diff --git a/deluge/common.py b/deluge/common.py
index 048d48142..b8f7ff528 100644
--- a/deluge/common.py
+++ b/deluge/common.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def show_file(path, timestamp=None):
             timestamp = int(time.time())
         startup_id = '%s_%u_%s-dbus_TIME%d' % (os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]), os.getpid(), os.uname()[1], timestamp)
         if DBUS_FILEMAN:
-            paths = [urlparse.urljoin('file:', urllib.pathname2url(utf8_encoded(path)))]
+            paths = [urlparse.urljoin('file:', urllib.pathname2url(path))]
             DBUS_FILEMAN.ShowItems(paths, startup_id, dbus_interface='org.freedesktop.FileManager1')
         else:
             env = os.environ.copy()
@@ -518,12 +518,16 @@ def parse_human_size(size):
         if len(tokens) == 1:
             return int(tokens[0])
         # Otherwise we expect to find two tokens: A number and a unit.
-        if len(tokens) == 2 and isinstance(tokens[1], basestring):
-            normalized_unit = tokens[1].lower()
-            # Try to match the first letter of the unit.
-            for unit in size_units:
-                if normalized_unit.startswith(unit['prefix'].lower()):
-                    return int(tokens[0] * unit['divider'])
+        if len(tokens) == 2:
+            try:
+                normalized_unit = tokens[1].lower()
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+            else:
+                # Try to match the first letter of the unit.
+                for unit in size_units:
+                    if normalized_unit.startswith(unit['prefix'].lower()):
+                        return int(tokens[0] * unit['divider'])
     # We failed to parse the size specification.
     msg = 'Failed to parse size! (input %r was tokenized as %r)'
     raise InvalidSize(msg % (size, tokens))
@@ -801,7 +805,7 @@ def decode_bytes(byte_str, encoding='utf8'):
     """
     if not byte_str:
         return ''
-    elif isinstance(byte_str, unicode):
+    elif not isinstance(byte_str, bytes):
         return byte_str
 
     encodings = [lambda: ('utf8', 'strict'),
@@ -820,25 +824,6 @@ def decode_bytes(byte_str, encoding='utf8'):
     return ''
 
 
-def utf8_encoded(s, encoding='utf8'):
-    """
-    Returns a utf8 encoded string of s
-
-    :param s: (unicode) string to (re-)encode
-    :type s: basestring
-    :param encoding: the encoding to use in the decoding
-    :type encoding: string
-    :returns: a utf8 encoded string of s
-    :rtype: str
-
-    """
-    if isinstance(s, str):
-        s = decode_bytes(s, encoding).encode('utf8')
-    elif isinstance(s, unicode):
-        s = s.encode('utf8')
-    return s
-
-
 def utf8_encode_structure(data):
     """Recursively convert all unicode keys and values in a data structure to utf8.
 
@@ -851,14 +836,16 @@ def utf8_encode_structure(data):
         input type: The data with unicode keys and values converted to utf8.
 
     """
-    if isinstance(data, unicode):
-        return data.encode('utf8')
-    elif isinstance(data, (list, tuple)):
+    if isinstance(data, (list, tuple)):
         return type(data)(map(utf8_encode_structure, data))
     elif isinstance(data, dict):
         return dict(map(utf8_encode_structure, data.items()))
-    else:
-        return data
+    elif not isinstance(data, bytes):
+        try:
+            return data.encode('utf8')
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+    return data
 
 
 @functools.total_ordering
@@ -993,7 +980,11 @@ def set_env_variable(name, value):
     http://sourceforge.net/p/gramps/code/HEAD/tree/branches/maintenance/gramps32/src/TransUtils.py
     '''
     # Update Python's copy of the environment variables
-    os.environ[name] = value
+    try:
+        os.environ[name] = value
+    except UnicodeEncodeError:
+        # Python 2
+        os.environ[name] = value.encode('utf8')
 
     if windows_check():
         from ctypes import windll
diff --git a/deluge/component.py b/deluge/component.py
index 274c86df9..476311410 100644
--- a/deluge/component.py
+++ b/deluge/component.py
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class ComponentRegistry(object):
         # Start all the components if names is empty
         if not names:
             names = self.components.keys()
-        elif isinstance(names, basestring):
+        elif not isinstance(names, (list, tuple)):
             names = [names]
 
         def on_depends_started(result, name):
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ class ComponentRegistry(object):
         """
         if not names:
             names = self.components.keys()
-        elif isinstance(names, basestring):
+        elif not isinstance(names, (list, tuple)):
             names = [names]
 
