diff --git a/vim/colors/darkcloud.vim b/vim/colors/darkcloud.vim
index a542a47..624cbce 100644
--- a/vim/colors/darkcloud.vim
+++ b/vim/colors/darkcloud.vim
@@ -304,7 +304,6 @@ call s:X("MatchParen","","#303030","bold,underline","","")
 call s:X("TabLine","","#000000","","",s:termBlack)
 call s:X("TabLineFill","","#000000","","",s:termBlack)
 call s:X("TabLineSel","#000000","#d0d0d0","",s:termBlack,"White")
-call s:X("ExtraWhitespace","#262626","","standout",s:termBlack,"")
 
 "menu call
 call s:X("Pmenu","#87d7ff","#303030","","Grey","Blue")
diff --git a/vim/config/keyboard.vim b/vim/config/keyboard.vim
index fe08e78..c8106d4 100644
--- a/vim/config/keyboard.vim
+++ b/vim/config/keyboard.vim
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@
 
     "TOGGLES:{
         "bindings to trigger vimfiler
-        nnoremap <silent><expr> `` ':VimFilerExplorer -direction=botright -winwidth=45<CR>'
-        nnoremap <silent><expr> ~~ ':VimFilerExplorer -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> `` ':VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=botright -winwidth=45<CR>'
+        nnoremap <silent><expr> ~~ ':VimFiler -split -simple -toggle -no-quit -direction=topleft -winwidth=45<CR>'
 
         nnoremap <silent><expr> ?? ':h quickref<CR>'
         nnoremap <silent><expr> ?> ':exusage<CR>'
diff --git a/vim/config/settings.vim b/vim/config/settings.vim
index c78b4c2..f792d04 100644
--- a/vim/config/settings.vim
+++ b/vim/config/settings.vim
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@
             \       setlocal omnifunc=syntaxcomplete#Complete |
             \   endif
     endif
+
+    "disable the whitespace plugin for vimfiler
+    autocmd BufEnter,FileType vimfiler hi ExtraWhitespace ctermbg=NONE guibg=NONE
 "}}}
 
 "GVIM: GUI CONFIG OPTIONS {{{