I will use Prime Mover Pro to clean up a site. Exclude plugins and database entries. Clone the site and move it over with URL to a development site. Here is a video of the process. Further below I have the steps I took.
On the dev site:
- Deactivate the license if Prime Mover Pro is active. Go to Prime Mover Pro -> Account. To the right of Account Details – click to Deactivate License.
- Deactivate all plugins.
- Switch to a default theme.
- Install and activate the Advanced WP Reset plugin. Go to Tools -> Advanced WP Reset. Under Site Reset. To the left of the red button write: RESET and click the red RESET button. Click Reset Now. After the site has been reset deactivate the plugin.
How to clean up a site before migration.
On the LIVE site:
- Install Prime Mover Pro plugin.
- This is a two step process to remove any trace of a plugin the site currently has installed.
- Go to Prime Mover Pro -> Settings: Excluded plugins. Click the button to expand plugins. Select which plugins to be excluded.
- Go to Prime Mover Pro -> Toolbox: Excluded tables. Click the button to expand the database entries.
- Go to Prime Mover Pro -> Go to Migration Tools -> PRO Export.
- Export database, media files, plugins and themes.
- Export to single-site format
- Click Go to Package Manager and begin the process of exporting the package.
- When finished use the URL to export the site.
Resources:
How to create a fresh WordPress install with a specific administrator email.
How to Exclude Plugins in Prime Mover Pro.
How do we exclude database tables in Prime Mover export.