diff --git a/app/services/destroy_task.rb b/app/services/destroy_task.rb
index f7c8a64123d..e5ff8e5789c 100644
--- a/app/services/destroy_task.rb
+++ b/app/services/destroy_task.rb
@@ -1,83 +1,110 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
-## Because these methods are meant to be called from a rake task
-#   we are capturing all log output into a log array to return
-#   to the rake task rather than using `puts` statements.
 class DestroyTask
-  def self.destroy_topics(category, parent_category = nil)
+
+  def initialize(io = $stdout)
+    @io = io
+  end
+
+  def destroy_topics(category, parent_category = nil, delete_system_topics = false)
     c = Category.find_by_slug(category, parent_category)
-    log = []
     descriptive_slug = parent_category ? "#{parent_category}/#{category}" : category
-    return "A category with the slug: #{descriptive_slug} could not be found" if c.nil?
-    topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil).where.not(user_id: -1)
-    log << "There are #{topics.count} topics to delete in #{descriptive_slug} category"
+    return @io.puts "A category with the slug: #{descriptive_slug} could not be found" if c.nil?
+    if delete_system_topics
+      topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil)
+    else
+      topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil).where.not(user_id: -1)
+    end
+    @io.puts "There are #{topics.count} topics to delete in #{descriptive_slug} category"
     topics.each do |topic|
-      log << "Deleting #{topic.slug}..."
+      @io.puts "Deleting #{topic.slug}..."
       first_post = topic.ordered_posts.first
       if first_post.nil?
-        return log << "Topic.ordered_posts.first was nil"
+        return @io.puts "Topic.ordered_posts.first was nil"
       end
       system_user = User.find(-1)
-      log << PostDestroyer.new(system_user, first_post).destroy
+      @io.puts PostDestroyer.new(system_user, first_post).destroy
     end
-    log
   end
 
-  def self.destroy_topics_all_categories
+  def destroy_topics_in_category(category_id, delete_system_topics = false)
+    c = Category.find(category_id)
+    return @io.puts "A category with the id: #{category_id} could not be found" if c.nil?
+    if delete_system_topics
+      topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil)
+    else
+      topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil).where.not(user_id: -1)
+    end
+    @io.puts "There are #{topics.count} topics to delete in #{c.slug} category"
+    topics.each do |topic|
+      first_post = topic.ordered_posts.first
+      return @io.puts "Topic.ordered_posts.first was nil for topic: #{topic.id}" if first_post.nil?
+      system_user = User.find(-1)
+      PostDestroyer.new(system_user, first_post).destroy
+    end
+    topics = Topic.where(category_id: c.id, pinned_at: nil)
+    @io.puts "There are #{topics.count} topics that could not be deleted in #{c.slug} category"
+  end
+
+  def destroy_topics_all_categories
     categories = Category.all
-    log = []
     categories.each do |c|
-      log << destroy_topics(c.slug, c.parent_category&.slug)
+      @io.puts destroy_topics(c.slug, c.parent_category&.slug)
     end
-    log
   end
 
-  def self.destroy_private_messages
+  def destroy_private_messages
     pms = Topic.where(archetype: "private_message")
     current_user = User.find(-1) #system
-    log = []
     pms.each do |pm|
-      log << "Destroying #{pm.slug} pm"
+      @io.puts "Destroying #{pm.slug} pm"
       first_post = pm.ordered_posts.first
-      log << PostDestroyer.new(current_user, first_post).destroy
+      @io.puts PostDestroyer.new(current_user, first_post).destroy
     end
-    log
   end
 
-  def self.destroy_groups
+  def destroy_category(category_id, destroy_system_topics = false)
+    c = Category.find_by_id(category_id)
+    return @io.puts "A category with the id: #{category_id} could not be found" if c.nil?
+    subcategories = Category.where(parent_category_id: c.id).pluck(:id)
+    @io.puts "There are #{subcategories.count} subcategories to delete" if subcategories
+    subcategories.each do |subcategory_id|
+      s = Category.find_by_id(subcategory_id)
+      category_topic_destroyer(s, destroy_system_topics)
+    end
+    category_topic_destroyer(c, destroy_system_topics)
+  end
+
+  def destroy_groups
     groups = Group.where(automatic: false)
-    log = []
     groups.each do |group|
-      log << "destroying group: #{group.id}"
-      log << group.destroy
+      @io.puts "destroying group: #{group.id}"
+      @io.puts group.destroy
     end
-    log
   end
 
