Your Browser Actually Generates Cache!

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So what is cache (pronounced cash)? The official definition is a hiding place or something hidden, which seems appropriate because many people don't really know what web cache is, where it is hidden or how to get rid of it.  (Not to confuse you, but these are sometimes called browser cache or temporary internet files.)

The browser program (what you use to get on the internet to browse websites) creates a web cache, or  hidden files that speeds up your browsing experience. For example, your browser might save the information and images of this page on your computer so that next time you visit, it won't take quite so long to load, making the web page load much faster the next time you visit.

The catch is that it is sorta hidden and you won't find a link in the start menu so it just keeps growing and growing each day you're online. So as part of normal maintenance of your computer you probably need to occasionally clean out these files. They can begin to take up a lot of space, especially when they contain files for sites you may never visit again.

Now how to clean it..To delete the files in the Temporary Internet Files folder yourself, follow these steps:

• Windows 7 and Windows Vista
  1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, and then click Internet Options.
  2. Click the General tab, and then click Delete under Browsing history.
  3. Click Delete all, click Yes to confirm that you want to delete this information, and then click OK.*
      
• Earlier versions of Windows
  1. Quit Internet Explorer and quit any instances of Windows Explorer.
  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Internet Options.
  3. On the General tab, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files.
  4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the Delete all offline content check box , and then click OK.
  5. Click OK.*

*If your computer contains a significant amount of cache, this process may take several minutes to complete.

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260897