We humans aren’t the only ones that need to cleanse. If your Web browser isn’t acting like its usual, spunky self, it’s probably time to clear the cache.

When you surf the Internet, your browser downloads temporary files as it displays each website. If you visit a site frequently, your browser compares the current content to the version it previously saved in the cache. Then, your browser displays the site faster by downloading only new content.

So, your browser’s cache is quite useful for speeding things up. However, just like a body full of toxins, your browser can get rather sluggish when it’s gunked up with too many files. When it gets bloated, it can cause sites to load slowly, display outdated information, freeze, behave funky, or crash altogether.

Whenever your browser acts up, it’s a good idea to administer the Internet equivalent of Cleanse for Life. Web browsers’ menus change often, and sometimes that makes it hard to find the option to clear the cache. Alas, there’s a quick keyboard shortcut you can use for most browsers, so you can get back to surfing the Web at top speed and performance. Simply follow the instructions below for the browser you use.

Google® Chrome™

  1. Open your Web browser.
  2. Press these three keys at the same time: Ctrl + Shift + Delete. The Clear Browsing Data window displays.
  3. Select the beginning of time, select only Cached images and files, and then click Clear browsing data. (Apparently, Google’s the only browser with a sense of humor when it comes to cache clearing.)

Chrome-cache

Internet Explorer®

  1. Open your Web browser.
  2. Press these three keys at the same time: Ctrl + Shift + Delete. The Delete Browsing History window displays.
  3. Select only Temporary Internet files, and then click Delete.

IE-cache

Mozilla Firefox®

  1. Open your Web browser.
  2. Press these three keys at the same time: Ctrl + Shift + Delete. The Clear All History window displays.
  3. Select Everything, select only the Cache option, and then click Clear Now.

Mozilla-cache

Safari®

  1. Open your Web browser.
  2. From the Develop menu, select Empty Caches.

Safari-cache

NOTE: If you don’t see a Develop menu, go to the Safari menu, and then select Preferences. Select the Advanced tab, and then select Show Develop menu.

Safari-Develop-menu

After you clear the cache, it’s a good idea to refresh your browser (press Ctrl + F5), or simply close and reopen it. Doing so ensures that the changes take effect.