Built Around What Matters
For well over two decades, I used the same cleaning app. It was familiar, simple, and did what I needed. When another company bought it, I'll admit I cried a little. But I held on to the hope that it would stay the straightforward tool I had come to rely on.
Then came the latest upgrade.
Things that used to be easy suddenly took more effort. Familiar features became harder to find, and simple tasks felt more complicated than they needed to be. A program I had trusted for years no longer felt like the one I had chosen.
That frustration sparked something. I decided to build my own cleaner, Kodiak Cleaner, and make it open source.
The idea is simple. Open Kodiak Cleaner, choose what you want to clean, get it done, and get on with your day. No waiting for an interface to load. No hunting for controls that have moved somewhere unexpected. Just a practical tool that respects your time.
Privacy and security are at the heart of that vision. Kodiak Cleaner is private first and local first, with security as a top priority from the very beginning. Convenience should come with confidence in how software treats your device and your data.
I also want simplicity to feel modern: a fresh interface, clear choices, and the freedom to pick a color scheme that feels right for you. Useful software can have personality without making everyday tasks harder.
Making Kodiak Cleaner open source is an invitation. I welcome feedback, guidance, and contributions from others. I want to hear which features people need, what could work better, and how we can improve Kodiak Cleaner while keeping its purpose clear.
This project began with a change I didn't want. It became a chance to build something I did want: Kodiak Cleaner, a simple, private and practical cleaner that I hope others will find useful, too.
Ted Tabaka, creator of Kodiak Cleaner