diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 104b02f..12723a4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ The project publishes 0.x prerelease versions; a stable release line is not yet
   to the canonical `bytefolk` organization while retaining the published npm
   scope, MCP identity, and existing cache paths.
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Recursive folder delete now removes associated objects from bucket storage
+  after the database transaction commits. Previously only DB rows were deleted,
+  leaving orphan blobs in the bucket. Blob deletion is best-effort and logged
+  on failure, matching the existing single-file delete behavior.
+
 ### Security
 
 - Normalize the client-declared MIME type of a stored file before deciding how
diff --git a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
index 801e41d..ddfbf7f 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -225,6 +225,17 @@ Redis AOF protects normal restarts but is not in the portable backup. A restore
 therefore starts with an empty queue/replay window. Requeue or reindex any file
 whose processing did not reach a terminal state before the backup.
 
+### Object retention
+
+Deleting a file or recursively deleting a folder removes the database rows and
+then deletes the associated objects from the bucket. Object deletion is
+best-effort and happens after the database transaction commits, so a process
+crash between commit and blob removal may leave orphan objects in the bucket.
+These orphans are unreferenced — no live database row points at them — and are
+safe to leave in place. They are not automatically reclaimed; operators may
+remove them manually if bucket accounting matters. This crash window also
+applies to single-file deletion.
+
 ### Restore drill
 
 Restore only into an empty installation. The script verifies every checksum
diff --git a/server/cmd/memd/main.go b/server/cmd/memd/main.go
index 37cb47d..3681230 100644
--- a/server/cmd/memd/main.go
+++ b/server/cmd/memd/main.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func run() error {
 			"providers", cfg.ManagedEmbeddingProviders,
 		)
 	}
-	folderSvc := folder.New(database.Pool)
+	folderSvc := folder.New(database.Pool, store, logger)
 	fileSvc := file.New(database.Pool, store, folderSvc)
 	memorySvc := memory.New(database.Pool)
 	durableContextSvc := durablecontext.New(database.Pool, memorySvc)
diff --git a/server/internal/api/content_disposition_integration_test.go b/server/internal/api/content_disposition_integration_test.go
index 29baedf..cb2e0a7 100644
--- a/server/internal/api/content_disposition_integration_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/api/content_disposition_integration_test.go
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestContentDispositionHTTPPostgres(t *testing.T) {
 
 	authService := auth.New(database.Pool)
 	workspaceService := workspace.New(database.Pool)
-	folderService := folder.New(database.Pool)
+	folderService := folder.New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 	user, err := authService.CreateUser(
 		ctx,
 		"content-disposition-"+uuid.NewString()+"@example.test",
diff --git a/server/internal/api/relocate_integration_test.go b/server/internal/api/relocate_integration_test.go
index 855a449..b18c5e7 100644
--- a/server/internal/api/relocate_integration_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/api/relocate_integration_test.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func TestRelocateHTTPPostgres(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("create restricted relocation token: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	folderService := folder.New(database.Pool)
+	folderService := folder.New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 	fileService := file.New(database.Pool, nil, folderService)
 	server := httptest.NewServer((&Server{
 		Auth:      authService,
diff --git a/server/internal/file/workspace_lock_integration_test.go b/server/internal/file/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
index 49d0b9c..f47a02b 100644
--- a/server/internal/file/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/file/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ func TestFilePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Put then Rename has one path", func(t *testing.T) {
 		userID, _ := createFileLockTenant(t, ctx, database.Pool, "put-rename")
-		folders := folder.New(database.Pool)
+		folders := folder.New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 		if _, err := folders.Create(ctx, userID, "/A"); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("create destination: %v", err)
 		}
 		putBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "file-put")
 		renameBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "file-put-rename")
 		store := newBlockingObjectStore()
-		service := New(putBackend.Pool, store, folder.New(putBackend.Pool))
-		renameFolders := folder.New(renameBackend.Pool)
+		service := New(putBackend.Pool, store, folder.New(putBackend.Pool, nil, nil))
+		renameFolders := folder.New(renameBackend.Pool, nil, nil)
 
 		type putOutcome struct {
 			result *PutResult
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func TestFilePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Move then Rename has one path", func(t *testing.T) {
 		userID, _ := createFileLockTenant(t, ctx, database.Pool, "move-rename")
-		folders := folder.New(database.Pool)
+		folders := folder.New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 		source, err := folders.Create(ctx, userID, "/Source")
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("create source: %v", err)
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ func TestFilePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 		service := New(
 			moveBackend.Pool,
 			&recordingObjectStore{},
-			folder.New(moveBackend.Pool),
+			folder.New(moveBackend.Pool, nil, nil),
 		)
-		renameFolders := folder.New(renameBackend.Pool)
+		renameFolders := folder.New(renameBackend.Pool, nil, nil)
 		fileGate, fileGatePID := lockFilesTable(t, ctx, database.Pool)
 		moveDone := make(chan error, 1)
 		go func() {
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func TestFilePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Relocate validates and commits path with name", func(t *testing.T) {
 		userID, _ := createFileLockTenant(t, ctx, database.Pool, "atomic-relocate")
-		folders := folder.New(database.Pool)
+		folders := folder.New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 		source, err := folders.Create(ctx, userID, "/RelocateSource")
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("create relocate source: %v", err)
diff --git a/server/internal/folder/folder.go b/server/internal/folder/folder.go
index 0dd0469..88e805c 100644
--- a/server/internal/folder/folder.go
+++ b/server/internal/folder/folder.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -58,13 +59,29 @@ type Node struct {
 	Children  []*Node    `json:"children,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// blobDeleter is the narrow contract for best-effort object removal. The folder
+// package depends on this interface rather than the concrete storage.Store so
+// that tests and callers that do not need blob cleanup can pass nil.
+type blobDeleter interface {
+	Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error
+}
+
 // Service is the folder service.
 type Service struct {
-	pool *pgxpool.Pool
+	pool  *pgxpool.Pool
+	store blobDeleter
+	log   *slog.Logger
 }
 
