diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6b15f4a..02c78ad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Simple api to manage tensorboard instances on demand.
 - [x] setup docker
 - [x] setup reverse proxy with dynamic paths to tensorboards ports
 - [x] setup ssl
-- [] clean up idle tensorboards
+- [x] clean up idle tensorboards
 - [x] security token on api routes
 - [] secure tensorboard instances ?
 - [] test connection w/ frontend
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index caba272..93f827b 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 from typing import Annotated
-import os
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI, Depends, Body, HTTPException
 
 from .models import CreateTensorboardInstanceRequest, TensorboardInstance
 from .dependencies import verify_token, config
 from .tensorboard import start_tensorboard
+from .tva import create_mobius
 
 
-tb_instances: dict[str, TensorboardInstance] = {}
 hostname = config.hostname
+ttl = 300
+get, get_all, set, remove, contains = create_mobius(ttl)
 
 
 app = FastAPI(root_path="/api", dependencies=[Depends(verify_token)])
@@ -22,10 +23,9 @@ def read_root():
 
 @app.get("/tensorboard")
 def get_tensorboard_instance(name: str):
-    tb_instance = tb_instances.get(name)
-    if tb_instance:
-        return tb_instance
-    return {"message": "Instance not found"}
+    if contains(name):
+        return get(name)
+    raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Instance not found")
 
 
 @app.post("/tensorboard/start")
@@ -34,32 +34,30 @@ def start_tensorboard_instance(
 ):
     logdir = request.logdir
     name = request.name
-    if name in tb_instances:
-        return {"message": "Instance already exists"}
+    if contains(name):
+        return get(name)
 
     try:
         p, port = start_tensorboard(logdir, name)
         url = f"http://{hostname}/{name}/{port}"
-        tb_instance = TensorboardInstance(url=url, logdir=logdir, name=name, pid=p.pid)
-        tb_instances[name] = tb_instance
-        return tb_instance
+        instance = TensorboardInstance(url=url, logdir=logdir, name=name, pid=p.pid)
+        set(name, instance)
+        return instance
     except Exception as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=str(e))
 
 
 @app.post("/tensorboard/kill/{name}")
 def kill_tensorboard_instance(name: str):
-    tb_instance = tb_instances.get(name)
-    if tb_instance:
-        os.kill(tb_instance.pid, 9)
-        del tb_instances[name]
+    if contains(name):
+        remove(name)
         return {"message": "Instance killed"}
-    return {"message": "Instance not found"}
+    raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Instance not found")
 
 
 @app.get("/tensorboard/instances")
 def get_tensorboard_instances():
-    return tb_instances
+    return get_all()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/app/tva.py b/app/tva.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..adeabe0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/tva.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import os
+import time
+
+from .models import TensorboardInstance
+
+
+def create_mobius(time_branch: int):
+    variants: dict[str, TensorboardInstance] = {}
+    access_times: dict[str, float] = {}
+
+    def get(loki: str):
+        if loki in variants:
+            current_time = time.time()
+
+            if current_time - access_times[loki] > time_branch:
+                os.kill(variants[loki].pid, 9)
+                del variants[loki]
+                del access_times[loki]
+                raise KeyError(f"Instance {loki} has expired")
+
+            access_times[loki] = current_time
+            return variants[loki]
+        else:
+            raise KeyError(f"Instance {loki} not found")
+
+    def get_all():
+        prune()
+        current_time = time.time()
+        for loki in variants:
+            access_times[loki] = current_time
+        return variants
+
+    def set(loki: str, instance: TensorboardInstance):
+        current_time = time.time()
+        variants[loki] = instance
+        access_times[loki] = current_time
+        prune()
+
+    def remove(loki: str):
+        if contains(loki):
+            os.kill(variants[loki].pid, 9)
+            del variants[loki]
+            del access_times[loki]
+
+    def prune():
+        current_time = time.time()
+        expired = [
+            loki
+            for loki, access_time in access_times.items()
+            if current_time - access_time > time_branch
+        ]
+
+        for loki in expired:
+            os.kill(variants[loki].pid, 9)
+            del variants[loki]
+            del access_times[loki]
+
+    def contains(loki: str):
+        try:
+            get(loki)
+            return True
+        except KeyError:
+            return False
+
+    return get, get_all, set, remove, contains