This post has been republished via RSS; it originally appeared at: Windows Blog.
To close out all the windows besides the one you’re working on, select and hold any open window, then give your mouse a back-and-forth shake. All the other open apps will automatically minimize to clear your workspace.
You can also clear up a messy desktop quickly. Press and hold (or right-click) on the desktop, select View, and then clear Show desktop icons. To see them again, re-select Show desktop icons.
In case you missed it, check out three ways you can personalize your desktop with fun themes and colors!