diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/cache.js b/routes/_utils/database/cache.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 52b358f..0000000
--- a/routes/_utils/database/cache.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-export const openReqs = {}
-export const databaseCache = {}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/cleanupTimelines.js b/routes/_utils/database/cleanupTimelines.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 5913270..0000000
--- a/routes/_utils/database/cleanupTimelines.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-import { getKnownDbs } from './knownDbs'
-import debounce from 'lodash/debounce'
-import { TIMELINE_STORE, getTimelineDatabase } from './timelines'
-
-const MAX_NUM_STORED_STATUSES = 1000
-const CLEANUP_INTERVAL = 60000
-
-async function cleanup(instanceName, timeline) {
-  const db = await getTimelineDatabase(instanceName, timeline)
-  return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    const tx = db.transaction(TIMELINE_STORE, 'readwrite')
-    const store = tx.objectStore(TIMELINE_STORE)
-    const index = store.index('pinafore_id_as_negative_big_int')
-
-    store.count().onsuccess = (e) => {
-      let count = e.target.result
-      if (count <= MAX_NUM_STORED_STATUSES) {
-        return
-      }
-      let openKeyCursor = index.openKeyCursor || index.openCursor
-      openKeyCursor.call(index, null, 'prev').onsuccess = (e) => {
-        let cursor = e.target.result
-        if (--count < MAX_NUM_STORED_STATUSES || !cursor) {
-          return
-        }
-        store.delete(cursor.primaryKey).onsuccess = () => {
-          cursor.continue()
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    tx.oncomplete = () => resolve()
-    tx.onerror = () => reject(tx.error.name + ' ' + tx.error.message)
-  })
-}
-
-export const cleanupOldStatuses = debounce(async () => {
-  if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
-    console.log('cleanupOldStatuses')
-  }
-
-  let knownDbs = await getKnownDbs()
-  let instanceNames = Object.keys(knownDbs)
-  for (let instanceName of instanceNames) {
-    let knownDbsForInstance = knownDbs[instanceName] || []
-    for (let knownDb of knownDbsForInstance) {
-      let {type, dbName} = knownDb
-      if (type !== 'timeline') {
-        continue
-      }
-      let timeline = dbName.split('_').slice(-1)[0]
-      await cleanup(instanceName, timeline)
-    }
-  }
-  if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
-    console.log('done cleanupOldStatuses')
-  }
-}, CLEANUP_INTERVAL)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/constants.js b/routes/_utils/database/constants.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..987e1c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/routes/_utils/database/constants.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+export const STATUSES_STORE = 'statuses'
+export const TIMELINE_STORE = 'timelines'
+export const META_STORE = 'meta'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/databaseCore.js b/routes/_utils/database/databaseCore.js
index 106d44b..c61a25a 100644
--- a/routes/_utils/database/databaseCore.js
+++ b/routes/_utils/database/databaseCore.js
@@ -1,34 +1,59 @@
-import { META_STORE, getMetaDatabase } from './meta'
-import { cleanupOldStatuses } from './cleanupTimelines'
-import { TIMELINE_STORE, getTimelineDatabase } from './timelines'
-import { toReversePaddedBigInt, transformStatusForStorage, dbPromise, deleteDbPromise } from './utils'
-import { getKnownDbsForInstance, deleteInstanceFromKnownDbs } from './knownDbs'
+import {
+  toReversePaddedBigInt
+} from './utils'
+import {
+  getDatabase,
+  dbPromise,
+  deleteDatabase,
+} from './databaseLifecycle'
+
+import {
+  META_STORE,
+  TIMELINE_STORE,
+  STATUSES_STORE
+} from './constants'
 
 export async function getTimeline(instanceName, timeline, maxId = null, limit = 20) {
-  const db = await getTimelineDatabase(instanceName, timeline)
-  return await dbPromise(db, TIMELINE_STORE, 'readonly', (store, callback) => {
-    const index = store.index('pinafore_id_as_negative_big_int')
-    let sinceAsNegativeBigInt = maxId ? toReversePaddedBigInt(maxId) : null
-    let query = sinceAsNegativeBigInt ? IDBKeyRange.lowerBound(sinceAsNegativeBigInt, false) : null
+  const db = await getDatabase(instanceName, timeline)
+  return await dbPromise(db, [TIMELINE_STORE, STATUSES_STORE], 'readonly', (stores, callback) => {
+    let [ timelineStore, statusesStore ] = stores
 