         def on_dependents_stopped(result, name):
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ class ComponentRegistry(object):
         """
         if not names:
             names = self.components.keys()
-        elif isinstance(names, basestring):
+        elif not isinstance(names, (list, tuple)):
             names = [names]
 
         deferreds = []
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ class ComponentRegistry(object):
         """
         if not names:
             names = self.components.keys()
-        elif isinstance(names, basestring):
+        elif not isinstance(names, (list, tuple)):
             names = [names]
 
         deferreds = []
diff --git a/deluge/config.py b/deluge/config.py
index a5bfa01c0..ae867989a 100644
--- a/deluge/config.py
+++ b/deluge/config.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 import shutil
 
-from deluge.common import decode_bytes, get_default_config_dir, utf8_encoded
+from deluge.common import get_default_config_dir
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 callLater = None  # Necessary for the config tests
@@ -172,8 +172,10 @@ class Config(object):
             5
 
         """
-        if isinstance(value, basestring):
-            value = utf8_encoded(value)
+        try:
+            value = value.encode('utf8')
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
 
         if key not in self.__config:
             self.__config[key] = value
@@ -188,10 +190,7 @@ class Config(object):
                 self.__config[key], type(None)) and not isinstance(self.__config[key], type(value)):
             try:
                 oldtype = type(self.__config[key])
-                if isinstance(self.__config[key], unicode):
-                    value = oldtype(value, 'utf8')
-                else:
-                    value = oldtype(value)
+                value = oldtype(value)
             except ValueError:
                 log.warning('Value Type "%s" invalid for key: %s', type(value), key)
                 raise
@@ -244,9 +243,9 @@ class Config(object):
             5
 
         """
-        if isinstance(self.__config[key], basestring):
-            return decode_bytes(self.__config[key])
-        else:
+        try:
+            return self.__config[key].decode('utf8')
+        except AttributeError:
             return self.__config[key]
 
     def get(self, key, default=None):
diff --git a/deluge/core/core.py b/deluge/core/core.py
index f0d2eb523..52cacafdf 100644
--- a/deluge/core/core.py
+++ b/deluge/core/core.py
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ class Core(component.Component):
         if 'owner' in options and not self.core.authmanager.has_account(options['owner']):
             raise DelugeError('Username "%s" is not known.' % options['owner'])
 
-        if isinstance(torrent_ids, basestring):
+        if not isinstance(torrent_ids, (list, tuple)):
             torrent_ids = [torrent_ids]
 
         for torrent_id in torrent_ids:
diff --git a/deluge/core/filtermanager.py b/deluge/core/filtermanager.py
index e5c7b936d..7919b0c5e 100644
--- a/deluge/core/filtermanager.py
+++ b/deluge/core/filtermanager.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class FilterManager(component.Component):
 
         # Sanitize input: filter-value must be a list of strings
         for key, value in filter_dict.items():
-            if isinstance(value, basestring):
+            if not isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
                 filter_dict[key] = [value]
 
         # Optimized filter for id
diff --git a/deluge/core/torrent.py b/deluge/core/torrent.py
index f4b9261fe..66250317e 100644
--- a/deluge/core/torrent.py
+++ b/deluge/core/torrent.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from twisted.internet.defer import Deferred, DeferredList
 
 import deluge.component as component
 from deluge._libtorrent import lt
-from deluge.common import decode_bytes, utf8_encoded
+from deluge.common import decode_bytes
 from deluge.configmanager import ConfigManager, get_config_dir
 from deluge.core.authmanager import AUTH_LEVEL_ADMIN
 from deluge.decorators import deprecated
@@ -1126,12 +1126,12 @@ class Torrent(object):
                 return False
 
