Really Deleting Email

This week's tech tip is in response to a several questions I've received about deleting email and preventing email mailboxes from getting too full.

When you click on the X on the toolbar (it looks like this - ) then email is put in your deleted items bin on your folder list. However, it doesn't totally delete it. Anything you delete will stay in the deleted bin until you open it and delete it again or change the settings on your email so that it deletes automatically when you exit the program. Here are the directions to do that:

• Click on Tools
• Options
• Click on the "Other" tab
• Check mark the first box that says "Empty the deleted items folder upon exiting"
• Then click OK

Now when you exit Outlook it will ask if you are sure you want to empty the deleted items folder. Just click Yes and everything you deleted from your Inbox or wherever will actually be deleted from your email.

Another thing to remember is that the program keeps a record of all the emails you send. This can also clog up your mailbox. You should periodically go into the sent items folder and delete the items that you have sent. They will then be sent to the deleted items bin and will truly be deleted when you exit the program if you followed the directions above.

Doing these two things should really help to clean up your email.