-    index.getAll(query, limit).onsuccess = (e) => {
-      callback(e.target.result)
+    let negBigInt = maxId && toReversePaddedBigInt(maxId)
+    let start = negBigInt ? (timeline + '\u0000' + negBigInt) : (timeline + '\u0000')
+    let end = timeline + '\u0000\uffff'
+    let query = IDBKeyRange.bound(start, end, false, false)
+
+    timelineStore.getAll(query, limit).onsuccess = e => {
+      let timelineResults = e.target.result
+      let res = new Array(timelineResults.length)
+      timelineResults.forEach((timelineResult, i) => {
+        statusesStore.get(timelineResult.statusId).onsuccess = e => {
+          res[i] = e.target.result
+        }
+      })
+      callback(res)
     }
   })
 }
 
 export async function insertStatuses(instanceName, timeline, statuses) {
-  const db = await getTimelineDatabase(instanceName, timeline)
-  await dbPromise(db, TIMELINE_STORE, 'readwrite', (store) => {
+  const db = await getDatabase(instanceName, timeline)
+  await dbPromise(db, [TIMELINE_STORE, STATUSES_STORE], 'readwrite', (stores) => {
+    let [ timelineStore, statusesStore ] = stores
     for (let status of statuses) {
-      store.put(transformStatusForStorage(status))
+      statusesStore.put(status)
+      // reverse chronological order, prefixed by timeline
+      let id = timeline + '\u0000' +  toReversePaddedBigInt(status.id)
+      timelineStore.put({
+        id: id,
+        statusId: status.id
+      })
     }
   })
-  /* no await */ cleanupOldStatuses()
 }
 
 export async function getInstanceVerifyCredentials(instanceName) {
-  const db = await getMetaDatabase(instanceName)
+  const db = await getDatabase(instanceName)
   return await dbPromise(db, META_STORE, 'readonly', (store, callback) => {
     store.get('verifyCredentials').onsuccess = (e) => {
       callback(e.target.result && e.target.result.value)
@@ -37,7 +62,7 @@ export async function getInstanceVerifyCredentials(instanceName) {
 }
 
 export async function setInstanceVerifyCredentials(instanceName, verifyCredentials) {
-  const db = await getMetaDatabase(instanceName)
+  const db = await getDatabase(instanceName)
   return await dbPromise(db, META_STORE, 'readwrite', (store) => {
     store.put({
       key: 'verifyCredentials',
@@ -46,17 +71,6 @@ export async function setInstanceVerifyCredentials(instanceName, verifyCredentia
   })
 }
 
