RationalCleanup removes unnecessary WordPress features, hardens security, and improves performance. All 24 options are toggleable with sensible defaults that balance security and compatibility.
Features
Head Tags
Remove unnecessary meta tags and links from the document head:
- Remove WordPress generator meta tag (hides version number)
- Remove WLW manifest link
- Remove RSD link
- Remove shortlink
- Remove REST API discovery link
- Remove RSS feed links
Frontend Bloat
Remove scripts and styles that most sites don’t need:
- Remove emoji detection scripts and styles
- Remove jQuery Migrate from frontend
- Remove Gutenberg block library CSS
- Remove global styles and SVG filters
Security
Harden WordPress against common attack vectors:
- Disable XML-RPC completely (prevents brute force and DDoS attacks)
- Prevent user enumeration (blocks author archives and REST API user endpoints)
- Obfuscate login error messages (prevents username discovery)
Performance
Reduce unnecessary WordPress overhead:
- Disable self-pingbacks
- Throttle Heartbeat API (reduces server load)
- Extend autosave interval (reduces database writes)
Features
Disable major WordPress subsystems:
- Disable comments system completely
- Disable block editor (force classic editor)
- Disable REST API for non-authenticated users
Admin Cleanup
Declutter the WordPress admin dashboard:
- Remove WordPress Events and News widget
- Remove Quick Draft widget
- Remove At a Glance widget
- Remove Activity widget
- Remove Site Health Status widget
Opinionated Defaults
RationalCleanup uses sensible defaults:
- Security options: Enabled by default (XML-RPC disabled, user enumeration blocked)
- Head cleanup: Mostly enabled (safe, no compatibility issues)
- Frontend cleanup: Emoji and jQuery Migrate removal enabled
- Breaking features: Disabled by default (comments, block editor, REST API restrictions)
- Admin widgets: Disabled by default
RationalWP Menu
This plugin uses a shared parent menu for all RationalWP plugins. When activated, you’ll see a RationalWP menu in your admin sidebar containing links to all installed RationalWP plugins.
