“No matter what I do, my Mac is still slow”, an average tech-consultant hears this phrase multiple times a day. Give a person even the most powerful computer, and pretty soon it will be cluttered with apps, extensions, and things that are too much for it to handle. To reverse it, one has to go back and сlean up the mess, removing memory agents one by one. Prepare for a fight — every byte of memory is at stake. So let’s put your Mac on a diet and get it more free RAM to breathe freely.
First, remove desktop clutter. Get a combination of Setapp apps that clear away unneeded desktop files.
Cleaning out your PC on a regular basis frees up drive space and helps it run better. One of the easiest ways to clean up files you no longer need is by using Disk Cleanup. Open Disk Cleanup by clicking the Start button. In the search box, type Disk Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, select Disk Cleanup. 5 Ways to Clear Memory Cache on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP It is necessary to clear cache the memory to fully utilize your CPU power. Cache memory causes lots of problems by occupying a huge amount of computer RAM (Random Access Memory). That's why it is always recommended to clearing memory cache from your Windows computer to get optimum performance. STEP 3: Dry Your Memory Foam Mattress. Clean early in the morning so the mattress has time to dry before using again. The best place to dry out your memory foam mattress is in the sunshine but sometimes the sun just won’t shine. There are a few ways to accomplish drying time. Cleaning out your PC on a regular basis frees up drive space and helps it run better. One of the easiest ways to clean up files you no longer need is by using Disk Cleanup. Open Disk Cleanup by clicking the Start button. In the search box, type Disk Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, select Disk Cleanup.
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“Your system has run out of application memory”
How do you know your Mac is low on memory? Floating “rainbow wheels” aside, you may notice your Mac now takes ages to load. You’ll also see many browser applications crashing. You’ll be also thrown warning messages as “Your system has run out of application memory”. To help it, you should first visit the Activity monitor to see memory usage on Mac.
How to check RAM usage on Mac
Go to Applications and type in Activity Monitor in the search bar. This invokes a good old Activity Monitor that should tell how much free memory you’ve got left.
A shortcut to open Activity Monitor:
Press F4 and start typing Activity Monitor in the search bar.
I’ve attached a screenshot from my Mac and as you can see my memory usage almost reached full capacity. Here’s what it all means:
App memory: taken by apps and processes
Wired memory: reserved by apps, can’t be freed up
Compressed: inactive, can be used by other apps
Swap used: memory used by macOS
Cached files: memory you can really use
Notice the colored graph under Memory Pressure. If your graph is all but red and yellow, your Mac is really gasping for fresh memory. It seems counter-intuitive, but “available memory” your Activity Monitor is not that important after all. In fact, it’s a system intended behavior to use all memory resources when available. On the contrary, the Memory Pressure graph is much more telling, so grow a habit to check this graph in the Activity Monitor every now and then.
How to check CPU usage on Mac
Open the CPU tab in Activity Monitor to keep in check CPU-heavy processes. Normally an app would be using 0-4% of CPU. If it takes abnormally more than that, go inside that particular item in the list and press the Quit button.
How to free up memory on Mac
Tip # 1. Remove Login Items to lower Mac memory usage
Login items are programs that load automatically upon Mac startup. Some of them covertly add themselves to the list and this is no good. If you’re looking to free up RAM, they are the first candidates for deletion. Don’t worry, you’re not deleting the app itself, you just stop it from auto-launching every time.
So, to remove Login Items and at the same time reduce your memory usage of your Mac, you need to:
- Open System Preferences and select Users & Groups.
- Click your nickname on the left.
- Select the Login Items tab.
- Check programs you don’t want to load as your Mac starts.
- Press the “–” sign below.
Now, you won’t see these apps pop up the moment you turn on your Mac. Although this method doesn’t require some superpowers of yours, some special Mac optimization and memory cleaner tools may do the job faster and ensure the smooth performance of your Mac. CleanMyMac X is an excellent example of such software. Here’s how to disable Login Items with CleanMyMac X:
- Download it for free and go to the Optimization tab.
- Check Login Items to see the list of apps that get opened when you start your Mac.
- Click Remove.
As you’ve already come to the Optimization module of CleanMyMac, you can also fix hung apps and heavy memory consumers there. In this way, you’ll free up the solid amount of RAM on Mac — 100% free of charge.