-export async function clearDatabasesForInstance(instanceName) {
-  console.log('clearDatabasesForInstance', instanceName)
-  const knownDbsForInstance = await getKnownDbsForInstance(instanceName)
-  for (let knownDb of knownDbsForInstance) {
-    let { dbName } = knownDb
-    try {
-      await deleteDbPromise(dbName)
-      console.error(`deleted database ${dbName}`)
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.error(`failed to delete database ${dbName}`)
-    }
-  }
-  await deleteInstanceFromKnownDbs(instanceName)
+export async function clearDatabaseForInstance(instanceName) {
+  await deleteDatabase(instanceName)
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/databaseLifecycle.js b/routes/_utils/database/databaseLifecycle.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..538857f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/routes/_utils/database/databaseLifecycle.js
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+const openReqs = {}
+const databaseCache = {}
+
+import {
+  META_STORE,
+  TIMELINE_STORE,
+  STATUSES_STORE
+} from './constants'
+
+export function getDatabase(instanceName) {
+  if (databaseCache[instanceName]) {
+    return Promise.resolve(databaseCache[instanceName])
+  }
+
+  databaseCache[instanceName] = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    let req = indexedDB.open(instanceName, 1)
+    openReqs[instanceName] = req
+    req.onerror = reject
+    req.onblocked = () => {
+      console.log('idb blocked')
+    }
+    req.onupgradeneeded = () => {
+      let db = req.result;
+      db.createObjectStore(META_STORE, {keyPath: 'key'})
+      db.createObjectStore(STATUSES_STORE, {keyPath: 'id'})
+      let timelineStore = db.createObjectStore(TIMELINE_STORE, {keyPath: 'id'})
+      timelineStore.createIndex('statusId', 'statusId')
+    }
+    req.onsuccess = () => resolve(req.result)
+  })
+  return databaseCache[instanceName]
+}
+
+export async function dbPromise(db, storeName, readOnlyOrReadWrite, cb) {
+  return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const tx = db.transaction(storeName, readOnlyOrReadWrite)
+    let store = typeof storeName === 'string' ?
+      tx.objectStore(storeName) :
+      storeName.map(name => tx.objectStore(name))
+    let res
+    cb(store, (result) => {
+      res = result
+    })
+
+    tx.oncomplete = () => resolve(res)
+    tx.onerror = () => reject(tx.error.name + ' ' + tx.error.message)
+  })
+}
+
+export function deleteDatabase(instanceName) {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    // close any open requests
+    let openReq = openReqs[instanceName];
+    if (openReq && openReq.result) {
+      openReq.result.close()
+    }
+    delete openReqs[instanceName]
+    delete databaseCache[instanceName]
+    let req = indexedDB.deleteDatabase(instanceName)
+    req.onsuccess = () => resolve()
+    req.onerror = () => reject(req.error.name + ' ' + req.error.message)
+  })
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/knownDbs.js b/routes/_utils/database/knownDbs.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 9db4dea..0000000
--- a/routes/_utils/database/knownDbs.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-import keyval from "idb-keyval"
-
-export async function addKnownDb(instanceName, type, dbName) {
-  let knownDbs = (await getKnownDbs())
-  if (!knownDbs[instanceName]) {
-    knownDbs[instanceName] = []
-  }
-  if (!knownDbs[instanceName].some(db => db.type === type && db.dbName === dbName)) {
-    knownDbs[instanceName].push({type, dbName})
-  }
-  await keyval.set('known_dbs', knownDbs)
-}
-
-export async function getKnownDbs() {
-  return (await keyval.get('known_dbs')) || {}
-}
-
-export async function getKnownDbsForInstance(instanceName) {
-  let knownDbs = await getKnownDbs()
-  return knownDbs[instanceName] || []
-}
-
-export async function deleteInstanceFromKnownDbs(instanceName) {
-  let knownDbs = await getKnownDbs()
-  delete knownDbs[instanceName]
-  await keyval.set('known_dbs', knownDbs)
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/meta.js b/routes/_utils/database/meta.js
deleted file mode 100644
index e72747c..0000000
--- a/routes/_utils/database/meta.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-import { addKnownDb } from './knownDbs'
-import { openReqs, databaseCache } from './cache'
-
-export const META_STORE = 'meta'
-
-export function getMetaDatabase(instanceName) {
-  const dbName = `${instanceName}_${META_STORE}`
-  if (databaseCache[dbName]) {
-    return Promise.resolve(databaseCache[dbName])
-  }
-
-  addKnownDb(instanceName, 'meta', dbName)
-
-  databaseCache[dbName] = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    let req = indexedDB.open(dbName, 1)
-    openReqs[dbName] = req
-    req.onerror = reject
-    req.onblocked = () => {
-      console.log('idb blocked')
-    }
-    req.onupgradeneeded = () => {
-      let db = req.result;
-      db.createObjectStore(META_STORE, {keyPath: 'key'})
-    }
-    req.onsuccess = () => resolve(req.result)
-  })
-  return databaseCache[dbName]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/timelines.js b/routes/_utils/database/timelines.js
deleted file mode 100644
index a6fdb8c..0000000
--- a/routes/_utils/database/timelines.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-import { addKnownDb } from './knownDbs'
-import { openReqs, databaseCache } from './cache'
-
-export const TIMELINE_STORE = 'statuses'
-
-export function createTimelineDbName(instanceName, timeline) {
-  return `${instanceName}_timeline_${timeline}`
-}
-
-export function getTimelineDatabase(instanceName, timeline) {
-  let dbName = createTimelineDbName(instanceName, timeline)
-
-  if (databaseCache[dbName]) {
-    return Promise.resolve(databaseCache[dbName])
-  }
-
-  addKnownDb(instanceName, 'timeline', dbName)
-
-  databaseCache[dbName] = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    let req = indexedDB.open(dbName, 1)
-    openReqs[dbName] = req
-    req.onerror = reject
-    req.onblocked = () => {
-      console.log('idb blocked')
-    }
-    req.onupgradeneeded = () => {
-      let db = req.result;
-      let oStore = db.createObjectStore(TIMELINE_STORE, {
-        keyPath: 'id'
-      })
-      oStore.createIndex('pinafore_id_as_negative_big_int', 'pinafore_id_as_negative_big_int')
-    }
-    req.onsuccess = () => resolve(req.result)
-  })
-  return databaseCache[dbName]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_utils/database/utils.js b/routes/_utils/database/utils.js
index 2cf70ef..2174f70 100644
--- a/routes/_utils/database/utils.js
+++ b/routes/_utils/database/utils.js
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-import cloneDeep from 'lodash/cloneDeep'
 import padStart from 'lodash/padStart'
-import { databaseCache, openReqs } from './cache'
 
