← BACK TO HELP

ACF Cleaner Guide for WordPress: Optimize Custom Fields Easily

If you’re using Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) extensively in WordPress, your database can quickly become cluttered with unused custom fields. ACF Cleaner, a feature of the ACF Copilot plugin, solves this problem by detecting and removing unused fields, streamlining your workflow, and optimizing your site’s performance.

This guide will walk you through how to use ACF Cleaner effectively, ensuring your projects remain clean, fast, and efficient.

Why Use ACF Cleaner?

As your WordPress projects grow, custom fields may become redundant or outdated. Manually identifying and removing these fields can be time-consuming and prone to errors. ACF Cleaner automates this process, offering several benefits:

  • Improved Performance: Reduces database size by removing unnecessary fields, speeding up queries and page loads.
  • Streamlined Workflow: Eliminates clutter in your ACF setup, making it easier to manage active fields.
  • Error Prevention: Avoids potential conflicts caused by unused or orphaned fields.

Whether you’re a developer, designer, or website owner, ACF Cleaner ensures your custom field setup remains lean and efficient.

How to Use ACF Cleaner in ACF Copilot

Follow these steps to use ACF Cleaner and keep your ACF setup optimized:

Install and Activate ACF Copilot

  • Download and install the ACF Copilot plugin from the official ACF Copilot website.
  • Activate the plugin in your WordPress dashboard.

Access ACF Cleaner

  • Navigate to the ACF Copilot menu in the WordPress admin panel.
  • Select the ACF Cleaner option from the submenu.

Scan for Unused Fields

  • Click the Scan button to identify unused custom fields in your database.
  • ACF Cleaner will analyze your ACF setup and display a list of fields that are no longer linked to active content or templates.

Review the Results

  • Carefully review the detected unused fields. ACF Cleaner provides details about each field, including its name, location, and last use.
  • Ensure that none of the fields are required by custom code or plugins before proceeding.

Clean Unused Fields

  • Select the fields you want to remove and click the Clean button.
  • ACF Cleaner will delete the selected fields from your database, freeing up space and reducing clutter.

Pro Tip: Always back up your database before making changes. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy for reliable backups.

Best Practices for Using ACF Cleaner

To maximize the benefits of ACF Cleaner, follow these best practices:

Regular Maintenance

  • Schedule regular scans using ACF Cleaner to ensure your database stays optimized as your site evolves.

Verify Dependencies

  • Before deleting fields, verify that they’re not used in custom templates, plugins, or theme files. This prevents unintended functionality issues.

Combine with Performance Tools

Audit Field Groups

  • Periodically audit your ACF field groups to ensure they remain relevant to your current project needs.

How ACF Cleaner Enhances WordPress Performance

Unused custom fields can burden your WordPress database, especially on high-traffic or content-heavy sites. Here’s how ACF Cleaner improves performance:

  • Reduced Database Overhead: By removing unused fields, ACF Cleaner reduces the number of rows in the wp_postmeta table, speeding up database queries.
  • Faster Load Times: Streamlined databases enable quicker page rendering, improving user experience and SEO performance.
  • Enhanced Manageability: A lean ACF setup is easier to manage, reducing the likelihood of conflicts or errors in complex projects.

Learn more about optimizing WordPress databases with guides like this one by WPBeginner.

Common Scenarios for Using ACF Cleaner

  1. After Project Completion
    • Once a project is live, unused fields from testing or development can linger. Use ACF Cleaner to tidy up your setup.
  2. Site Redesigns
    • During redesigns, old fields may become obsolete. Cleaning them ensures your new design remains uncluttered.
  3. Plugin Changes
    • Switching plugins or features often leaves behind orphaned fields. ACF Cleaner helps remove these remnants efficiently.

Who Should Use ACF Cleaner?

ACF Cleaner is ideal for:

  • Freelancers: Manage multiple client sites without worrying about unused fields slowing down performance.
  • Agencies: Streamline large-scale projects with automated field cleanup.
  • Site Owners: Keep your WordPress site running smoothly and efficiently with minimal technical effort.

Conclusion

ACF Cleaner is an indispensable tool for anyone managing custom fields in WordPress. By automatically detecting and removing unused fields, it simplifies your workflow, improves site performance, and keeps your ACF setup clutter-free.

Take advantage of ACF Copilot’s ACF Cleaner today and experience the benefits of a clean, optimized WordPress database.

Additional Resources

Would you like help formatting this blog for WordPress or optimizing it further for SEO? Let me know!