We all love plugins! They give our WordPress sites functionality and save us from having to hire expensive developers, or learn how to write code ourselves. They’re usually free or very inexpensive, and there are literally thousands to choose from. But plugins are not “set it and forget it”. There’s some work to do here!

Let’s take a look at your plugins

Are you hoarding unused plugins in your WordPress dashboard? You know, just in case you need to use them later?

I’m here to tell you later never comes, and those plugins just pile up! Sometimes you update them when you get a notification. Sometimes they go unchecked for months. But they’re there, aren’t they? I know. I used to keep them too!

Until I found out what a liability they were! They weren’t doing me any good at all just sitting there. What I thought was convenience was actually an easy way for hackers to access my site! (See this 2019 report.)

Other reasons to clean up your plugins

• Outdated plugins can prevent your WP site from updating
• You don’t remember why you installed a plugin or what it does
• You replaced a plugin and forgot to uninstall the one you replaced
• Too many plugins can cause a noticeable decrease in site speed*

That plugin collection is doing you no good, my friend! By the time you get around to needing them again, there’s likely to be something better out there anyway.

Now go out and conquer your plugin collection!

*One of the first steps in troubleshooting your WP site is to disable the plugins. That should give you a clue.