-  def self.destroy_users
-    log = []
+  def destroy_users
     users = User.where(admin: false, id: 1..Float::INFINITY)
-    log << "There are #{users.count} users to delete"
+    @io.puts "There are #{users.count} users to delete"
     options = {}
     options[:delete_posts] = true
     current_user = User.find(-1) #system
     users.each do |user|
       begin
         if UserDestroyer.new(current_user).destroy(user, options)
-          log << "#{user.username} deleted"
+          @io.puts "#{user.username} deleted"
         else
-          log << "#{user.username} not deleted"
+          @io.puts "#{user.username} not deleted"
         end
       rescue UserDestroyer::PostsExistError
         raise Discourse::InvalidAccess.new("User #{user.username} has #{user.post_count} posts, so can't be deleted.")
       rescue NoMethodError
-        log << "#{user.username} could not be deleted"
+        @io.puts "#{user.username} could not be deleted"
       end
     end
-    log
   end
 
-  def self.destroy_stats
+  def destroy_stats
     ApplicationRequest.destroy_all
     IncomingLink.destroy_all
     UserVisit.destroy_all
@@ -90,4 +117,13 @@ class DestroyTask
     PostAction.unscoped.destroy_all
     EmailLog.destroy_all
   end
+
+  private
+
+  def category_topic_destroyer(category, destroy_system_topics = false)
+    destroy_topics_log = destroy_topics_in_category(category.id, destroy_system_topics)
+    @io.puts "Destroying #{category.slug} category"
+    category.destroy
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/lib/tasks/categories.rake b/lib/tasks/categories.rake
index 97341f59b8b..b2c9ab2c9f0 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/categories.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/categories.rake
@@ -36,3 +36,11 @@ end
 def print_status(current, max)
   print "\r%9d / %d (%5.1f%%)" % [current, max, ((current.to_f / max.to_f) * 100).round(1)]
 end
+
+desc "Output a list of categories"
+task "categories:list" => :environment do
+  categories = Category.pluck(:id, :slug, :parent_category_id)
+  categories.each do |c|
+    puts "id: #{c[0]}, slug: #{c[1]}, parent: #{c[2]}"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/tasks/destroy.rake b/lib/tasks/destroy.rake
index 767f14370c9..dd99bf52deb 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/destroy.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/destroy.rake
@@ -1,43 +1,60 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 ## These tasks are destructive and are for clearing out all the
-#   content and users from your site, but keeping your site settings,
-#   theme, and category structure.
+#   content and users from your site.
 desc "Remove all topics in a category"
 task "destroy:topics", [:category, :parent_category] => :environment do |t, args|
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   category = args[:category]
   parent_category = args[:parent_category]
   descriptive_slug = parent_category ? "#{parent_category}/#{category}" : category
   puts "Going to delete all topics in the #{descriptive_slug} category"
-  puts log = DestroyTask.destroy_topics(category, parent_category)
+  destroy_task.destroy_topics(category, parent_category)
 end
 
 desc "Remove all topics in all categories"
 task "destroy:topics_all_categories" => :environment do
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   puts "Going to delete all topics in all categories..."
-  puts log = DestroyTask.destroy_topics_all_categories
+  puts log = destroy_task.destroy_topics_all_categories
 end
 
 desc "Remove all private messages"
 task "destroy:private_messages" => :environment do
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   puts "Going to delete all private messages..."
-  puts log = DestroyTask.destroy_private_messages
+  puts log = destroy_task.destroy_private_messages
 end
 
 desc "Destroy all groups"
 task "destroy:groups" => :environment do
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   puts "Going to delete all non-default groups..."
-  puts log = DestroyTask.destroy_groups
+  puts log = destroy_task.destroy_groups
 end
 
 desc "Destroy all non-admin users"
 task "destroy:users" => :environment do
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   puts "Going to delete all non-admin users..."
-  puts log = DestroyTask.destroy_users
+  puts log = destroy_task.destroy_users
 end
 
