diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de79e44..9559d83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ find plugin directory there and remove it.
 - updates plugin(s)
 
 `prefix + alt + u`
-- uninstall plugins that are not on the plugin list
+- remove/uninstall plugins not on the plugin list
 
 ### More plugins
 
diff --git a/bin/clean_plugins b/bin/clean_plugins
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..12f8730
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/clean_plugins
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Script intended for use via the command line.
+#
+# `.tmux.conf` needs to be set for TPM. Tmux has to be installed on the system,
+# but does not need to be started in order to run this script.
+
+CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+SCRIPTS_DIR="$CURRENT_DIR/../scripts"
+
+main() {
+	"$SCRIPTS_DIR/clean_plugins.sh" # has correct exit code
+}
+main
diff --git a/bindings/clean_plugins b/bindings/clean_plugins
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ea18752
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/clean_plugins
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Tmux key-binding script.
+# Scripts intended to be used via the command line are in `bin/` directory.
+
+CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+SCRIPTS_DIR="$CURRENT_DIR/../scripts"
+
+source "$SCRIPTS_DIR/shared_functions.sh"
+
+main() {
+	reload_tmux_environment
+	"$SCRIPTS_DIR/clean_plugins.sh" --tmux-echo >/dev/null 2>&1
+	reload_tmux_environment
+	end_message
+}
+main
diff --git a/docs/managing_plugins_via_cmd_line.md b/docs/managing_plugins_via_cmd_line.md
index e34136e..4dc6d3b 100644
--- a/docs/managing_plugins_via_cmd_line.md
+++ b/docs/managing_plugins_via_cmd_line.md
@@ -28,3 +28,9 @@ To update all installed plugins:
 or update a single plugin:
 
     ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/bin/install_plugins tmux-sensible
+
+### Removing plugins
+
+To remove plugins not on the plugin list:
+
+    ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/bin/clean_plugins
diff --git a/scripts/clean_plugins.sh b/scripts/clean_plugins.sh
index 2dd1c64..88d9bdf 100755
--- a/scripts/clean_plugins.sh
+++ b/scripts/clean_plugins.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,33 @@ CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
 
 source "$CURRENT_DIR/shared_functions.sh"
 
+TMUX_ECHO_FLAG="$1"
+
+# True if invoked as tmux mapping or tmux command,
+# false if invoked via command line wrapper from `bin/` directory.
+use_tmux_echo() {
+	[ "$TMUX_ECHO_FLAG" == "--tmux-echo" ]
+}
+
+if use_tmux_echo; then
+	# use tmux specific echo-ing
+	echo_ok() {
+		echo_message "$*"
+	}
+
+	echo_err() {
+		echo_message "$*"
+	}
+else
+	echo_ok() {
+		echo "$*"
+	}
+
+	echo_err() {
+		fail_helper "$*"
+	}
+fi
+
 clean_plugins() {
 	local plugins plugin plugin_directory
 	plugins="$(shared_get_tpm_plugins_list)"
@@ -15,22 +42,20 @@ clean_plugins() {
 			*"${plugin}"*) : ;;
 			*)
 			[ "${plugin}" = "tpm" ] && continue
-			echo_message "Removing \"$plugin\""
-			rm -rf "${plugin_directory}"
+			echo_ok "Removing \"$plugin\""
+			rm -rf "${plugin_directory}" >/dev/null 2>&1
 			[ -d "${plugin_directory}" ] &&
-			echo_message "  \"$plugin\" clean fail" ||
-			echo_message "  \"$plugin\" clean success"
+			echo_err "  \"$plugin\" clean fail" ||
+			echo_ok "  \"$plugin\" clean success"
 			;;
 		esac
 	done
 }
 
 main() {
-	reload_tmux_environment
 	shared_set_tpm_path_constant
 	ensure_tpm_path_exists
 	clean_plugins
-	reload_tmux_environment
-	end_message
+	exit_value_helper
 }
 main
diff --git a/tests/test_plugin_clean.sh b/tests/test_plugin_clean.sh
index d920507..e4c0888 100755
--- a/tests/test_plugin_clean.sh
+++ b/tests/test_plugin_clean.sh
@@ -14,16 +14,49 @@ manually_install_the_plugin() {
 	git clone --quiet https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tmux-example-plugin
 }
 
-test_plugin_uninstallation() {
+# TMUX KEY-BINDING TESTS
+
+test_plugin_uninstallation_via_tmux_key_binding() {
 	set_tmux_conf_helper <<- HERE
 	run-shell "$TPM_DIR/tpm"
 	HERE
 
 	manually_install_the_plugin
 
-	# opens tmux and test it with `expect`
 	"$CURRENT_DIR/expect_successful_clean_plugins" ||
-		fail_helper "Clean fails"
+		fail_helper "[key-binding] clean fails"
+
+	teardown_helper
+}
+
+# SCRIPT TESTS
+
+test_plugin_uninstallation_via_script() {
+	set_tmux_conf_helper <<- HERE
+	run-shell "$TPM_DIR/tpm"
+	HERE
+
+	manually_install_the_plugin
+
+	script_run_helper "$TPM_DIR/bin/clean_plugins" '"tmux-example-plugin" clean success' ||
+		fail_helper "[script] plugin cleaning fails"
+
+	teardown_helper
+}
+
+test_unsuccessful_plugin_uninstallation_via_script() {
+	set_tmux_conf_helper <<- HERE
+	run-shell "$TPM_DIR/tpm"
+	HERE
+
+	manually_install_the_plugin
+	chmod 000 "$PLUGINS_DIR/tmux-example-plugin" # disable directory deletion
+
+	local expected_exit_code=1
+	script_run_helper "$TPM_DIR/bin/clean_plugins" '"tmux-example-plugin" clean fail' "$expected_exit_code" ||
+		fail_helper "[script] unsuccessful plugin cleaning doesn't fail"
+
+	chmod 755 "$PLUGINS_DIR/tmux-example-plugin" # enable directory deletion
 
 	teardown_helper
 }
diff --git a/tpm b/tpm
index 6887b94..679f001 100755
--- a/tpm
+++ b/tpm
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ set_tpm_key_bindings() {
 	tmux bind-key "$update_key" run-shell "$BINDINGS_DIR/update_plugins"
 
 	local clean_key=$(get_tmux_option "$clean_key_option" "$default_clean_key")
-	tmux bind-key "$clean_key" run-shell "$SCRIPTS_DIR/clean_plugins.sh"
+	tmux bind-key "$clean_key" run-shell "$BINDINGS_DIR/clean_plugins"
 }
 
 supported_tmux_version_ok() {