Cleaning My SSD Frequently With Onyx Or CCleaner

Question

Cleaning My SSD Frequently With Onyx Or CCleaner

Okay, so I have a MacBook Pro running OSX Mavericks and installed a 500GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD in it to replace my HDD about a month ago. Since installing it, I have been using Onyx and CCleaner to remove junk files from my SSD after every session just before shutting down my computer. Now I know that some people say that third party software are not generally needed for Macs and while I agree with them to a large extent, I am rather paranoid about preventing my SSD from getting cluttered up with junk. Therefore, I'd like to know whether or not frequently removing junk from my SSD with Onyx or CCleaner is harmful to the SSD or reduces its life.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Oct 24, 2014 6:41 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Oct 24, 2014 6:47 PM in response to mrmagnetoman88

Yes, that can be harmful and will reduce the life of the SSD. It's unnecessary. I also suggest that you check that you have TRIM enabled, and, if not, use Trim Enabler 3.3 to enable it.

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Answer 2

Oct 25, 2014 1:22 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks for your response. I now use Trim Enabler as you suggested in your answer to my previous question a few weeks ago. It's a great programme and I'm so glad I got to know about it(thanks a lot for that). In regards to my usage of my SSD, roughly 400MB to 600MB of junk files accumulate on my SSD after an average session. With that being the case, how often would you recommend I clean my SSD?

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 25, 2014 1:31 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

What do you mean by 'junk files' accumulating. What are these files?

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Answer 4

Oct 25, 2014 1:36 AM in response to Csound1

Whenever one uses his/her operating system to view files or browse the internet, the caches fill up and cookies associated with various websites get left on my SSD. These left over files which one doesn't need are what I mean by junk files.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 25, 2014 1:44 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

You may refer to them as 'junk' but they are not.

Your procedures have no upside, they are simply an unnecessary waste of time. (every time you empty caches your Mac has to waste time refilling them, it's not a race you will ever win)

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Answer 6

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Oct 29, 2014 5:05 PM in response to mrmagnetoman88

Those files are normally used to help speed up your browsing. They are junk only when they are no longer used, but you should just let the system clean them out normally. Because if you manually clean, you are telling the SSD to do additional writes that are both unnecessary and bring the drive closer to the end of its life.

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Answer 7

Feb 25, 2015 5:28 AM in response to Csound1

Thanks for your input and sorry for the very late reply. I've decided not to remove those files that accumulate as doing so too often is a waste of time and could also have a negative impact on my SSD in the long run.

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Answer 8

Feb 25, 2015 5:30 AM in response to Network 23

Thanks for your advice and sorry for the very late reply. I've decided not to remove those files that accumulate as doing so could have a negative impact on my SSD in the long run.

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Answer 9

Feb 25, 2015 8:55 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

mrmagnetoman88 wrote:

Thanks for your advice and sorry for the very late reply. I've decided not to remove those files that accumulate as doing so could have a negative impact on my SSD in the long run.

Since you are justifiably concerned about the welfare of your SSD and have TRIM enabled as part of that effort, you should be aware that enabling TRIM for third party SSD's is problematic with Yosemite installed.

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