         try:
-            # libtorrent needs unicode object if wstrings are enabled, utf8 bytestring otherwise
+            # lt needs utf8 byte-string. Otherwise if wstrings enabled, unicode string.
             # Keyword argument flags=2 (dont_replace) dont overwrite target files but delete source.
             try:
-                self.handle.move_storage(dest, flags=2)
+                self.handle.move_storage(dest.encode('utf8'), flags=2)
             except TypeError:
-                self.handle.move_storage(utf8_encoded(dest), flags=2)
+                self.handle.move_storage(dest, flags=2)
         except RuntimeError as ex:
             log.error('Error calling libtorrent move_storage: %s', ex)
             return False
@@ -1252,13 +1252,13 @@ class Torrent(object):
             filenames (list): A list of (index, filename) pairs.
         """
         for index, filename in filenames:
-            # Make sure filename is a unicode object
+            # Make sure filename is a sanitized unicode string.
             filename = sanitize_filepath(decode_bytes(filename))
-            # libtorrent needs unicode object if wstrings are enabled, utf8 bytestring otherwise
+            # lt needs utf8 byte-string. Otherwise if wstrings enabled, unicode string.
             try:
-                self.handle.rename_file(index, filename)
+                self.handle.rename_file(index, filename.encode('utf8'))
             except TypeError:
-                self.handle.rename_file(index, utf8_encoded(filename))
+                self.handle.rename_file(index, filename)
 
     def rename_folder(self, folder, new_folder):
         """Renames a folder within a torrent.
@@ -1292,9 +1292,9 @@ class Torrent(object):
                 )
                 new_path = _file['path'].replace(folder, new_folder, 1)
                 try:
-                    self.handle.rename_file(_file['index'], new_path)
+                    self.handle.rename_file(_file['index'], new_path.encode('utf8'))
                 except TypeError:
-                    self.handle.rename_file(_file['index'], utf8_encoded(new_path))
+                    self.handle.rename_file(_file['index'], new_path)
 
         def on_folder_rename_complete(dummy_result, torrent, folder, new_folder):
             """Folder rename complete"""
diff --git a/deluge/core/torrentmanager.py b/deluge/core/torrentmanager.py
index 81d075117..2233bc4d6 100644
--- a/deluge/core/torrentmanager.py
+++ b/deluge/core/torrentmanager.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from twisted.internet.task import LoopingCall
 
 import deluge.component as component
 from deluge._libtorrent import lt
-from deluge.common import decode_bytes, get_magnet_info, utf8_encoded
+from deluge.common import decode_bytes, get_magnet_info
 from deluge.configmanager import ConfigManager, get_config_dir
 from deluge.core.authmanager import AUTH_LEVEL_ADMIN
 from deluge.core.torrent import Torrent, TorrentOptions, sanitize_filepath
@@ -332,10 +332,9 @@ class TorrentManager(component.Component):
             add_torrent_params['name'] = name
             torrent_id = str(torrent_info.info_hash())
         elif magnet:
-            magnet = utf8_encoded(magnet)
             magnet_info = get_magnet_info(magnet)
             if magnet_info:
-                add_torrent_params['url'] = magnet
+                add_torrent_params['url'] = magnet.encode('utf8')
                 add_torrent_params['name'] = magnet_info['name']
                 torrent_id = magnet_info['info_hash']
             else:
@@ -362,9 +361,9 @@ class TorrentManager(component.Component):
                 if log.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
                     log.debug('renaming file index %s to %s', index, fname)
                 try:
-                    torrent_info.rename_file(index, fname)
+                    torrent_info.rename_file(index, fname.encode('utf8'))
                 except TypeError:
-                    torrent_info.rename_file(index, utf8_encoded(fname))
+                    torrent_info.rename_file(index, fname)
             add_torrent_params['ti'] = torrent_info
 
         if not options['owner']:
@@ -376,7 +375,7 @@ class TorrentManager(component.Component):
             log.debug('options: %s', options)
 
         # Fill in the rest of the add_torrent_params dictionary.
-        add_torrent_params['save_path'] = utf8_encoded(options['download_location'])
+        add_torrent_params['save_path'] = options['download_location'].encode('utf8')
         if options['name']:
             add_torrent_params['name'] = options['name']
         if options['pre_allocate_storage']:
diff --git a/deluge/metafile.py b/deluge/metafile.py
index 412e62788..1362d5b37 100644
--- a/deluge/metafile.py
+++ b/deluge/metafile.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ from __future__ import division, unicode_literals
 
 import logging
 import os.path
-import sys
 import time
 from hashlib import sha1 as sha
 
@@ -40,22 +39,6 @@ def gmtime():
     return time.mktime(time.gmtime())
 
 
-def get_filesystem_encoding():
-    return sys.getfilesystemencoding()
-
-
-def decode_from_filesystem(path):
-    encoding = get_filesystem_encoding()
-    if encoding is None:
-        assert isinstance(path, unicode), 'Path should be unicode not %s' % type(path)
-        decoded_path = path
-    else:
-        assert isinstance(path, str), 'Path should be str not %s' % type(path)
-        decoded_path = path.decode(encoding)
-
-    return decoded_path
-
-
 def dummy(*v):
     pass
 
