diff --git a/backend/apps/comment/api/v1/viewsets.py b/backend/apps/comment/api/v1/viewsets.py
index 792641a..f51bd9b 100644
--- a/backend/apps/comment/api/v1/viewsets.py
+++ b/backend/apps/comment/api/v1/viewsets.py
@@ -10,3 +10,5 @@ class CommentModelViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
 
     def perform_destroy(self, instance):
         CommentModel.objects.soft_delete(instance)  # pyright: ignore
+        # perform cleanup
+        CommentModel.objects.clean_up_soft_deleted()  # pyright: ignore
diff --git a/backend/apps/comment/managers.py b/backend/apps/comment/managers.py
index 128f357..d7e354d 100644
--- a/backend/apps/comment/managers.py
+++ b/backend/apps/comment/managers.py
@@ -12,3 +12,9 @@ def soft_delete(self, instance):
             instance.content = "[deleted]"
             instance.quibbler = None
             instance.save()
+
+    def clean_up_soft_deleted(self):
+        # cleanup all comment instances with no children
+        for comment_instance in self.filter(deleted=True):
+            if comment_instance.children_count == 0:
+                comment_instance.delete()