Tip # 2. Free up disk space if Mac is low on memory
The available space on your Mac’s drive translates into virtual memory. This comes to save you when you’ve run out of physical RAM. So now your computer relies on your hard drive space to keep your apps going.
The classic geek rule of thumb holds it that you should keep at least 20% of disk space on your startup drive. Not only this potentially reduces your future spending on iCloud storage but it also keeps your Mac speedier.
What to delete to free up space:
- Large unused files, like movies
- Old downloads
- Rarely used applications
- System junk
But here’s a simpler solution to save your time — clean up your drive with CleanMyMac X— the app I’ve mentioned above. Many users recommend it as an excellent way to free up more space because it searches for large & old files, useless system files, Photo junk, mail attachments and shows everything you can safely delete. Interestingly, it finds about 74 GB of junk on an average computer.
Extra trick: How to free up RAM on Mac with CleanMyMac X
If you have downloaded CleanMyMac, you may also take advantage of its amazing feature — the ability to free up RAM in a few seconds. Try this next time you see “Your system has run out of application memory” message.
- Go to the Maintenance tab on the left.
- Click Free Up RAM.
- Click Run.
As simple as that!
And you can do it even if you download a free version of the app.
Tip # 3. Clean up your Desktop
This tip always comes at the bottom of instructions and unfairly so as it is quite effective. Without even looking at your Desktop I would assume it’s cluttered with mountains of icons. Thing is, your macOS was designed in a way that it treats every Desktop icon as a little active window. The more icons, the heavier memory usage on Mac. So in order to release available memory resources, it’s recommended to keep your Desktop clean.
You don’t have to do it all by yourself. With apps like Declutter and Spotless, every desktop cleaning session will be scheduled in advance and executed automatically. Your only job is to define the rules on how your files should be organized.
Tip #4. Clear cache files
Another way to free up RAM on Mac is to clear it of cache files. Of course, it won’t save you gigabytes of space, but deleting cache regularly, you can help your Mac run faster and avoid system issues.
So, to remove cache files on your Mac, you need to:
- Open Finder.
- From the Go menu, select Go to Folder.
- Type ~/Library/Caches in the field and press Go.
- In the window that appears, you will see all your cache files.
- Press Command+A to select all files or delete files one by one.
- Enter your user name and password to confirm.
If you find some files still in the folder after you emptied it, maybe you have some windows open on your Mac. Just like that, you can save up some space on your Mac. Don’t forget to empty the bin afterward.
Tip # 5. Tune up Chrome’s Task Manager
Although Google Chrome is not the one to blame for massive memory usage, it can indeed affect your Mac's performance. If you use Chrome as your primary browser, you probably have many windows opened there. Chrome runs a lot of processes to ensure a fast browsing experience for you. So, it uses your RAM for storing your tabs, plugins, and extensions. Look at how many entries Google Chrome has in Activity Monitor:
The question then arises, 'Why does Chrome use so much RAM?' The thing is that each process is responsible for a separate plugin or extension of your browser. For example, when a tab unexpectedly falls, you need to refresh it to continue your work there. If one process were responsible for all tabs and extensions, you would need to restart the whole browser instead. Can you imagine how many times would you do that? That’s the proper answer to why Chrome uses so much RAM.
I’ve been using Chrome for some years only to discover (recently) that Chrome had a task manager of its own. You can use it to force quit memory-heavy processes in the browser. It’s a handy tool because it lets you see how a page weighs on CPU usage on a Mac.
- Go to Chrome settings (dotted icon in the top right corner)
- Click More tools -> Task Manager
To free up even more RAM, close the GPU process. The GPU Process, though helpful in theory to accelerate pages, eats up a considerable amount of memory. Click to end it to free up RAM on your Mac.
Tip # 6. Manage RAM usage with CleanMyMac X menu
CleanMyMac X has another useful and convenient feature for managing your Mac’s performance and memory usage. As you install CleanMyMac X and start it for the first time, it’s icon will appear in your menu bar. Click the icon to open the CleanMyMac X menu. Here you can find updates on the current condition of your Mac and perform quick tweaks to increase your Mac's speed. Whenever you feel like your Mac underperforms, open the CleanMyMac X menu to check how much RAM is available and free it up as well.
