Create a Python tool for digital spring cleaning

Here’s a practical Python script you can use as a Digital Spring Cleaning Tool. It helps identify and optionally clean up unused files, large files, empty folders, and even old downloads in a directory.

You can run this script from the command line, and it will guide you through a digital decluttering session.

python
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import os
import time
from pathlib import Path
import shutil

# Configuration
DOWNLOADS_DIR = str(Path.home() / "Downloads")
AGE_THRESHOLD_DAYS = 180
SIZE_THRESHOLD_MB = 100
TARGET_DIRECTORY = str(Path.home())

def get_file_age_in_days(filepath):
    file_stat = os.stat(filepath)
    modification_time = file_stat.st_mtime
    return (time.time() - modification_time) / (60 * 60 * 24)

def get_file_size_in_mb(filepath):
    return os.path.getsize(filepath) / (1024 * 1024)

def find_large_files(directory, size_threshold_mb):
    print(f"nScanning for large files > {size_threshold_mb} MB...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(directory):
        for filename in filenames:
            filepath = os.path.join(foldername, filename)
            try:
                if get_file_size_in_mb(filepath) > size_threshold_mb:
                    print(f"[LARGE] {filepath} - {get_file_size_in_mb(filepath):.2f} MB")
            except (OSError, PermissionError):
                continue

def find_old_files(directory, age_threshold_days):
    print(f"nScanning for files not modified in the last {age_threshold_days} days...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(directory):
        for filename in filenames:
            filepath = os.path.join(foldername, filename)
            try:
                if get_file_age_in_days(filepath) > age_threshold_days:
                    print(f"[OLD] {filepath} - {int(get_file_age_in_days(filepath))} days old")
            except (OSError, PermissionError):
                continue

def find_empty_folders(directory):
    print("nScanning for empty folders...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(directory, topdown=False):
        if not subfolders and not filenames:
            print(f"[EMPTY] {foldername}")

def clean_downloads(downloads_dir, age_threshold_days):
    print(f"nChecking Downloads folder: {downloads_dir}")
    for filename in os.listdir(downloads_dir):
        filepath = os.path.join(downloads_dir, filename)
        try:
            if os.path.isfile(filepath) and get_file_age_in_days(filepath) > age_threshold_days:
                print(f"[OLD DOWNLOAD] {filepath} - {int(get_file_age_in_days(filepath))} days old")
        except (OSError, PermissionError):
            continue

def confirm_and_delete(prompt, paths):
    if not paths:
        return
    confirm = input(f"nDo you want to delete {len(paths)} items listed above? [y/N]: ").lower()
    if confirm == 'y':
        for path in paths:
            try:
                if os.path.isfile(path):
                    os.remove(path)
                elif os.path.isdir(path):
                    shutil.rmtree(path)
                print(f"Deleted: {path}")
            except Exception as e:
                print(f"Failed to delete {path}: {e}")
    else:
        print("No files were deleted.")

def main():
    print("🔧 Digital Spring Cleaning Tool 🔧")
    print(f"Target Directory: {TARGET_DIRECTORY}")

    # Collect paths for optional deletion
    old_files = []
    large_files = []
    empty_dirs = []

    # Find old files
    print(f"n[1] Finding files older than {AGE_THRESHOLD_DAYS} days...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(TARGET_DIRECTORY):
        for filename in filenames:
            filepath = os.path.join(foldername, filename)
            try:
                if get_file_age_in_days(filepath) > AGE_THRESHOLD_DAYS:
                    print(f"[OLD] {filepath}")
                    old_files.append(filepath)
            except Exception:
                continue

    # Find large files
    print(f"n[2] Finding files larger than {SIZE_THRESHOLD_MB} MB...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(TARGET_DIRECTORY):
        for filename in filenames:
            filepath = os.path.join(foldername, filename)
            try:
                if get_file_size_in_mb(filepath) > SIZE_THRESHOLD_MB:
                    print(f"[LARGE] {filepath}")
                    large_files.append(filepath)
            except Exception:
                continue

    # Find empty folders
    print(f"n[3] Finding empty folders...")
    for foldername, subfolders, filenames in os.walk(TARGET_DIRECTORY, topdown=False):
        if not subfolders and not filenames:
            print(f"[EMPTY] {foldername}")
            empty_dirs.append(foldername)

    # Clean old files in Downloads
    print(f"n[4] Scanning Downloads folder ({DOWNLOADS_DIR}) for old files...")
    clean_downloads(DOWNLOADS_DIR, AGE_THRESHOLD_DAYS)

    # Confirm deletions
    confirm_and_delete("Old Files", old_files)
    confirm_and_delete("Large Files", large_files)
    confirm_and_delete("Empty Folders", empty_dirs)

    print("n✅ Spring cleaning completed!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Key Features:

• Scans home directory for:

  • Large files

  • Old unused files

  • Empty folders

• Scans Downloads folder separately for cleanup

• Prompts for deletion with user confirmation

• Modular functions for easy customization

Usage:

1. Save the script to a file, e.g., spring_cleaner.py.

2. Run it via terminal:

   nginx
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   python spring_cleaner.py
   

This script is safe by default as it only deletes upon confirmation. You can adjust thresholds or automate cleanup further based on your preferences.