Title: WordPress Housekeeping
Author: Kartik Shukla
Published: March 15, 2019
Last modified: January 16, 2023

---

# WordPress Housekeeping

## In this article

 * [Cleaning Your WordPress House](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#cleaning-your-wordpress-house)
 * [Upgrade WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#upgrade-wordpress)
 * [Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#plugins)
    - [Upgrade Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#upgrade-plugins)
    - [Delete Old or Unwanted Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#delete-old-or-unwanted-plugins)
    - [New Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#new-plugins)
 * [Theme Housekeeping](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#theme-housekeeping)
    - [Get a New Theme](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#get-a-new-theme)
 * [Unwanted Images](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#unwanted-images)
 * [Database Optimization](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#database-optimization)
 * [Maintenance Schedule](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#maintenance-schedule)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

## 󠀁[Cleaning Your WordPress House](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#cleaning-your-wordpress-house)󠁿

Just as with your house, WordPress requires a little housekeeping once in a while
to keep it working right. Here is a list of things you should do on a [regularly scheduled basis](https://wordpress.org/support/article/wordpress-site-maintenance/?output_format=md)
to keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

## 󠀁[Upgrade WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#upgrade-wordpress)󠁿

If a new release of WordPress is out, we recommend that you [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/article/updating-wordpress/?output_format=md).
These new releases often include [new and improved features](https://wordpress.org/support/article/wordpress-features/?output_format=md)
and fixes. It is recommended to check in with WordPress for updates and upgrades
at least every three months, six months at the most. Check [WordPress.org](https://www.wordpress.org/)
or [WordPress Downloads](https://www.wordpress.org/downloads) for latest version
available.

## 󠀁[Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#plugins)󠁿

[Plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/plugins/?output_format=md) are an
exciting feature of WordPress. They add functions and features to your WordPress
site such as adding customized post listings to featuring a local weather forecast
on your site.

With the hundreds of plugins available, it’s fun to test drive them, trying out 
different ones to see what they will do, if you need them, and if they really add
to your site or clutter things up. Once in a while, you should do a little housekeeping
on your plugins.

### 󠀁[Upgrade Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#upgrade-plugins)󠁿

Every three to six months, check for the latest plugin version. This is easy to 
do from the [Administration](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md)
> [Plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md#plugins-add-functionality-to-your-blog)
Screen. If an update is available, WordPress will notify you with a banner below
the plugin. Just click the “upgrade automatically” link, or click the “Download”
link if you would prefer to upgrade manually.

[[

Administration Plugins Screen

### 󠀁[Delete Old or Unwanted Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#delete-old-or-unwanted-plugins)󠁿

To uninstall a WordPress Plugin:

 1. Go to **[Plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md#plugins-add-functionality-to-your-blog)**
    screen.
 2. Find the Plugin you wish to deactivate and uninstall.
 3. Click Deactivate.
 4. Click Delete.

The Plugin will initiate the deactivation and deletion.

Most WordPress Plugins have an option to completely uninstall themselves, though
not all. If you wish to remove a WordPress Plugin permanently:

 1. Check the WordPress Plugin instructions in the **Details** readme file on how to
    properly uninstall the Plugin.
 2. If the WordPress Plugin required the addition of code to the WordPress Theme, manually
    edit the Theme files to remove it.
 3. Deactivate the Plugin and remove it manually through your FTP program.
 4.  a. Login to the site via your FTP Program.
     b. Go to the Plugin directory and find where the Plugin is installed.
     c. Delete the WordPress Plugin folder and/or files from your server.

### 󠀁[New Plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#new-plugins)󠁿

WordPress plugins are being added constantly. Every three to six months search the
Internet or visit the [WordPress plugins repository](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
to see if there are any new plugins available that will improve your site. There
might be a new plugin that will do what one of your older plugins do.

## 󠀁[Theme Housekeeping](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#theme-housekeeping)󠁿

Just like plugins, many users love test driving all the different [WordPress Themes](https://wordpress.org/support/article/using-themes/?output_format=md)
available. Some users might have twenty or more Themes in their theme list. If you
aren’t using them, why not do a little housekeeping on your themes?

[[

Appearance Themes Screen

To remove a theme from your WordPress site:

 1. Log in to the WordPress [Administration Screen](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md).
 2. Select the [Appearance](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md#appearance-change-the-look-of-your-blog)
    screen then [Themes](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md#themes).
 3. Select Theme Details for the theme you want to remove.
 4. Select Delete near the bottom-right corner.

### 󠀁[Get a New Theme](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#get-a-new-theme)󠁿

Tired of your old theme’s look? Maybe it’s time to do a little presentation housekeeping
and change the look of your WordPress site. Thanks to WordPress’s support for [themes](https://wordpress.org/support/article/using-themes/?output_format=md),
changing your site’s look is easy.

Check out the various resources for [WordPress Themes](https://wordpress.org/support/article/using-themes/?output_format=md).
If you find one you like, install it and then activate it.

Don’t worry, your old theme will still be there. Test drive the new one for a while.
You can always go back to the old one. If you are really determined to turn your
theme housekeeping efforts into some serious work, check out the article on [Theme Development](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/)
to create your own unique theme.

## 󠀁[Unwanted Images](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#unwanted-images)󠁿

Many users upload a lot of graphics to their site that they end up never using. 
If you find yourself with a lot of unused graphics and images, consider going through
them and cleaning house by deleting them.

If you aren’t sure you will never need them again, but you aren’t using them now
and want to remove them from your site if server site space is limited, move them
to a folder in your hard drive WordPress folder called _backupimages_ or something
similar and store them there, _just in case_.

## 󠀁[Database Optimization](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#database-optimization)󠁿

Over time, your WordPress database can generate what’s called “overhead.” This condition
is similar to a defragmented hard drive. There are some plugins that optimize your
database (e.g. [WP-Sweep](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-sweep/))

## 󠀁[Maintenance Schedule](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#maintenance-schedule)󠁿

In the article, [Lessons: WordPress Site Maintenance](https://wordpress.org/support/article/wordpress-site-maintenance?output_format=md),
we cover website maintenance, but take a moment now to go through this list of WordPress
housekeeping chores and add them to your calendar so you can clean up your site 
on a regular basis, keeping your WordPress site a lean and clean site to visit.

## Was this article helpful? How could it be improved? 󠀁[Cancel reply](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-housekeeping/?output_format=md#respond)󠁿

[Log in to submit feedback](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fdocumentation%2Farticle%2Fwordpress-housekeeping%2F&locale=en_US).
If you need support with something that wasn't covered by this article, please post
your question in the [support forums](https://wordpress.org/support/forums/).

First published

March 15, 2019

Last updated

January 16, 2023