Free Windows Cleanup Tool is a free app with a collection of tools to optimize your PC's performance. Video tutorial available.

Free Windows Cleanup Tool has a familiar interface using three columns. The first has all the tools, the second has optional settings, and the last is a status window. So, let's take a look at all the included tools.

The Cleaner tab has settings for all modern browsers and instant messengers, Windows, Office, Advanced, Applications, and custom lists. Custom lists allow you to add any file, folder or registry hive. You can check any one of the categories we mentioned, which will highlight everything in that category and allow you to uncheck whatever you like one at a time. You can test what will be deleted before and clean once you're happy.

The Registry tab is straightforward with all sections on by default. Once again you can manually uncheck any part of the registry you don't want to scan, or better yet, skip cleaning your registry entirely. As we've repeatedly mentioned, registry cleaning will rarely repair or fix anything, but it can break something.



That said, the author of Free Windows Cleanup Tool seems to be on his game because the next tab is a registry defrag, once again, something we prefer people do as opposed to cleaning the registry. You can analyze your registry in advance, and it will recommend if it needs to be defragmented or not.

The Tools tab has a startup manager, Index.dat viewer, registry backup (read above), and Windows Backup.

Finally, options have numerous settings for common options, cookies, schedule, boss key, and ignore lists. Also, there is a Fast Mode check box that can show you the entire log or a summary if checked.

And now, for the question we always get; how does it compare to CCleaner? Well, CCleaner wants you to pay for the scheduler, so let's get that out of the way. It also has been much more pushy about upgrading to Pro in the past few years. CCleaner tends to be conservative and lacks a registry defrag. Free Windows Cleanup Tool has all the same options, a similar layout, and more. It takes a little more time to tweak to your liking in some areas, but it's worth the effort. Where Free Windows Cleanup Tool falls short in that comparison is a lack of tools available in CCleaner. Finally, no portable version is currently available.

Free Windows Cleanup Tool is a good choice, more likely better suited to more advanced users. It's free, easy to use and gets the job done.