Tip # 7. Close Finder windows
Okay, suppose you’re still asking yourself, how do I clear RAM on my MacBook Pro/MacBook Air. The next trick is as magical (you’ll see for yourself) as it is time-saving. It’s no secret that each window in the Finder eats up RAM. But how many open windows are there? Some of them are collapsed or stacked in some blind spot on your screen. This Finder command merges all your windows into one. See how to do it:
Click on Finder > Window > Merge All Windows
Now you can manage Finder windows more effectively and free up memory on MacBook.
What else you can do to minimize memory usage on Mac
I’ve saved the easiest tips for the end, as long as these ones are self-explanatory.
- Replace AdBlock (very memory-demanding) with a lighter extension
- Keep fewer opened tabs in the browser
- Restart your Mac more often to free up RAM
- Close all hung-up print queues
That was my take on how to make your Mac a bit speedier to use. If you’re looking for more guidance, check simple ways to speed up your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check application memory on Mac?
To check RAM usage on your Mac, go to Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities). In the Memory tab, you will see all the active processes that are using your Mac’s RAM. At the end of the window, there is a Memory Used graph, which indicates how much application memory is used.
How to find out whether your Mac needs more RAM?
Your Mac may be using almost all its RAM, but you don’t need more if it’s using it efficiently. Open Activity Monitor and go to the Memory tab. The Memory Pressure graph shows the current condition of your RAM: green color means your Mac’s using RAM effectively, while yellow is a sign that some application or process is using too much of application memory. The red memory pressure signals that your Mac needs more RAM.
How to quickly free up RAM on your MacBook?
To free up RAM on your Mac, firstly, you should find out what app uses so much of your memory. The memory-heavy programs are listed in Activity Monitor, Memory tab. If there is an app you aren’t using at the moment, click it and press the “X” sign to quit it. This will, in turn, free some of the application memory.
Memory foam has had a revolutionary effect on the mattress industry. Compared to traditional materials, memory foam does a fantastic job of contouring to your body to relieve pressure and eliminate neck and back pain. Memory foam is quickly becoming the go-to material for anyone who is looking to find the best mattress possible.
It’s essential to keep in mind that memory foam is a petroleum-based material, and as such, cleaning it is different from cleaning other mattress materials. Proper care is essential to ensuring your new mattress maintains its plush and responsive feel.
Keeping your bed clean is the best way to protect your investment and ensure that it will provide you with years of restful sleep. Today, we’re going to examine what you’ll need to do to keep your mattress in excellent condition throughout its lifespan.
1. Vacuum the Entire Mattress
The first thing you’ll need to do when cleaning memory foam mattresses is to strip your bed and thoroughly vacuum the entire surface of the bed. A handheld vacuum cleaner works best for this purpose, but a standard vac will do the trick as well.
Since most memory foam mattresses have elaborately stitched covers that can become magnets for lint, dirt, and debris, you should be vacuuming all those nooks and crannies when cleaning your mattress.
The small brush attachment tends to work quite well for this purpose. You may also want to use the crevice tool or upholstery attachment to get into hard to reach areas, like the sides of the mattress.
2. Make a Mattress Cleaning Solution
Now that your bed is free of any hair, debris, and other detritus; we’re ready to make some cleaning solutions.
For most stains, a diluted fabric cleaner, dishwashing liquid, or mild detergent is all you’ll need to remove them. Pick the cleaner of your choice, dilute it in a 2:1 ratio with two parts of warm water for every one part of the cleaner, and add it to a spray bottle.
For tough stains, make a solution with ¾ cup of water and ¼ cup of white vinegar. For urine stains and severe discoloration, you’ll also want to have baking soda handy, too. For traditional mattresses, a hydrogen peroxide solution can be used, but you’ll want to avoid using it on memory foam as may discolor the cover or affect the foam underneath.
3. Spot Clean the Mattress
Next, identify any stains you have on the mattress and prepare to spot clean them. For light stains, the fabric cleaner solution will work best.
Lightly spray the solution onto the stain, being careful not to apply too much liquid. If you overspray the stain, the bed will absorb the solution, which can create other issues like mold or mildew.
