Clean Formula

Removes nonprintable ASCII characters from a string.

Syntax

Formula structure

Source: Quadratic docs
=CLEAN(s)
s
Required: Yes

Required argument used by the CLEAN formula.

Examples for the clean formula

Copy these examples into a spreadsheet and adjust the ranges for your own data.

CLEAN syntax pattern

=CLEAN(s)

Use this CLEAN pattern as the starting point for your spreadsheet formula.

CLEAN in a worksheet

=CLEAN("Text")

Removes nonprintable ASCII characters from a string.

When to use CLEAN

Use CLEAN when you need to remove nonprintable ASCII characters from a string.

  • Clean, reshape, and compare text values.
  • Prepare labels, IDs, and imported text for analysis.

How CLEAN works in Quadratic

In Quadratic, CLEAN follows the syntax CLEAN(s). The function works inside Quadratic formulas and can be combined with spreadsheet ranges, tables, and other formulas.

Common CLEAN mistakes

Most CLEAN issues come from mismatched argument types, ranges that do not cover the intended data, or optional parameters being omitted when the default behavior is not what you expected.

  • Check each required parameter before copying the formula across a sheet.
  • Confirm that ranges line up with the rows or columns you intend to analyze.
  • Use Quadratic AI to explain or debug the formula when the result looks wrong.

Related formulas

CLEAN formula FAQ

What does the clean formula do?

CLEAN removes nonprintable ASCII characters from a string.

What is the syntax for CLEAN?

The syntax is CLEAN(s). Required and optional parameters are listed at the top of this guide.

Can Quadratic AI help with CLEAN?

Yes. Quadratic AI can write a CLEAN formula, explain existing formula logic, or help debug broken references and unexpected results.

Quadratic AI

Struggling with formulas? Use Quadratic AI.

Spreadsheet formulas are powerful, but they get painful fast. A CLEAN formula can start simple, then turn into logic that is hard to understand, easy to break, and difficult to share with the rest of your team.

Quadratic AI helps you write formulas, explain formula logic, debug broken references, and move beyond formulas when advanced analysis needs Python, SQL, charts, or connected data.

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Why formulas slow teams down

  • Long formulas become hard to read, understand, and trust.
  • Formula logic breaks when rows, columns, or assumptions change.
  • Manual updates make dashboards and reports fragile over time.
  • Complex formulas are difficult to explain, review, and share with teammates.
  • Advanced analysis quickly outgrows formula-only workflows.