@@ -140,23 +123,6 @@ def calcsize(path):
 
 def makeinfo(path, piece_length, progress, name=None, content_type=None, private=False):
     # HEREDAVE. If path is directory, how do we assign content type?
-    def to_utf8(name):
-        if isinstance(name, unicode):
-            u = name
-        else:
-            try:
-                u = decode_from_filesystem(name)
-            except Exception:
-                raise Exception('Could not convert file/directory name %r to '
-                                'Unicode. Either the assumed filesystem '
-                                'encoding "%s" is wrong or the filename contains '
-                                'illegal bytes.' % (name, get_filesystem_encoding()))
-
-        if u.translate(noncharacter_translate) != u:
-            raise Exception('File/directory name "%s" contains reserved '
-                            'unicode values that do not correspond to '
-                            'characters.' % name)
-        return u.encode('utf-8')
     path = os.path.abspath(path)
     piece_count = 0
     if os.path.isdir(path):
@@ -178,7 +144,7 @@ def makeinfo(path, piece_length, progress, name=None, content_type=None, private
         for p, f in subs:
             pos = 0
             size = os.path.getsize(f)
-            p2 = [to_utf8(n) for n in p]
+            p2 = [n.encode('utf8') for n in p]
             if content_type:
                 fs.append({'length': size, 'path': p2,
                            'content_type': content_type})  # HEREDAVE. bad for batch!
@@ -204,16 +170,13 @@ def makeinfo(path, piece_length, progress, name=None, content_type=None, private
             piece_count += 1
             progress(piece_count, num_pieces)
 
-        if name is not None:
-            assert isinstance(name, unicode)
-            name = to_utf8(name)
-        else:
-            name = to_utf8(os.path.split(path)[1])
+        if not name:
+            name = os.path.split(path)[1]
 
         return {'pieces': ''.join(pieces),
                 'piece length': piece_length,
                 'files': fs,
-                'name': name,
+                'name': name.encode('utf8'),
                 'private': private}
     else:
         size = os.path.getsize(path)
@@ -234,15 +197,16 @@ def makeinfo(path, piece_length, progress, name=None, content_type=None, private
                 p = size
             progress(piece_count, num_pieces)
         h.close()
+        name = os.path.split(path)[1].encode('utf8')
         if content_type is not None:
             return {'pieces': ''.join(pieces),
                     'piece length': piece_length, 'length': size,
-                    'name': to_utf8(os.path.split(path)[1]),
+                    'name': name,
                     'content_type': content_type,
                     'private': private}
         return {'pieces': ''.join(pieces),
                 'piece length': piece_length, 'length': size,
-                'name': to_utf8(os.path.split(path)[1]),
+                'name': name,
                 'private': private}
 
 
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/core.py b/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/core.py
index 9bfbbb46b..19fa0f2a2 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/core.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/core.py
@@ -394,8 +394,8 @@ class Core(CorePluginBase):
     def _make_unicode(self, options):
         opts = {}
         for key in options:
-            if isinstance(options[key], str):
-                options[key] = unicode(options[key], 'utf8')
+            if isinstance(options[key], bytes):
+                options[key] = options[key].decode('utf8')
             opts[key] = options[key]
         return opts
 
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
index 05c45a933..5e0a4989f 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
@@ -145,17 +145,17 @@ class IP(object):
 #        return IP(q1, q2, q3, q4)
 
     def __lt__(self, other):
-        if isinstance(other, basestring):
+        if isinstance(other, ''.__class__):
             other = IP.parse(other)
         return self.long < other.long
 
     def __gt__(self, other):
-        if isinstance(other, basestring):
+        if isinstance(other, ''.__class__):
             other = IP.parse(other)
         return self.long > other.long
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        if isinstance(other, basestring):
+        if isinstance(other, ''.__class__):
             other = IP.parse(other)
         return self.long == other.long
 
