what tool do I use? I searched the forums for "wipe, wipe tool, wiping tool, clearing tool" but cannot find it. Thanks

Options, Security Options, General settings, menu, Wipe Handheld

Ooops

Options > Security Options > General Settings > click menu button > Wipe Handheld

does that clear programs installed as well? thanks

No, just data.
You'd have to manually delete installed applications if you want to remove those also.

Options > Advanced Options > Applications > highlight application > menu > Delete

searching for "wipe, wipe tool, wiping tool, clearing tool" would not bring any results as that is way to broad a search with all those words. I doubt any post contains ALL those words. Using one or two would bring multitudes of results.

Also, check here on wiping:
Main Page - BlackBerryFAQ

To wipe everthing:
How do I wipe the BlackBerry using Jl Cmder? - BlackBerryFAQ

lol, the commas meant different searches. I didn't search for all of those at once lol!