Group items tagged

How Washing Machine works   Clean up files from Internet programs Washing Machine looks for five types of files for web browsers, Internet applications, and other programs that store cookies, caches or history files. You can search by program or by category, and clean any program's files with a single click. Use Secure Cleaning to wipe files so even data recovery programs can't get them back.   Edit and delete cookies Washing Machine has special features for working with Cookies, those bits of information that web sites put on your computer to track your movements. View, edit or delete cookies from any of a number of Internet programs.   Use Cleanlists to clean up after the programs you use most Washing Machine lets you set up Cleanlists - like iTunes playlists - with the items you want to clean regularly. Keep several Cleanlists for the programs you want to clean up after and others for programs you only use occasionally. And you can even make Smart Cleanlists to let you clean items that meet certain conditions.   Schedule your Washing Machine's clean-ups Choose what to clean, and when, and Washing Machine will run its cleaning routines automatically whenever you want. You can set a number of schedules, for individual items, or for Cleanlists, each at the frequency or time you choose.  

Well, that's what I intended to do, anyway. The more I wrote, the more I realized how many aspects of the IMAP/Gmail/Mail universe are unclear or confusing, as evidenced by the many email messages I've received on those subjects, and as feedback to my books ("Take Control of Apple Mail in Leopard" and "Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail") and my Macworld articles on the topic. So, what I thought would be a straightforward article has turned into a manifesto. (That means it's quite long, and somewhat opinionated - fair warning!) And, I admit it: I've written it for a largely selfish reason, which is to save myself from having to explain this information repeatedly in email messages! But I do hope you'll find it interesting and helpful if you've ever struggled with the combination of IMAP, Gmail, and Mail.