diff --git a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/database_cleanser.rb b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/database_cleanser.rb
index fba3cf48..d3326082 100644
--- a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/database_cleanser.rb
+++ b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/database_cleanser.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class DatabaseCleanser
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'tomcat_stop_delay'") if @tomcat_stop_delay == nil
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'tomcat_start_command'") if @tomcat_start_command == nil
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'tomcat_start_delay'") if @tomcat_start_delay == nil
+    raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'website_url'") if @website_url == nil
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'mysql_username'") if @mysql_username == nil
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'mysql_password'") if @mysql_password == nil
     raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'database_name'") if @database_name == nil
@@ -76,7 +77,12 @@ class DatabaseCleanser
     system(@tomcat_start_command)
     puts "   Waiting #{@tomcat_start_delay} seconds..."
     sleep(@tomcat_start_delay)
-    open("http://localhost:8080"){|f|}
+    begin
+    open(@website_url){|f|}
+    rescue Timeout::Error
+      puts ">>> HTTP request timed out!"
+      raise
+    end
     puts "   ... started."
   end
 
@@ -105,6 +111,7 @@ class DatabaseCleanser
     @tomcat_stop_delay = properties['tomcat_stop_delay'].to_i
     @tomcat_start_command = properties['tomcat_start_command']
     @tomcat_start_delay = properties['tomcat_start_delay'].to_i
+    @website_url = properties['website_url']
     @mysql_username = properties['mysql_username']
     @mysql_password = properties['mysql_password']
     @database_name = properties['database_name']
diff --git a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/example.acceptance_test.properties b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/example.acceptance_test.properties
index 593d8729..375a6153 100644
--- a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/example.acceptance_test.properties
+++ b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/example.acceptance_test.properties
@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ tomcat_start_delay   = 180
 mysql_username       = vitrodbUsername
 mysql_password       = vitrodbPassword
 database_name        = vivo
+upload_directory     = /usr/local/vivo/data/uploads
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/run_acceptance_tests.rb b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/run_acceptance_tests.rb
index 60a97216..864b7c99 100644
--- a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/run_acceptance_tests.rb
+++ b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/run_acceptance_tests.rb
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ What are we doing?
 require 'open-uri'
 require 'date'
 require File.expand_path('database_cleanser', File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)))
+require File.expand_path('upload_area_cleanser', File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)))
 require File.expand_path('property_file_reader', File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)))
 require File.expand_path('output_manager', File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)))
 
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ class AcceptanceRunner
     get_sub_directories(@test_root_directory).each do |suite_path|
       suite_file_path = File.expand_path("Suite.html", suite_path)
       if File.exist?(suite_file_path)
-        cleanse_data_model()
+        cleanse_the_model()
         run_test_suite(suite_file_path)
       else
         log_warn("No suite file found in #{suite_path}")
@@ -164,9 +165,10 @@ class AcceptanceRunner
     time_stamp("End time")
   end
 
-  # Before each suite, call the cleanser.
-  def cleanse_data_model()
+  # Before each suite, call the cleansers.
+  def cleanse_the_model()
     @database_cleanser.cleanse()
+    @upload_area_cleanser.cleanse()
   end
 
   def run_test_suite(suite_file_path)
@@ -222,6 +224,7 @@ class AcceptanceRunner
     sanity_checks_on_parameters()
 
     @database_cleanser = DatabaseCleanser.new(properties)
+    @upload_area_cleanser = UploadAreaCleanser.new(properties)
     
     @output_manager = OutputManager.new(properties)
     @output_manager.empty_log()
diff --git a/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/upload_area_cleanser.rb b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/upload_area_cleanser.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b6b6fc00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/acceptance-tests/script/upload_area_cleanser.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+=begin
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Remove any files from the VIVO upload area, so we have a clean area for the next
+suite of tests.
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Parameters:
+  upload_directory
+    The path to the upload area.
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+=end
+require 'fileutils'
+require File.expand_path('property_file_reader', File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)))
+
+class UploadAreaCleanser
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  private
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  #
+  # Confirm that the parameters are reasonable.
+  #
+  def sanity_checks_on_parameters()
+    # Check that all necessary properties are here.
+    raise("Properties file must contain a value for 'upload_directory'") if @upload_directory == nil
+
+    if !File.exist?(@upload_directory)
+      raise "Upload directory  '#{@upload_directory}' does not exist."
+    end
+
+    if !File.readable?(@upload_directory)
+      raise "Upload directory  '#{@upload_directory}' is not readable."
+    end
+
+    if !File.directory?(@upload_directory)
+      raise "Upload directory  '#{@upload_directory}' is not a directory."
+    end
+
+    if !File.writable?(@upload_directory)
+      raise "Upload directory '#{@upload_directory}' is not writable."
+    end
+  end
+
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  public
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  # Get the parameters and check them
+  #
+  def initialize(properties)
+    @upload_directory = properties['upload_directory']
+    sanity_checks_on_parameters()
+  end
+
+  # Cleanse the directory
+  #
+  def cleanse()
+    FileUtils::rm_r(Dir.glob(File.expand_path('*', @upload_directory)), :verbose=>true)
+  end
+end
+
+#
+#
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Standalone calling.
+#
+# Do this if this program was called from the command line. That is, if the command
+# expands to the path of this file.
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+
+if File.expand_path($0) == File.expand_path(__FILE__)
+  if ARGV.length == 0
+    raise("No arguments - usage is: ruby upload_area_cleanser.rb <properties_file>")
+  end
+  if !File.file?(ARGV[0])
+    raise "File does not exist: '#{ARGV[0]}'."
+  end
+
+  properties = PropertyFileReader.read(ARGV[0])
+
+  uac = UploadAreaCleanser.new(properties)
+  uac.cleanse()
+end
\ No newline at end of file