Spring is a time of renewal. It’s the time of year when people open up their closets and clear out unused items. Since so much of modern life is digital, it makes sense to “spring clean” or declutter a computer, just as people “spring clean” their homes.

Organizing your files, uninstalling old programs, and updating applications not only improves the speed and efficiency of your computer, but also helps you find the files you're looking for much faster. Here are a few tips to help you organize your digital life and clean up your Windows PC.

Older, unused applications take up space on your disk that could be used for other purposes. In addition, many applications, especially those that have not been updated recently, pose a security risk. To keep your machine running as smoothly as possible, take the time at least once a year to uninstall applications that you do not use.

See one you don’t use? If it’s something you haven’t used in over a year, get rid of it. Click on the program to open the menu, then click Uninstall. The specific uninstall process varies by application, but they all have one end result: more space on your PC.