How to empty the trash on a mac?

Question

I have a macbook [I'm not sure what kind but I got it last september] and I cannot figure out how to empty the trash. Websites have told me to right click on the trash icon but I have no trash icon, Just a trash folder which when you right click on it, it has no clean up option.

Answer 1

if you go into the trash folder itself there should be a button under the search/find it bar that says empty

Answer 2

so if you got your macbook recently, you are either running tiger or leopard. you should, should not always, have a trash can icon in the lower right hand corner of your dock. if there is you can open this and there should be an empty trash button in the window, if not. Make sure that finder is active by clicking on the "happy mac face" then click on the word "finder" in the menu bar at the top, and there should be an option to empty the trash there. alternatively, you can press shift + command(the squigly one next to space) + delete and that should do the job

Answer 3

First make sure there is something in the trash. Then make sure "finder" (not safari) appears at the top of your toolbar. Then drop down on finder to either "empty trash" or "secure empty trash" and click with mouse. The first option will make the trashed item still retrievable at some future date; the second option basically makes it disappear forever and helps create more available space on your hard disc.

Answer 4

if u have a normal mouse right click the trash then highlight click empty trash