How to Clean any Outlook Folder of Spam

If you're lucky, you've been able to avoid spam invading your Outlook inbox. You don't have to see it, and it doesn't interrupt your email viewing. However, if some of it weeds through your spam filters and makes its way to your Outlook inbox and custom folders, there are steps you can take to remove it.

Instructions

1. Set your spam filters to a higher level. Open Outlook, go to "Actions" and select "Junk Email." Select "Junk Email Options." Set your protection level to high. Make sure the box to permanently delete suspected junk email is unchecked.

2. Delete and block the spam message when it appears in your inbox or custom folder. Highlight the message and right-click on it. Scroll down to "Junk Email," and then click on "Add Sender to Blocked Senders List." This will keep the sender from getting any future email to your inbox.

3. Check your Junk Email folder every 2 days to make sure good messages aren't accidentally getting filtered into your junk folder. If you find a good message there, put it back in your inbox. Place the sender on your safe senders list by highlighting it and right-clicking on it. Select "Junk Email" and click on "Mark as Not Junk." Make sure the box is checked to always trust messages from that sender, and click "OK."

4. Empty your Junk Email folder occasionally. After checking to make sure wanted messages aren't in the folder, right-click on it and select "Empty Junk Email Folder." Answer "Yes" on the dialog box asking if you want to permanently delete the messages.