 export function toPaddedBigInt (id) {
   return padStart(id, 30, '0')
@@ -13,40 +11,4 @@ export function toReversePaddedBigInt (id) {
     res += (9 - parseInt(bigInt.charAt(i), 10)).toString(10)
   }
   return res
-}
-
-export function transformStatusForStorage (status) {
-  status = cloneDeep(status)
-  status.pinafore_id_as_negative_big_int = toReversePaddedBigInt(status.id)
-  status.pinafore_stale = true
-  return status
-}
-
-export async function dbPromise(db, storeName, readOnlyOrReadWrite, cb) {
-  return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    const tx = db.transaction(storeName, readOnlyOrReadWrite)
-    const store = tx.objectStore(storeName)
-    let res
-    cb(store, (result) => {
-      res = result
-    })
-
-    tx.oncomplete = () => resolve(res)
-    tx.onerror = () => reject(tx.error.name + ' ' + tx.error.message)
-  })
-}
-
-export function deleteDbPromise(dbName) {
-  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    // close any open requests
-    let openReq = openReqs[dbName];
-    if (openReq && openReq.result) {
-      openReq.result.close()
-    }
-    delete openReqs[dbName]
-    delete databaseCache[dbName]
-    let req = indexedDB.deleteDatabase(dbName)
-    req.onsuccess = () => resolve()
-    req.onerror = () => reject(req.error.name + ' ' + req.error.message)
-  })
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/settings/instances/[instanceName].html b/routes/settings/instances/[instanceName].html
index 776b53d..70d1284 100644
--- a/routes/settings/instances/[instanceName].html
+++ b/routes/settings/instances/[instanceName].html
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
           currentInstance: newInstance
         })
         this.store.save()
-        database.clearDatabasesForInstance(instanceName)
+        database.clearDatabaseForInstance(instanceName)
         switchToTheme(instanceThemes[newInstance] || 'default')
         toast.say(`Logged out of ${instanceName}`)
         goto('/settings/instances')