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/core.py b/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/core.py
index 886920d56..5d8ed1591 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/core.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/core.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import time
 from twisted.internet.utils import getProcessOutputAndValue
 
 import deluge.component as component
-from deluge.common import utf8_encoded, windows_check
+from deluge.common import windows_check
 from deluge.configmanager import ConfigManager
 from deluge.core.rpcserver import export
 from deluge.event import DelugeEvent
@@ -85,8 +85,7 @@ class Core(CorePluginBase):
         # Get and store the torrent info before it is removed
         torrent = component.get('TorrentManager').torrents[torrent_id]
         info = torrent.get_status(['name', 'download_location'])
-        self.preremoved_cache[torrent_id] = [utf8_encoded(torrent_id), utf8_encoded(info['name']),
-                                             utf8_encoded(info['download_location'])]
+        self.preremoved_cache[torrent_id] = [torrent_id, info['name'], info['download_location']]
 
     def execute_commands(self, torrent_id, event, *arg):
         if event == 'added' and arg[0]:
@@ -99,9 +98,8 @@ class Core(CorePluginBase):
             info = torrent.get_status(['name', 'download_location'])
             # Grab the torrent name and download location
             # getProcessOutputAndValue requires args to be str
-            torrent_id = utf8_encoded(torrent_id)
-            torrent_name = utf8_encoded(info['name'])
-            download_location = utf8_encoded(info['download_location'])
+            torrent_name = info['name']
+            download_location = info['download_location']
 
         log.debug('Running commands for %s', event)
 
@@ -120,7 +118,8 @@ class Core(CorePluginBase):
                 command = os.path.expandvars(command[EXECUTE_COMMAND])
                 command = os.path.expanduser(command)
 
-                cmd_args = [torrent_id, torrent_name, download_location]
+                cmd_args = [torrent_id.encode('utf8'), torrent_name.encode('utf8'),
+                            download_location.encode('utf8')]
                 if windows_check():
                     # Escape ampersand on windows (see #2784)
                     cmd_args = [cmd_arg.replace('&', '^^^&') for cmd_arg in cmd_args]
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/gtkui.py b/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/gtkui.py
index 829bdbd48..7ff0a725b 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/gtkui.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/gtkui.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class GtkUiNotifications(CustomNotifications):
                              'handler was: %s' % result)
 
     def handle_custom_sound_notification(self, result, eventtype):
-        if isinstance(result, basestring):
+        if isinstance(result, ''.__class__):
             if not result and eventtype in self.config['custom_sounds']:
                 return defer.maybeDeferred(
                     self.__play_sound, self.config['custom_sounds'][eventtype])
diff --git a/deluge/tests/test_config.py b/deluge/tests/test_config.py
index 78bfd20b7..6445b305a 100644
--- a/deluge/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/deluge/tests/test_config.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class ConfigTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(config['unicode'], 'ВИДЕОФИЛЬМЫ')
 
         config['unicode'] = b'foostring'
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(config.get_item('unicode'), unicode))
+        self.assertFalse(isinstance(config.get_item('unicode'), bytes))
 
         config._save_timer.cancel()
 
diff --git a/deluge/tests/test_plugin_metadata.py b/deluge/tests/test_plugin_metadata.py
index dafa9d635..63bbb9ab5 100644
--- a/deluge/tests/test_plugin_metadata.py
+++ b/deluge/tests/test_plugin_metadata.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class PluginManagerBaseTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         pm = PluginManagerBase('core.conf', 'deluge.plugin.core')
         for p in pm.get_available_plugins():
             for key, value in pm.get_plugin_info(p).items():
-                self.assertTrue(isinstance('%s: %s' % (key, value), basestring))
+                self.assertTrue(isinstance('%s: %s' % (key, value), ''.__class__))
 
     def test_get_plugin_info_invalid_name(self):
         pm = PluginManagerBase('core.conf', 'deluge.plugin.core')
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/cmdline/commands/info.py b/deluge/ui/console/cmdline/commands/info.py
index 84838713f..fc80d1aba 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/cmdline/commands/info.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/cmdline/commands/info.py
@@ -212,9 +212,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             def tlen(string):
                 return strwidth(format_utils.remove_formatting(string))
 
-            if not isinstance(col_filename, unicode):
-                col_filename = unicode(col_filename, 'utf-8')
-
             col_all_info = col_size + col_progress + col_priority
             # Check how much space we've got left after writing all the info
             space_left = cols - tlen(col_all_info)
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/main.py b/deluge/ui/console/main.py
index cce63d662..7b7904c0a 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/main.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/main.py
@@ -371,8 +371,7 @@ Please use commands from the command line, e.g.:\n
             no matches are found.
 