Once the spray is on the stain, take a rag or a clean sponge and clean the mattress with a small circular motion. Next, wipe the stained area again with a clean cloth and allow it to dry.
For more persistent stains, follow the same cleaning process for removing them. But, use the vinegar solution instead of the fabric cleaner solution. Once clean, follow up by wiping the area with a clean, damp cloth.
For more severe stains, like pet urine or vomit, use a liberal amount of vinegar solution. Next, pat the area dry with paper towels, and cover it in baking soda. The baking soda will absorb the liquid, deodorize, and also help to pull the stain to the surface. After about eight hours, vacuum all the baking soda off the mattress.
4. Dry the Mattress
Since memory foam has a propensity for absorbing liquid, the drying process is a critically important step. If you have a blow dryer at your disposal, now is a great time to break it out.
Hold the dryer about 4-6 inches above the surface of the mattress and move the dryer in a circular pattern until the wet spot is dry to the touch. Avoid using the hottest setting, as too much heat may damage the mattress.
If you don’t have a hairdryer available, that’s okay too. You can use a fan instead. Position the fan over the damp areas of the mattress, put it on its highest setting, and let it do its thing for a few hours.
Once your bed is fully dry, you can replace your sheets and get ready to enjoy a great night’s sleep on your newly cleaned mattress.
Benefits of Cleaning Your Memory Foam Mattress
Not only does regular cleaning keep your mattress looking it’s best; several other benefits aren’t quite as obvious.
Regularly cleaning your mattress will:
- Help extend the useful life of your mattress
- Reduce dust mites and other allergens which can compromise sleep quality
- Provide you with a cleaner overall surface to sleep on (no dead skin cells or dust mites)
- Remediate any mold or mildew that may be growing on or in the mattress
- Improve the air quality of the room
Caring For Your Memory Foam Mattress
Caring for your memory foam mattress is simple; just follow these easy steps:
- Make sure the mattress foundation or box spring provides adequate support
- Vacuum the surface of your mattress each time you change the sheets
- Rotate your mattress twice a year
- Bathe your mattress in direct sunlight when possible
- Never use bleach or harsh chemicals to clean your mattress
- Consider using a waterproof mattress protector or memory foam mattress topper to protect your mattress
- Always default to the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning your mattress
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to how to clean a memory foam mattress, here are some typical questions that people often have.
How Often Should I Clean My Mattress?
Each time you change your sheets, you should vacuum the top and sides of your mattress to help remove dead skin, dust mites, hair, and debris that may have made it underneath your sheets. Doing so will help prolong the life of your mattress and improve your sleep hygiene.
Perform a more thorough cleaning by following the steps above twice a year.
Can You Steam Clean a Memory Foam Mattress?
Steam is a great cleaning agent, and it can work wonders for removing stains from the surface of traditional innerspring mattresses. However, using a steam cleaner on a memory foam mattress could end up doing more harm than good.
How To Clean Your Memory On Pc
Since steam cleaners rely on liquid and steam to clean the surface, they can saturate your mattress with liquid. Since memory foam is so absorbent, it would be almost impossible to thoroughly dry the mattress before mold or mildew have an opportunity to take hold.
While a steam cleaning may leave the exterior of your mattress looking brand new, it can also do irreparable harm to the foam beneath. Instead, follow the spot cleaning steps above when it’s time to clean your mattress.
Should I Rotate My Mattress After Cleaning?
You should absolutely rotate your mattress after cleaning. Rotating your mattress helps promote even wear and helps ensure that your bed is comfortable and supportive for many years to come.
While most innerspring mattresses allow you to flip them over and sleep on either side, that isn’t something you can do with the majority of memory foam mattresses.
Most memory foam mattresses have a top layer for added comfort and heat management, as well as additional middle and bottom layers that provide structure and support. As you’d imagine, those middle and bottom layers aren’t nearly as comfortable as the plush top layer is.
Just because you can’t flip your memory foam mattress doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rotate it. Each time you clean your mattress, you should also turn it to extend its lifespan and ensure it wears evenly.
Conclusion
How To Clean Your Memory On Laptop
If you’re looking to get the most value possible from your bed, learning how to clean a memory foam mattress is a critical skill to have. Following the steps above will help ensure that your mattress remains clean and hygienic so you can get the most out of your investment.