Using the Clean Function in Excel

Using the Clean Function in Excel Lots more videos here / ‪@vbamacrosandmore4390‬ *How to Use the CLEAN Function in Excel | Step-by-Step Guide* In this video, we’ll show you how to use the *CLEAN function* in Excel to remove non-printable characters from your data. This powerful tool helps you clean up text by eliminating unwanted characters that can cause issues with formatting or calculations. Whether you’re working with imported data or cleaning up manually entered text, the CLEAN function can make your spreadsheet work more efficiently. What You’ll Learn: **What is the CLEAN Function?**: How it works and what types of characters it removes. **Using the CLEAN Function in Excel**: A detailed, easy-to-follow example. **Common Use Cases**: When and why you should use the CLEAN function to fix your data. Step-by-Step Tutorial: 1. **Understanding the CLEAN Function**: The CLEAN function removes *non-printable characters* from a text string. These characters are often introduced when copying data from external sources, like websites, PDFs, or other systems. They can cause issues with calculations or formatting. The syntax of the CLEAN function is simple: `=CLEAN(text)`. Just replace "text" with the cell reference or text you want to clean. 2. **Practical Example**: Watch as we clean a set of data containing non-printable characters. We’ll show you how to spot unwanted characters in your spreadsheet and use the CLEAN function to remove them, leaving you with clean, usable data. 3. **What Does CLEAN Remove?**: The CLEAN function specifically removes ASCII characters with codes 0 through 31, which are non-printable. These characters may not be visible but can still interfere with your work. It’s important to note that the CLEAN function *does not* remove spaces, line breaks, or regular punctuation. 4. **Using CLEAN with Other Functions**: You can also combine the CLEAN function with other Excel functions like TRIM or SUBSTITUTE for more advanced text cleaning. For example, you can use the TRIM function to remove extra spaces after using CLEAN to remove non-printable characters. Why Use the CLEAN Function in Excel? **Data Cleanup**: The CLEAN function is essential when importing data from external sources, as it ensures that non-printable characters don't interfere with your calculations or formatting. **Improve Accuracy**: Removing invisible or hidden characters helps you maintain accuracy in your formulas and calculations, especially when working with large datasets. **Ease of Use**: It’s a simple, easy-to-use function that can save you time and effort in cleaning and preparing your data. Additional Tips: **TRIM and CLEAN Combo**: If you need to remove extra spaces as well as non-printable characters, use the TRIM function along with CLEAN. The TRIM function removes extra spaces from text, which is especially helpful for fixing formatting issues. **Handling Special Characters**: While the CLEAN function removes non-printable characters, you may still encounter other special characters that need to be addressed. In these cases, the SUBSTITUTE function can help replace specific characters. **Data Validation**: After cleaning your data, use Excel’s Data Validation tool to prevent unwanted characters from being entered in the future. Conclusion: The CLEAN function in Excel is a simple yet powerful tool that can help you quickly remove non-printable characters from your data, making it easier to work with and analyze. Whether you're cleaning up imported data or fixing formatting issues, this function will save you time and effort. If you found this tutorial helpful, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Excel tips and tricks!