+-----------+ | trash-cli | +-----------+ trash-cli is a command line interface for Trashcan utility compliant with the FreeDesktop.org trash specifications. It stores the name, original path, deletion date, and permissions of each trashed file It provides these commands: trash-put trash files and directories. trash-empty empty the trashcan(s). trash-list list trashed files. trash-restore restore a trashed file. trash-rm remove individual files from the trashcan. https://github.com/andreafrancia/trash-cli +-------+ | Usage | +-------+ Trash a file: $ trash-put foo List trashed files: $ trash-list 2008-06-01 10:30:48 /home/andrea/bar 2008-06-02 21:50:41 /home/andrea/bar 2008-06-23 21:50:49 /home/andrea/foo Search for a file in the trashcan: $ trash-list | grep foo 2007-08-30 12:36:00 /home/andrea/foo 2007-08-30 12:39:41 /home/andrea/foo Restore a trashed file: $ trash-restore 0 2007-08-30 12:36:00 /home/andrea/foo 1 2007-08-30 12:39:41 /home/andrea/bar 2 2007-08-30 12:39:41 /home/andrea/bar2 3 2007-08-30 12:39:41 /home/andrea/foo2 4 2007-08-30 12:39:41 /home/andrea/foo What file to restore [0..4]: 4 $ ls foo foo Remove all files from the trashcan: $ trash-empty Remove only the files that have been deleted more than ago: $ trash-empty Example: $ date Tue Feb 19 20:26:52 CET 2008 $ trash-list 2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today 2008-02-18 20:11:34 /home/einar/yesterday 2008-02-10 20:11:34 /home/einar/last_week $ trash-empty 7 $ trash-list 2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today 2008-02-18 20:11:34 /home/einar/yesterday $ trash-empty 1 $ trash-list 2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today Remove only files matching a pattern: $ trash-rm \*.o Note: you need to use quotes in order to protect the pattern from shell expansion.