diff --git a/.github/check.js b/.github/check.mjs
similarity index 64%
rename from .github/check.js
rename to .github/check.mjs
index 4e36bb7..343b033 100644
--- a/.github/check.js
+++ b/.github/check.mjs
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
-const { readdirSync, readFileSync, existsSync } = require("fs");
-const { execSync } = require("child_process");
+import { readdirSync, readFileSync, existsSync } from "fs";
+import { ExifTool } from "exiftool-vendored";
 
-// strip all metadata to ensure consistency
-exec("exiftool -All= -r -overwrite_original ./images");
-exec("exiftool -All= -r -overwrite_original ./print");
+const exiftool = new ExifTool();
 
-checkDimensions("./images", 600, 600);
-checkDimensions("./print", 1200, 1200);
+await checkDimensions("./images", 600, 600);
+await checkDimensions("./print", 1200, 1200);
 
 checkList("software.json");
 checkList("groups.json");
 
+await exiftool.end();
+
 // check list of entries in json file
 function checkList(filename) {
   console.info(`Checking list "${filename}"`);
@@ -41,29 +41,27 @@ function checkList(filename) {
   }
 }
 
-// check dimensions of images in directory
-function checkDimensions(
-  directory,
+// check dimensions of images in folder
+async function checkDimensions(
+  folder,
   expectedWidth,
   expectedHeight,
   extension = "png"
 ) {
-  // get all images matching extension in directory
-  const paths = readdirSync(directory)
+  // get all images matching extension in folder
+  const paths = readdirSync(folder)
     .filter((filename) => filename.endsWith(`.${extension}`))
-    .map((filename) => `${directory}/${filename}`);
+    .map((filename) => `${folder}/${filename}`);
 
   for (const [index, path] of Object.entries(paths)) {
     console.info(`Checking "${path}" (${+index + 1} of ${paths.length})`);
 
-    // extract dimensions
-    const [width, height] = exec(
-      `exiftool -s3 -ImageWidth -ImageHeight ${path}`,
-      false
-    )
-      .split(/\s/)
-      .filter(Boolean)
-      .map(Number);
+    // extract metadata
+    const {
+      ImageWidth: width,
+      ImageHeight: height,
+      ColorType: colorspace,
+    } = await exiftool.read(path);
 
     // check dimensions
     if (width !== expectedWidth || height !== expectedHeight)
@@ -72,14 +70,7 @@ function checkDimensions(
       );
 
     // check color space
-    const colorspace = exec(`exiftool -s3 -ColorType ${path}`, false);
     if (!colorspace.toLowerCase().includes("rgb"))
       throw Error(`Colorspace "${colorspace}", expected RGB`);
   }
 }
-
-function exec(command, print = true) {
-  const result = execSync(command).toString().trim();
-  if (print) console.log(result);
-  return result;
-}
diff --git a/.github/clean.mjs b/.github/clean.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdc3863
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/clean.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { ExifTool } from "exiftool-vendored";
+
+const exiftool = new ExifTool();
+
+await stripMeta("./images");
+await stripMeta("./print");
+
+await exiftool.end();
+
+// strip all metadata from all images in folder to ensure consistency
+async function stripMeta(folder) {
+  await exiftool.write(folder, {}, [
+    "-All=",
+    "-recurse",
+    "-overwrite_original",
+  ]);
+}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yaml b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
index 51daba7..ce993f3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
-name: Check and clean files
+name: Check files
 
-on: pull_request
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
 
 jobs:
   check:
@@ -11,13 +14,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
 
-      - name: Install exiftool
-        run: sudo apt install exiftool
+      - name: Install packages
+        run: npm install exiftool-vendored@26
 
-      - name: Run script
-        run: node ./.github/check.js
+      - if: runner.debug == '1'
+        uses: mxschmitt/action-tmate@v3
 
-      - name: Commit changed files
-        uses: stefanzweifel/git-auto-commit-action@v5
-        with:
-          commit_message: "Update files"
+      - name: Run script
+        run: node ./.github/check.mjs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clean.yaml b/.github/workflows/clean.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c22e95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/clean.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+name: Clean files
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+jobs:
+  clean:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Install packages
+        run: npm install exiftool-vendored@26
+
+      - if: runner.debug == '1'
+        uses: mxschmitt/action-tmate@v3
+
+      - name: Run script
+        run: node ./.github/clean.mjs
+
+      - name: Commit changed files
+        uses: stefanzweifel/git-auto-commit-action@v5
+        with:
+          commit_message: "Clean files"
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fd5106f..2023a37 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+node_modules
+package.json
+package-lock.json
 .DS_STORE
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fcb760..cf73071 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ The order of entries on the website is shuffled randomly on each page visit to n
 
 1. [Fork this repo](https://github.dev/CU-DBMI/wall-of-software) and make one or more changes.
 1. Open a pull request (PR).
-   Check "Allow edits by maintainers".
    Name the PR the canonical name(s) of the software/group(s) you're changing, using commas for multiple, e.g. "Word Lapse, Preprint Similarity Search".
 1. Shortly after opening the PR, a link will appear that shows a preview of the website with your changes (if any).
    Add `?print` at the end of the url to view the print versions of images instead.
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ To remove/change entries, edit the above files as needed.
 
 ## Images
 
-Images should meet the following standards:
+Images must meet the following standards:
 
 - Unique, visually appealing logo or other graphical representation of your software/group.
 - Not up-scaled, stretched, or otherwise blurry/noisy/distorted/etc.