The First Database Cleaner - WP-Optimize by David Anderson, Ruhani Rabin, Team Updraft

Install and activate this plugin. If you are not sure how to do this, check the following tutorial out: https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/how-to-make-your-po...

Once you have completed that step, look down the left-hand sidebar of your WordPress Dashboard for WP-Optimize... and click on it.

Once you arrive at the settings for this plugin, you will see a prompt reminding you to “Remove unwanted images for better site performance.”

Before you delete any image, be sure you only delete images that you are POSITIVE that you have a copy of on your computer (just in case you make a boo-boo) AND that you no longer need the image.

Once this step has been completed, you can click on the “Dismiss” link that is in the upper right-hand corner of the prompt (as shown above).

Now you will see a list of items this plugin will optimize for you using their free version. Those options will all be check marked by default.

For this tutorial, I am using a screen print from my test website below... but I can assure you that all of the numbers were MUCH higher in my websites; And, REALLY high numbers in my older websites, with many of the options shown in the RED text displaying issues too (see screen print below).

Any issues shown in the RED text will NOT be optimized (removed/cleaned) by the free version of this plugin. But you’re not to fret, I have a work around.

In the screen print above, notice the 1 comment that has been trashed that is noticed by this plugin. You are offered an option to “Review” should you be uncertain as to whether to delete this or not. Be sure BEFORE you click to optimize or else you will need to restore your website with your backup copy and start all over again.

Okay... so, now I’m ready to click on the “Run all selected optimizations” blue button at the top of the list.

Current database size: 1.1 MB You can save around: 172 bytes

Total clean up overall: 42.0 KB

And, here’s what the list now looks like...

There were 14 transient options found... and this is in my newest website used for creating tutorials!

So now you are asking... What Are Transient Options in a WordPress Database?

Well, here is what I discovered... some plugins that update leave information behind in the form of transients and they can accumulate over time... and, if you have enough of these left behind (as a few of my older sites did!) they can help to slow your website down. We only want to remove the expired transients.

Before moving forward, you are going to “Deactivate” your WP-Optimize plugin so that the next plugin will be less apt to have issues.

Next = How to Remove Transients from WordPress Database