Consolidation as maintenance.
WHY IT HELPS
Every application is updates to apply, backups to verify, and attack surface. Three applications is three of everything.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Applications installed for a project that ended Test installations never removed Two applications doing similar things A separate application where a plugin on your main site would serve
CONSOLIDATING
A forum plugin instead of a separate forum, for a small community A course plugin instead of a full learning platform, for a few courses One content system rather than two
THE TRADE-OFF
A dedicated application is usually better at its job. A plugin is usually less work to maintain.
For small requirements, the plugin wins. For substantial ones, the dedicated application does.
WHAT TO REMOVE
Anything unused. Remove it properly: files, database, database user, cron jobs, subdomains.
CHECKING WHAT EXISTS
Softaculous > Installations lists what it installed. cPanel > MySQL Databases reveals databases you had forgotten. File Manager shows directories.
You will find things you do not remember installing.
