Even though taking the time to clean your HDD system is generally desirable, risk must also be considered before moving forward with the process. We must consider that files could accidentally be deleted, when invoking software to do the cleaning or by accident when manually selecting files and folders for deletion. Also keep in mind that the cleanup of unwanted files needs some time set aside, especially if manual scanning is performed but automated cleanup tools can take significant time. Generally these risks are not significant and the gains balance any of these minimal shortcomings.

A growing number of cleaner tools can be found that handle hard disk analysis and cleanup using their own techniques. One of the more common types is the eraser software, and for the better ones you can often obtain a free trial. However there are more things these products are capable of, several of these can also clean up free drive space, clean up porn files, detect pirated software, and find out how to recover disk space.

Automated drive cleaning software tools mainly fit into a few key categories. Firstly there are tools falling into the file cleanup category like Microsoft's Disk Cleanup utility, that are used to get rid of unnecessary files and give back usable space in the process. There are other tools that can protect your privacy, clean up internet tracks and get rid of the previously typed URLs from drop down lists stored as history within your browser records, software such as Privacy Eraser. Now there is also porn detection software which detects the exact source of pornography style images and movies and a range of other inappropriate files and helps the user get rid of the ones that should not be there. One more group of cleanup utilities is the 'disk washer' style product, which overwrites deleted data remaining on the hard drive's slack space, so that it is not recoverable by any means.