This tutorial shows how to install ‘Ubuntu Cleaner’, the stupid simple ‘Computer Janitor’ app in all current Ubuntu releases, including Ubuntu 23.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 23.10.
Ubuntu Cleaner is a free open-source application written in Python programming language. It brings out the ‘Janitor‘ function from the old popular Ubuntu Tweak into a stand-alone application.
The app is quite small, it’s available in 63 kB package size and takes 239 kB disk space after installation. It provides a simple and easy to use interface to free up some disk space by removing private information from your computer. They include:
- Chrome, and Firefox browser cache.
- Thunderbird cache.
- Thumbnails.
- Package configs.
- Un-needed packages.
- Apt cache.
Different to other system cleaner tool, such as Bleachbit, it also has option to remove old kernels. And, user can even use the tool to quickly open cache folders by just double-clicking on listed item.
However, it can clean caches for classic .deb packages only. Caches for Flatpak and Snap packages are not supported.
How to Install Ubuntu Cleaner
Thanks to Gerard Puig, who’s maintaining an Ubuntu PPA contains the software package for all current Ubuntu releases!
1. Add the PPA
Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gerardpuig/ppa
Type user password when it asks (no asterisk feedback) and hit Enter to continue.
2. Install Ubuntu Cleaner
After adding the PPA, just run command to install the software package:
sudo apt install ubuntu-cleaner
If it outputs that package not found, try sudo apt update command to update cache first.
Once installed, search for and launch it form start menu or ‘Activities’ overview depend on your desktop environment, and enjoy!
Uninstall
After installed the application, you may remove the Ubuntu PPA, since it rarely got updates. To do so, just run command:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:gerardpuig/ppa
And, to remove Ubuntu Cleaner, just run command:
sudo apt remove --autoremove ubuntu-cleaner
