Ever wondered why it is that the desktop gets cluttered very easily? Maybe because it is the one folder that is visible and easily accessible. So you end up putting everything you think you need on there, not realizing that most of them will only be needed once or twice in a week. Now let us look at some simple ways to clean and organize your Windows desktop.

Using Firefox Addon

If you are a download junk, I am sure you desktop is full of files and shortcut icons (like me ). So to declutter your desktop– there is simple and easy to use Firefox addon called Automatic save folder extension. This extension allows you to specify different save folders according to filters based on the filename and/or domain. The defined folders will be used to automatically save the download into it, or proposed by the file explorer to prevent spending your time while looking for it.

Using Wallpapers

The wallpaper can be very effective for de-cluttering and arranging items on your desktop. Here is an example wallpaper. It is just like having virtual trays on your desktop on the screen.

This may not be the most beautiful desktop wallpaper out there but it surely is innovative and different. All it has is an empty bookshelf and a computer desk inside a room – you can creatively fill it up with icons of your frequently used programs, folder shortcuts, control panel icons, etc.

To get started, open this template, right-click and set it as your desktop background. Then drag some icons from the Start Menu on to your desktop and arrange them on the bookshelves and the table. If the icons don’t line up properly on the shelf, just right-click on your desktop and turn off the “align icons to grid” setting. And if your are using a netbook with a small screen, use this template instead.

You can also use some Getting Things Done GTD wallpapers, you can easily create some for your screen resolution. All you have to do is think about the various categories you would like to arrange your desktop items into. Then using any image editor create a new blank image, and then simply draw rectangles depicting the various categories. That is it, you are done at this point.

Using Fences

If you would rather keep all the stuff on the desktop then I suggest you have a look into Fences. You can download and use the community edition of Fences for free.

Fences lets you organize Windows desktop items into different categories. It does a great job and picks up items to put in different categories automatically. For the ones that are left out, you should evaluate if that item is worth being left on your desktop and then either move it or categorize it into one of the default categories.

In addition to that you can create your own categories and layouts. The thing with using Fences is that you can have a desktop full of junk and still make it look pretty. How is that you might wonder? Well just double-click on the desktop and Fences will hide all the icons and files on the desktop. Double-click again and you have them back.

So how do you keep your desktop neat and clean? Any special tools or tricks that you would like to share with us?