# Replacing CCleaner: Choose a Windows Cleanup Tool

Before replacing CCleaner, list what you use it for. Removing temporary files, uninstalling apps, finding large folders and managing startup are separate jobs. Windows, BleachBit and Mole cover different parts of that work. Compare the actions you need rather than the largest reported junk total.

## Start with Windows for system temporary files

Open Settings › System › Storage and review Temporary files, Cleanup recommendations and Storage Sense. Read the selected categories before running cleanup. Documents in Downloads, files you may want to restore from the Recycle Bin, and local cloud copies need your decision.

Microsoft's [Storage Sense guidance](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/storage-filemanagement/manage-drive-space-with-storage-sense) explains the controls. If they already cover your needs, keep using them without installing another tool.

## Consider BleachBit for category-by-category preview

BleachBit is a free, open-source cleaner for Windows and Linux. Select content by application and category, then preview before deleting. Its [feature list](https://www.bleachbit.org/features) also describes portable use, command-line operation and additional cleaning rules.

Read each description instead of selecting every box. Browser history, sign-in information and downloadable image caches are different kinds of content. Shredding files and overwriting free space are separate tasks, not default steps for routine storage cleanup.

## Consider Mole for related maintenance in one window

Mole brings Clean, Apps, Optimize, Analyze and Status into a native Windows window. Clean scans before confirmation. Apps handles uninstalling, updates and startup entries. Analyze finds large directories, Status shows resource use, and the tray includes Keep Screen On.

It suits people who regularly move between those tasks. Review choices determine what files and app data to retain. Cache cleanup and post-uninstall data handling have different scopes. A cancelled or failed vendor uninstall does not authorize the subsequent removal of personal data.

| The job you need | A useful starting point |
| --- | --- |
| Windows temporary files and recurring storage cleanup | Windows Storage settings and Storage Sense |
| Per-app cache preview with open-source or command-line tools | BleachBit descriptions, preview and selected rules |
| Regular work across caches, apps, startup and resource readings | Mole's five pages |
| A sudden slowdown with plenty of storage available | Task Manager or Mole Status, to identify the busy program |

Microsoft also offers [PC Manager](https://pcmanager.microsoft.com/en-us) with cleanup, storage and app-management tools. Try the functions you need. This table describes starting points, not speed or reclaimed-space rankings from a shared test machine.

## Compare three actions on your own PC

Check what a tool selects, whether it explains paths, personal data and removal effects, and what actually happens after confirmation. Scanning scope, size measurement and recycling differ. A larger GB estimate is not proof that more data can be safely deleted. Files in the Recycle Bin still occupy storage.

For a full C drive, start with the [large-file investigation](/windows/blog/find-large-files-on-windows). For the interface and interaction, see [Mole's Windows design](/windows/blog/mole-windows-design), then try it on the PC you will use. Features, review steps and everyday handling tell you more than a bigger cleanup total.


Canonical: https://mole.fit/windows/blog/ccleaner-alternatives-windows