diff --git a/app/api/cleanup/route.js b/app/api/cleanup/route.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..519ee4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/api/cleanup/route.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// API endpoint to manually trigger cleanup
+import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'
+
+export async function POST() {
+  try {
+    console.log('🧹 Manual cleanup triggered via API...')
+    
+    // Import and trigger cleanup
+    const { aggressiveCleanup } = await import('../../../lib/startup')
+    await aggressiveCleanup.cleanupOrphanedProcesses()
+    
+    return NextResponse.json({ 
+      success: true, 
+      message: 'Cleanup completed successfully' 
+    })
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error in manual cleanup:', error)
+    return NextResponse.json({ 
+      success: false, 
+      error: error.message 
+    }, { status: 500 })
+  }
+}
+
+export async function GET() {
+  // Return cleanup status
+  return NextResponse.json({ 
+    message: 'Cleanup endpoint is active',
+    endpoints: {
+      'POST /api/cleanup': 'Trigger manual cleanup',
+      'GET /api/cleanup': 'Check cleanup status'
+    }
+  })
+}