         """
-        if not isinstance(string, unicode):
-            string = unicode(string, self.encoding)
+        deluge.common.decode_bytes(string, self.encoding)
 
         if string == '*' or string == '':
             return [tid for tid, name in self.torrents]
@@ -387,8 +386,7 @@ Please use commands from the command line, e.g.:\n
 
         matches = []
         for tid, name in self.torrents:
-            if not isinstance(name, unicode):
-                name = unicode(name, self.encoding)
+            deluge.common.decode_bytes(name, self.encoding)
             if getattr(tid, match_func, None)(string) or getattr(name, match_func, None)(string):
                 matches.append(tid)
         return matches
@@ -423,7 +421,7 @@ Please use commands from the command line, e.g.:\n
                 component.get('CmdLine').add_line(s, False)
                 self.events.append(s)
         else:
-            print(colors.strip_colors(deluge.common.utf8_encoded(s)))
+            print(colors.strip_colors(s.encode('utf8')))
 
     def write_event(self, s):
         if self.interactive:
@@ -434,7 +432,7 @@ Please use commands from the command line, e.g.:\n
                 component.get('CmdLine').add_line(s, False)
                 self.events.append(s)
         else:
-            print(colors.strip_colors(deluge.common.utf8_encoded(s)))
+            print(colors.strip_colors(s.encode('utf8')))
 
     def _migrate_config_1_to_2(self, config):
         """Create better structure by moving most settings out of dict root
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/modes/cmdline.py b/deluge/ui/console/modes/cmdline.py
index 0eb134e6c..287791a52 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/modes/cmdline.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/modes/cmdline.py
@@ -417,10 +417,7 @@ class CmdLine(BaseMode, Commander):
 
             # Write the line
             with open(self.history_file[active_file], 'a', encoding='utf8') as _file:
-                if isinstance(text, unicode):
-                    text = text.encode(self.encoding)
-                _file.write(text)
-                _file.write(os.linesep)
+                _file.write(text + '\n')
 
             # And increment line counter
             self._hf_lines[active_file] += 1
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentactions.py b/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentactions.py
index d855aaa95..404d2c27d 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentactions.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentactions.py
@@ -131,17 +131,14 @@ def action_torrent_info(mode=None, torrent_ids=None, **kwargs):
         for field in torrent_options:
             caption = '{!info!}' + TORRENT_DATA_FIELD[field]['name']
             value = options[field]
-            field_type = type(value)
-            if field_type in [str, unicode]:
-                if not isinstance(value, basestring):
-                    value = str(value)
+            if isinstance(value, ''.__class__):
                 option_popup.add_text_input(field, caption, value)
-            elif field_type == bool:
-                choices = (['Yes', 'No'], [True, False], [True, False].index(options[field]))
+            elif isinstance(value, bool):
+                choices = (['Yes', 'No'], [True, False], [True, False].index(value))
                 option_popup.add_select_input(field, caption, choices[0], choices[1], choices[2])
-            elif field_type == float:
+            elif isinstance(value, float):
                 option_popup.add_float_spin_input(field, caption, value=value, min_val=-1)
-            elif field_type == int:
+            elif isinstance(value, int):
                 option_popup.add_int_spin_input(field, caption, value=value, min_val=-1)
 
         mode.push_popup(option_popup)
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentview.py b/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentview.py
index 98b18f1ec..6ef1d7e83 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentview.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/modes/torrentlist/torrentview.py
@@ -237,18 +237,15 @@ class TorrentView(InputKeyHandler):
             # and if it's a string
             first_element = state[state.keys()[0]]
             if field in first_element:
-                is_string = isinstance(first_element[field], basestring)
-
                 def sort_key(s):
-                    return state.get(s)[field]
+                    try:
+                        # Sort case-insensitively but preserve A>a order.
+                        return state.get(s)[field].lower()
+                    except AttributeError:
+                        # Not a string.
+                        return state.get(s)[field]
 
-                def sort_key2(s):
-                    return state.get(s)[field].lower()
-
-                # If it's a string, sort case-insensitively but preserve A>a order
                 to_sort = sorted(to_sort, _queue_sort, sort_key, reverse)
-                if is_string:
-                    to_sort = sorted(to_sort, _queue_sort, sort_key2, reverse)
 
             if field == 'eta':
                 to_sort = sorted(to_sort, key=lambda s: state.get(s)['eta'] == 0)
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/utils/colors.py b/deluge/ui/console/utils/colors.py
index 50ec6d40c..17119e71a 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/utils/colors.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/utils/colors.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def strip_colors(line):
     return line
 
 
-def get_line_length(line, encoding='UTF-8'):
+def get_line_length(line):
     """
     Returns the string length without the color formatting.
 
