Disk Cleaner Pro can clear:

  • Unused caches
  • Unused logs
  • Old email attachments
  • Old downloaded files
  • Unnecessary foreign languages
  • The Trash!"
Finding Files to Delete

When Disk Cleaner Pro is launched, focus is on the "Continue" button. To the left of the "Continue" button is information regarding how much free space on your hard drive is available. To get started, activate this "Continue" button.

When the next screen appears, VoiceOver will say that you are on a checkbox and whether it is checked or unchecked, the name of the item it affects, and how much space is used for each category. The first checkbox refers to the Application Logs. The next is Downloads, and there is a button to view the contents of your Downloads folder. Next comes an explanation of what the App Logs are. This can be confusing since the explanation isn't next to the app logs check box. Next is an explanation about the contents of the Downloads folder.

Next are two checkboxes, one for Application Caches and the other for Mail Downloads. A button to view the contents of the Email Downloads folder is the next control, which is followed by descriptions of the Application Caches and Mail Downloads. The final two checkboxes are Voices and Trash. These are followed by descriptions about the folders.

Deleting Files

The final control is a button labeled "Clear Disk Space." Once activated, a dialogue will open to confirm the selected files should be deleted from your Mac. When deletion is complete, Disk Cleaner Pro gives a congratulatory message and indicates how much space has been freed. There are then buttons to share or exit.

This is an inexpensive, easy-to-use application. Although, it would make more sense for descriptions to be spoken just before or after each checkbox, Disk Cleaner Pro is definitely useable.

Quick-Cleaner

According to the Mac App Store, "Quick Cleaner is a smart app to help you regain wasted disk space on your Mac. This application works by scanning your home directory to find unnecessary files, such as old caches, logs, browser data, and iOS update files.

Finding Files to Delete

When Quick Cleaner opens, focus is on the "Start Scan" button. At the top of the window is a toolbar followed by the words "Used," Free," and "Total." After the words are three numbers which correspond to the three words. For example, the first number is how much free space is available on your hard drive.

Next is the "Start Scan" button. The first time the "Start Scan" button is activated, a dialogue box will appear, requiring that you manually select your home folder. Follow the instructions in the box by selecting the "Home Folder" button. A new screen will load showing the contents of your Home folder. Move right to the "Open" button to start the scanning process. If you want to scan a different folder, move left to the pop-up menu and make another selection.

Quick Cleaner does not give any indication that a scan is complete. A scan is complete when the screen contains information about the various files that can be deleted. For example, the first section is Trash. Others include Downloads, Logs, and Old iPhone Updates. In the Trash section there is information about how much space will be freed if files are deleted and how many files are in the Trash. There's a "View" button and an "Open" Button. The "View" button loads a table of all items in the Trash. Here is where you can manually choose, with checkboxes, which files should be deleted. By default all the boxes are checked. The "Open" button opens the files in a Finder window. In this display, just the name of the file is listed. For example, if there's an application in your trash, the application has many files within it. Choosing the "View" button will give you a list of every file in the app as opposed to using the "Open" button where just the application's name is displayed. Each section has the same controls.

Deleting Files

Review the files to be deleted before going to the next step. When ready to execute the deletion process, move right to the "Delete Files" button. There will be no audio feedback when the scan is completed. The screen will indicate how many files have been removed and how much space is freed.

Quick Cleaner is a good option for cleaning up your Mac. It works well with VoiceOver, and it's free!

CleanMyMac 2

According to the developer's website, "The Simplest, Safest Way to Clean Your Mac! CleanMyMac 2 is an ingeniously simple, yet surprisingly powerful application for keeping your Mac clean, organized, and free of files that slow it down. It's simply the best app for cleaning up your Mac!"

Finding Files

When the application opens, there is a table on the left that can be used to remove files or the menus can be used in combination with a table of files scheduled for removal. Some people prefer the menus. In either case, make sure that you review which files are scheduled for removal. There are some unlabeled buttons next to the table that can be ignored during the standard file deletion process.

The View menu contains a list of actions CleanMyMac can perform. Next to the action's name is a key combination to enter without going into the menu. For example, Command-1 is Automatic Cleanup and Command-2 is System Cleanup. If using the View menu, select the option you want.

Before continuing, use VoiceOver commands to read the screen. There is information about how much content will be deleted. There will be a table with form controls to select specific files to be removed. Use the checkboxes if you only want to remove specific files listed.

Deleting Files

The next step is to do a scan. Go to the Action menu and arrow down once. VoiceOver will say the name of the action to be performed. For example, when emptying the trash Voiceover will say, "Empty." For some actions, it will say, "Scan. Press the Return key." You may need to go back into the Action menu and arrow down once to press the Return key. A chime will sound when the operation is complete. Once done, go into the Action menu and arrow down to finish and select this option. Then use VoiceOver navigation to find out how much content has been removed.

CleanMyMac 2 works well with VoiceOver: although, it is expensive. It gives the user a lot of control when choosing files to delete. If you have a lot of files and want to free up space on your hard drive, download the free trial and decide whether the app is worth $39.95.

The Bottom Line

Although all these applications can be used with VoiceOver, App Cleaner and Quick Cleaner are free. CleanMyMac is very expensive, but depending on your usage, it might be worth downloading the free trial. Disk Cleaner Pro is an inexpensive option. App Zap requires some extra work where App Cleaner is free and more accessible.

Product Information

AppCleaner
Price: Free

App Zap
Price: $4.99

Disk Cleaner Pro
Price: $1.99

Quick-Cleaner
Price: Free

CleanMyMac 2
Price: Full Version: $39.95. The free trial allows you to remove up to 500 MB.

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Author
Janet Ingber
Article Topic
Product Evaluations and Guides