diff --git a/src/db.rs b/src/db.rs
index 7df8935..e0121d5 100644
--- a/src/db.rs
+++ b/src/db.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ async fn build_postgres_pool(settings: &Settings, metrics: NostrMetrics) -> Post
     // Panic on migration failure
     let version = repo.migrate_up().await.unwrap();
     info!("Postgres migration completed, at v{}", version);
+    // startup scheduled tasks
+    repo.start().await.ok();
     repo
 }
 
diff --git a/src/repo/postgres.rs b/src/repo/postgres.rs
index 251a188..be2ec3d 100644
--- a/src/repo/postgres.rs
+++ b/src/repo/postgres.rs
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ use sqlx::Error::RowNotFound;
 use crate::hexrange::{hex_range, HexSearch};
 use crate::repo::postgres_migration::run_migrations;
 use crate::server::NostrMetrics;
-use crate::utils::{is_hex, is_lower_hex};
+use crate::utils::{is_hex, is_lower_hex, self};
 use tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender;
 use tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver;
 use tracing::log::trace;
-use tracing::{debug, error, info};
+use tracing::{debug, error, warn, info};
 use crate::error;
 
 pub type PostgresPool = sqlx::pool::Pool<Postgres>;
@@ -36,13 +36,52 @@ impl PostgresRepo {
             metrics: m,
         }
     }
+
+}
+
+
+/// Cleanup expired events on a regular basis
+async fn cleanup_expired(conn: PostgresPool, frequency: Duration) -> Result<()> {
+    tokio::task::spawn(async move {
+        loop {
+            tokio::select! {
+                _ = tokio::time::sleep(frequency) => {
+                    let start = Instant::now();
+                    let exp_res = delete_expired(conn.clone()).await;
+                    match exp_res {
+                        Ok(exp_count) => {
+                            if exp_count > 0 {
+                                info!("removed {} expired events in: {:?}", exp_count, start.elapsed());
+                            }
+                        },
+                        Err(e) => {
+                            warn!("could not remove expired events due to error: {:?}", e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+        }
+    });
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// One-time deletion of all expired events
+async fn delete_expired(conn:PostgresPool) -> Result<u64> {
+    let mut tx = conn.begin().await?;
+    let update_count = sqlx::query("DELETE FROM \"event\" WHERE expires_at <= $1;")
+        .bind(Utc.timestamp_opt(utils::unix_time() as i64, 0).unwrap())
+        .execute(&mut tx)
+        .await?.rows_affected();
+    tx.commit().await?;
+    Ok(update_count)
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
 impl NostrRepo for PostgresRepo {
 
     async fn start(&self) -> Result<()> {
-	info!("not implemented");
+        // begin a cleanup task for expired events.
+        cleanup_expired(self.conn.clone(), Duration::from_secs(600)).await?;
 	Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -106,13 +145,14 @@ impl NostrRepo for PostgresRepo {
         // ignore if the event hash is a duplicate.
         let mut ins_count = sqlx::query(
             r#"INSERT INTO "event"
-(id, pub_key, created_at, kind, "content", delegated_by)
-VALUES($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
+(id, pub_key, created_at, expires_at, kind, "content", delegated_by)
+VALUES($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7)
 ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING"#,
         )
             .bind(&id_blob)
             .bind(&pubkey_blob)
             .bind(Utc.timestamp_opt(e.created_at as i64, 0).unwrap())
+            .bind(e.expiration().and_then(|x| Utc.timestamp_opt(x as i64, 0).latest()))
             .bind(e.kind as i64)
             .bind(event_str.into_bytes())
             .bind(delegator_blob)
@@ -708,6 +748,14 @@ fn query_from_filter(f: &ReqFilter) -> Option<QueryBuilder<Postgres>> {
         query.push("e.hidden != 1::bit(1)");
     }
 
+    // never display expired events
+    if push_and {
+        query.push(" AND ");
+    }
+    query
+        .push("(e.expires_at IS NULL OR e.expires_at > ")
+        .push_bind(Utc.timestamp_opt(utils::unix_time() as i64, 0).unwrap()).push(")");
+
     // Apply per-filter limit to this query.
     // The use of a LIMIT implies a DESC order, to capture only the most recent events.
     if let Some(lim) = f.limit {
diff --git a/src/repo/postgres_migration.rs b/src/repo/postgres_migration.rs
index 9347054..2c16d13 100644
--- a/src/repo/postgres_migration.rs
+++ b/src/repo/postgres_migration.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ pub async fn run_migrations(db: &PostgresPool) -> crate::error::Result<usize> {
         m002::rebuild_tags(db).await?;
     }
     run_migration(m003::migration(), db).await;
+    run_migration(m004::migration(), db).await;
     Ok(current_version(db).await as usize)
 }
 
@@ -256,3 +257,23 @@ ALTER TABLE tag ADD CONSTRAINT unique_constraint_name UNIQUE (event_id, "name",
         }
     }
 }
+
+mod m004 {
+    use crate::repo::postgres_migration::{Migration, SimpleSqlMigration};
+
+    pub const VERSION: i64 = 4;
+
+    pub fn migration() -> impl Migration {
+        SimpleSqlMigration {
+            serial_number: VERSION,
+            sql: vec![
+                r#"
+-- Add expiration time for events
+ALTER TABLE event ADD COLUMN expires_at timestamp(0) with time zone;
+-- Index expiration time
+CREATE INDEX event_expires_at_idx ON "event" (expires_at);
+        "#,
+            ],
+        }
+    }
+}