Excel includes a number of functions that allow you to remove printable characters, like spaces, from imported data. But what if your data contains nonprintable characters, like the ones shown in Figure A?

Figure A

To clean up this data, Excel provides the CLEAN function. Follow these steps:

1. Select C2:C10.
2. Enter the following formula:
   =CLEAN(A2)
3. Press Ctrl + Enter (Figure B).

Figure B

Excel displays the contents of the cells without the nonprintable characters. You can now copy the results to another part of the workbook using the Paste Special option to copy the values without the formulas (Figure C).

Figure C