Your design package directory, in
app/design/frontend/<your_package>/<your_theme>/layout
Create a file named local.xml.
Inside of local.xml, create a <default> block that will contain and consolidate
your global changes:
<?xml version=”1.0″ ?>
<layout>
<default>
<!– Your block overrides will go here –>
</default>
</layout>
Depending on what you want to turn off, local.xml might contain some of the following lines.
<default>
<remove name=”left.permanent.callout” /> <!–the dog–>
<remove name=”right.permanent.callout” /> <!–back to school–>
<remove name=”catalog.compare.sidebar” /> <!–product compare–>
<remove name=”paypal.partner.right.logo” /> <!–paypal logo–>
<remove name=”cart_sidebar” /> <!–cart sidebar–>
<remove name=”left.reports.product.viewed” /> <!–recently viewed prod–>
<remove name=”right.reports.product.viewed” /> <!–recently viewed prod–>
<remove name=”right.reports.product.compared” /> <!–
recently compared prod–>
</default>