# Git Local Branch Cleaning

> Delete local (and their corresponding remote) branches that have been merged into main, have a deleted remote tracking ref, or whose PR is merged/closed. Use when the user asks to "clean up local branches", "delete merged branches", "prune local branches", or "git cleanup".

- Skill: `erich3000/git-local-branch-cleaning` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add erich3000/git-local-branch-cleaning`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/erich3000/git-local-branch-cleaning/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: erich3000 (https://skillmd.com/u/erich3000)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/erich3000/git-local-branch-cleaning

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# git-local-branch-cleaning

Clean up local branches that are no longer needed by running the bundled script.

## Workflow

Run the cleanup script:

```bash
bash <base_directory>/scripts/clean-branches.sh
```

Where `<base_directory>` is the path shown in "Base directory for this skill:" at the top of the skill invocation.

The script will:
1. Fetch and prune remote tracking refs
2. Find branches in any of these states:
   - Fully merged into `main`
   - Remote tracking ref gone (remote branch was deleted)
   - Corresponding PR is merged or closed (requires `gh` CLI)
3. Display the list of candidate branches and ask for confirmation
4. Delete confirmed branches locally with `git branch -d` / `git branch -D` and remove the matching remote branch if it still exists
5. Report what was deleted and what was skipped