 desc "Destroy site stats"
 task "destroy:stats" => :environment do
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
   puts "Going to delete all site stats..."
-  DestroyTask.destroy_stats
+  destroy_task.destroy_stats
+end
+
+# Example: rake destroy:categories[28,29,44,85]
+# Run rake categories:list for a list of category ids
+desc "Destroy a comma separated list of category ids."
+task "destroy:categories" => :environment do |t, args|
+  destroy_task = DestroyTask.new
+  categories = args.extras
+  puts "Going to delete these categories: #{categories}"
+  categories.each do |id|
+    destroy_task.destroy_category(id, true)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/services/destroy_task_spec.rb b/spec/services/destroy_task_spec.rb
index e33276710b1..9d81aa2c46f 100644
--- a/spec/services/destroy_task_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/destroy_task_spec.rb
@@ -11,37 +11,68 @@ describe DestroyTask do
     fab!(:c2) { Fabricate(:category) }
     fab!(:t2) { Fabricate(:topic, category: c2) }
     let!(:p2) { Fabricate(:post, topic: t2) }
-    fab!(:sc) { Fabricate(:category, parent_category: c) }
+    fab!(:sc) { Fabricate(:category, parent_category: c2) }
     fab!(:t3) { Fabricate(:topic, category: sc) }
     let!(:p3) { Fabricate(:post, topic: t3) }
 
     it 'destroys all topics in a category' do
-      expect { DestroyTask.destroy_topics(c.slug) }
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      expect { destroy_task.destroy_topics(c.slug) }
         .to change { Topic.where(category_id: c.id).count }.by (-1)
     end
 
     it 'destroys all topics in a sub category' do
-      expect { DestroyTask.destroy_topics(sc.slug, c.slug) }
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      expect { destroy_task.destroy_topics(sc.slug, c2.slug) }
         .to change { Topic.where(category_id: sc.id).count }.by(-1)
     end
 
     it "doesn't destroy system topics" do
-      DestroyTask.destroy_topics(c2.slug)
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_topics(c2.slug)
       expect(Topic.where(category_id: c2.id).count).to eq 1
     end
 
     it 'destroys topics in all categories' do
-      DestroyTask.destroy_topics_all_categories
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_topics_all_categories
       expect(Post.where(topic_id: [t.id, t2.id, t3.id]).count).to eq 0
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'destroy categories' do
+    fab!(:c) { Fabricate(:category) }
+    fab!(:t) { Fabricate(:topic, category: c) }
+    let!(:p) { Fabricate(:post, topic: t) }
+    fab!(:c2) { Fabricate(:category) }
+    fab!(:t2) { Fabricate(:topic, category: c) }
+    let!(:p2) { Fabricate(:post, topic: t2) }
+    fab!(:sc) { Fabricate(:category, parent_category: c2) }
+    fab!(:t3) { Fabricate(:topic, category: sc) }
+    let!(:p3) { Fabricate(:post, topic: t3) }
+
+    it 'destroys specified category' do
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+
+      expect { destroy_task.destroy_category(c.id) }
+        .to change { Category.where(id: c.id).count }.by (-1)
+    end
+
+    it 'destroys sub-categories when destroying parent category' do
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+
+      expect { destroy_task.destroy_category(c2.id) }
+        .to change { Category.where(id: sc.id).count }.by (-1)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe 'private messages' do
     let!(:pm) { Fabricate(:private_message_post) }
     let!(:pm2) { Fabricate(:private_message_post) }
 
     it 'destroys all private messages' do
-      DestroyTask.destroy_private_messages
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_private_messages
       expect(Topic.where(archetype: "private_message").count).to eq 0
     end
   end
@@ -51,13 +82,15 @@ describe DestroyTask do
     let!(:g2) { Fabricate(:group) }
 
     it 'destroys all groups' do
-      DestroyTask.destroy_groups
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_groups
       expect(Group.where(automatic: false).count).to eq 0
     end
 
     it "doesn't destroy default groups" do
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
       before_count = Group.count
-      DestroyTask.destroy_groups
+      destroy_task.destroy_groups
       expect(Group.count).to eq before_count - 2
     end
   end
@@ -70,7 +103,8 @@ describe DestroyTask do
       Fabricate(:user)
       Fabricate(:admin)
 
-      DestroyTask.destroy_users
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_users
       expect(User.where(admin: false).count).to eq 0
       # admin does not get detroyed
       expect(User.count).to eq before_count + 1
@@ -79,7 +113,8 @@ describe DestroyTask do
 
   describe 'stats' do
     it 'destroys all site stats' do
-      DestroyTask.destroy_stats
+      destroy_task = DestroyTask.new(StringIO.new)
+      destroy_task.destroy_stats
     end
   end
 end