Testing and reordering your filters

Before relying on a new filter, test it against real messages. Cleanbox also lets you control evaluation order, which matters when multiple filters could match the same message.

Testing a filter

1. Open the filter you want to test
2. Click Test filter
3. Cleanbox scans recent messages and shows which ones would have matched
4. Review the results

What to look for

• True positives — Messages that correctly match
• False positives — Messages that match but should not. Narrow your conditions.
• Missing matches — Expected emails not in results. Check for typos or overly strict conditions.

Filter order and priority

Filters are evaluated top to bottom. When a message matches, that filter action is applied and no further filters run (first match wins).

Ordering advice

Position	Filter type	Reasoning
Top	Allow filters for critical senders	Ensure important emails are never denied
Middle	Deny filters for known spam	Catch unwanted mail after allowing trusted senders
Bottom	Allow with folder/flag options	Organize remaining messages

Reordering filters

1. Navigate to Filters
2. Drag and drop to rearrange
3. New order is saved automatically

Enabling and disabling filters

Each filter has an on/off toggle. Disabled filters are skipped during evaluation but preserved with all conditions intact. Useful for troubleshooting or seasonal filters.

Filter statistics

Each filter tracks daily match counts. This helps you identify filters that are too broad, too strict, or no longer needed.

Deleting filters

Open a filter and click Delete. Remaining filters shift up in order. Review your filter order after deleting.