Google Calendar cleanup playbook

Google Calendar makes adding events easy. Cleanup needs the same level of repeatability.

This playbook is designed for people who manage multiple calendars and need a predictable process.

Phase 1: inventory

Map your calendar landscape first.

• Primary calendar
• Team/shared calendars
• Imported feeds
• Temporary project calendars

Document which calendars you can safely modify.

Phase 2: identify bulk candidates

Look for clusters with at least one of these attributes:

• Same title prefix
• Same organizer
• Same location pattern
• Same day/time pattern

Bulk candidate scorecard

Signal	Weight
Repeats > 20 times	High
No edits in 90 days	High
Ends with generic terms (sync, hold)	Medium
Missing notes/outcomes	Medium

Phase 3: dry run

Before deleting, run a preview window and inspect 10 random matched events.

This catches edge cases such as similarly named events that are still active.

Phase 4: execute in batches

Delete in two or three smaller batches, not one giant operation.

Why: if the first batch reveals a bad pattern, rollback scope stays small.

Phase 5: prevent recurrence

Create one short rule per major pattern, such as:

• Prefix conventions for team meetings
• Standardized room/location values
• End dates for temporary recurring series

A simple operating cadence

1. Monday: 5-minute visual scan.
2. Friday: 10-minute cleanup pass.
3. Month-end: one bulk run for stale series.

A playbook is successful when the next cleanup is easier than the last one.