@@ -139,9 +139,6 @@ def get_line_length(line, encoding='UTF-8'):
     if line.count('{!') != line.count('!}'):
         raise BadColorString('Number of {! is not equal to number of !}')
 
-    if isinstance(line, unicode):
-        line = line.encode(encoding, 'replace')
-
     # Remove all the color tags
     line = strip_colors(line)
 
@@ -150,7 +147,7 @@ def get_line_length(line, encoding='UTF-8'):
     return len(line)
 
 
-def get_line_width(line, encoding='UTF-8'):
+def get_line_width(line):
     """
     Get width of string considering double width characters
 
@@ -158,9 +155,6 @@ def get_line_width(line, encoding='UTF-8'):
     if line.count('{!') != line.count('!}'):
         raise BadColorString('Number of {! is not equal to number of !}')
 
-    if isinstance(line, unicode):
-        line = line.encode(encoding, 'replace')
-
     # Remove all the color tags
     line = strip_colors(line)
 
@@ -180,9 +174,6 @@ def parse_color_string(s, encoding='UTF-8'):
     if s.count('{!') != s.count('!}'):
         raise BadColorString('Number of {! is not equal to number of !}')
 
-    if isinstance(s, unicode):
-        s = s.encode(encoding, 'replace')
-
     ret = []
     last_color_attr = None
     # Keep track of where the strings
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/utils/format_utils.py b/deluge/ui/console/utils/format_utils.py
index f259061d6..ac7fc2539 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/utils/format_utils.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/utils/format_utils.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import re
 from collections import deque
-from unicodedata import normalize as ud_normalize
-from unicodedata import east_asian_width
+from unicodedata import east_asian_width, normalize
 
 import deluge.common
 from deluge.ui.common import FILE_PRIORITY
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ def trim_string(string, w, have_dbls):
         idx = 0
         while width < w:
             chrs.append(string[idx])
-            if east_asian_width(string[idx]) in ['W', 'F']:
+            if east_asian_width(string[idx]) in 'WF':
                 width += 2
             else:
                 width += 1
@@ -102,14 +101,13 @@ def trim_string(string, w, have_dbls):
 
 
 def format_column(col, lim):
-    dbls = 0
-    # Chosen over isinstance(col, unicode) and col.__class__ == unicode
-    # for speed - it's ~3 times faster for non-unicode strings and ~1.5
-    # for unicode strings.
-    if col.__class__ is unicode:
+    try:
         # might have some double width chars
-        col = ud_normalize('NFC', col)
+        col = normalize('NFC', col)
         dbls = sum(east_asian_width(c) in 'WF' for c in col)
+    except TypeError:
+        dbls = 0
+
     size = len(col) + dbls
     if size >= lim - 1:
         return trim_string(col, lim, dbls > 0)
@@ -239,8 +237,6 @@ def strwidth(string):
     """
     Measure width of a string considering asian double width characters
     """
-    if not isinstance(string, unicode):
-        string = unicode(string, 'utf-8')
     return sum([1 + (east_asian_width(char) in ['W', 'F']) for char in string])
 
 
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/widgets/inputpane.py b/deluge/ui/console/widgets/inputpane.py
index e76708f21..cf53b48ea 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/widgets/inputpane.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/widgets/inputpane.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class BaseInputPane(InputKeyHandler):
 
             if ipt.default_col != -1:
                 default_col = int(ipt.default_col)
-                if isinstance(ipt.default_col, basestring) and ipt.default_col[0] in ['+', '-']:
+                if isinstance(ipt.default_col, ''.__class__) and ipt.default_col[0] in ['+', '-']:
                     col += default_col
                     cursor_offset += default_col
                     field_width -= default_col  # Increase to col must be reflected here
diff --git a/deluge/ui/gtkui/listview.py b/deluge/ui/gtkui/listview.py
index e61162a6f..2b3f7b1e5 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/gtkui/listview.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/gtkui/listview.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import gtk
 from gobject import SIGNAL_RUN_LAST, TYPE_NONE, signal_new
 from gtk.gdk import Event  # pylint: disable=ungrouped-imports
 
+from deluge.common import decode_bytes
 from deluge.ui.gtkui.common import load_pickled_state_file, save_pickled_state_file
 
 signal_new('button-press-event', gtk.TreeViewColumn, SIGNAL_RUN_LAST, TYPE_NONE, (Event,))
@@ -320,7 +321,7 @@ class ListView(object):
         try:
             self.columns[name].column.set_visible(widget.get_active())
         except KeyError:
-            self.columns[unicode(name)].column.set_visible(widget.get_active())
+            self.columns[decode_bytes(name)].column.set_visible(widget.get_active())
         return
 
     def on_treeview_header_right_clicked(self, column, event):
diff --git a/deluge/ui/gtkui/preferences.py b/deluge/ui/gtkui/preferences.py
index ab5954cc7..2e424549c 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/gtkui/preferences.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/gtkui/preferences.py
@@ -401,20 +401,20 @@ class Preferences(component.Component):
         # Update the widgets accordingly
         for key in core_widgets:
             modifier = core_widgets[key][0]
-            if isinstance(key, basestring):
+            try:
                 widget = self.builder.get_object(key)
-            else:
+            except TypeError:
                 widget = key
 
             widget.set_sensitive(self.is_connected)
 
             if self.is_connected:
                 value = core_widgets[key][1]
-                from types import FunctionType
-                if isinstance(value, FunctionType):
-                    value = value()
-                elif isinstance(value, basestring):
+                try:
                     value = self.core_config[value]
+                except KeyError:
+                    if callable(value):
+                        value = value()
             elif modifier:
                 value = {'active': False, 'not_active': False, 'value': 0, 'text': '', 'path_chooser': ''}[modifier]
 
@@ -433,9 +433,9 @@ class Preferences(component.Component):
 
         if self.is_connected:
             for key in core_widgets:
-                if isinstance(key, basestring):
+                try:
                     widget = self.builder.get_object(key)
-                else:
+                except TypeError:
                     widget = key
                 # Update the toggle status if necessary
                 self.on_toggle(widget)
diff --git a/deluge/ui/translations_util.py b/deluge/ui/translations_util.py
index 6803d55a2..656cabd1c 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/translations_util.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/translations_util.py
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ def set_language(lang):
     :param lang: the language, e.g. "en", "de" or "en_GB"
     :type lang: str
     """
-    lang = str(lang)
     # Necessary to set these environment variables for GtkBuilder
     deluge.common.set_env_variable('LANGUAGE', lang)  # Windows/Linux
     deluge.common.set_env_variable('LANG', lang)  # For OSX
diff --git a/deluge/ui/web/auth.py b/deluge/ui/web/auth.py
index be862a11d..d5a439d42 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/web/auth.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/web/auth.py
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ from email.utils import formatdate
 
 from twisted.internet.task import LoopingCall
 
-from deluge.common import utf8_encoded
-
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -143,7 +141,7 @@ class Auth(JSONComponent):
             log.debug('Received a password via the 1.2-dev auth method')
             m = hashlib.md5()
             m.update(config['pwd_salt'])
-            m.update(utf8_encoded(password))
+            m.update(password.encode('utf8'))
             if m.hexdigest() == config['pwd_md5']:
                 # We want to move the password over to sha1 and remove
                 # the old passwords from the config file.
@@ -163,7 +161,7 @@ class Auth(JSONComponent):
             from base64 import decodestring
             m = hashlib.md5()
             m.update(decodestring(config['old_pwd_salt']))
-            m.update(utf8_encoded(password))
+            m.update(password.encode('utf8'))
             if m.digest() == decodestring(config['old_pwd_md5']):
 
                 # We want to move the password over to sha1 and remove
@@ -179,7 +177,7 @@ class Auth(JSONComponent):
             log.debug('Received a password via the 1.2 auth method')
             s = hashlib.sha1()
             s.update(config['pwd_salt'])
-            s.update(utf8_encoded(password))
+            s.update(password.encode('utf8'))
             if s.hexdigest() == config['pwd_sha1']:
                 return True
 
@@ -249,7 +247,7 @@ class Auth(JSONComponent):
         log.debug('Changing password')
         salt = hashlib.sha1(os.urandom(32)).hexdigest()
         s = hashlib.sha1(salt)
-        s.update(utf8_encoded(new_password))
+        s.update(new_password.encode('utf8'))
         self.config['pwd_salt'] = salt
         self.config['pwd_sha1'] = s.hexdigest()
         return True
diff --git a/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py b/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
index 96cf80aaf..0e66408c8 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
@@ -897,8 +897,6 @@ class WebApi(JSONComponent):
             if key in ['sessions', 'pwd_salt', 'pwd_sha1']:
                 log.warn('Ignored attempt to overwrite web config key: %s', key)
                 continue
-            if isinstance(config[key], basestring):
-                config[key] = config[key].encode('utf8')
             web_config[key] = config[key]
 
     @export