-// New constructs a folder Service.
-func New(pool *pgxpool.Pool) *Service { return &Service{pool: pool} }
+// New constructs a folder Service. A nil store skips object-storage cleanup on
+// recursive delete (useful for tests that have no bucket). A nil logger falls
+// back to slog.Default.
+func New(pool *pgxpool.Pool, store blobDeleter, log *slog.Logger) *Service {
+	if log == nil {
+		log = slog.Default()
+	}
+	return &Service{pool: pool, store: store, log: log}
+}
 
 // Sentinel errors.
 var (
@@ -586,9 +603,10 @@ func rewritePrefixTx(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, userID, srcID uuid.UUID, ol
 //
 //   - recursive=false (default): folder must be empty (no subfolders, no files)
 //     or ErrNotEmpty is returned.
-//   - recursive=true: subfolders + files are deleted from the DB. S3 cleanup
-//     is TODO — for now we only purge the DB rows; orphan blobs will be
-//     reaped by a future garbage-collection pass.
+//   - recursive=true: subfolders + files are deleted from the DB and their
+//     objects are removed from bucket storage. Blob deletion is best-effort
+//     and happens after the database transaction commits, so a crash between
+//     commit and blob removal may leave orphan objects (see docs/DEPLOYMENT.md).
 func (s *Service) Delete(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, path string, recursive bool) error {
 	norm, err := pathx.Normalize(path)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -597,7 +615,8 @@ func (s *Service) Delete(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, path string, rec
 	if norm == pathx.Root {
 		return ErrRootOp
 	}
-	return s.withPathMutationTx(ctx, userID, func(tx pgx.Tx) error {
+	var orphanKeys []string
+	txErr := s.withPathMutationTx(ctx, userID, func(tx pgx.Tx) error {
 		src, err := selectFolderByPathTx(ctx, tx, userID, norm)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -623,24 +642,33 @@ func (s *Service) Delete(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, path string, rec
 				return fmt.Errorf("check recursive delete memories: %w", err)
 			}
 			if containsMemories {
-				// A folder operation must never become an implicit memory
-				// deletion. The caller has to use the memory lifecycle's
-				// explicit forget operation first.
 				return ErrContainsMemories
 			}
-			// Hard delete: remove all descendant files first (FKs cascade
-			// from folders → files would only NULL out folder_id, so we have
-			// to delete files explicitly).
-			if _, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
+			rows, err := tx.Query(ctx,
 				`DELETE FROM files
 				  WHERE user_id = $1
 				    AND (folder_id = $2 OR path = $3
-				         OR left(path, length($3) + 1) = $3 || '/')`,
-				userID, src.ID, src.Path); err != nil {
+				         OR left(path, length($3) + 1) = $3 || '/')
+				RETURNING storage_key`,
+				userID, src.ID, src.Path)
+			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("recursive delete files: %w", err)
 			}
-			// Subfolder rows cascade via the FK ON DELETE CASCADE when we
-			// drop the parent below.
+			for rows.Next() {
+				var key string
+				if err := rows.Scan(&key); err != nil {
+					rows.Close()
+					return fmt.Errorf("scan storage_key: %w", err)
+				}
+				if key != "" {
+					orphanKeys = append(orphanKeys, key)
+				}
+			}
+			if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+				rows.Close()
+				return fmt.Errorf("iterate deleted storage_keys: %w", err)
+			}
+			rows.Close()
 		}
 		if _, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
 			`DELETE FROM folders WHERE id = $1 AND user_id = $2`, src.ID, userID); err != nil {
@@ -648,6 +676,17 @@ func (s *Service) Delete(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, path string, rec
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
+	if txErr != nil {
+		return txErr
+	}
+	if s.store != nil {
+		for _, key := range orphanKeys {
+			if derr := s.store.Delete(ctx, key); derr != nil {
+				s.log.Warn("folder.blob_delete_failed", "storage_key", key, "err", derr)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func isEmptyTx(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, userID, folderID uuid.UUID, path string) (bool, error) {
diff --git a/server/internal/folder/folder_delete_integration_test.go b/server/internal/folder/folder_delete_integration_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ef2b7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/folder/folder_delete_integration_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+package folder
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+
+	"github.com/PeterGuy326/mem/server/internal/storage"
+)
+
+// TestRecursiveDeleteCleansBlobs verifies that a recursive folder delete
+// removes objects from bucket storage, not just DB rows. It requires a live
+// PostgreSQL instance (MEM_TEST_DB) and a MinIO endpoint (MEM_TEST_S3_ENDPOINT).
+func TestRecursiveDeleteCleansBlobs(t *testing.T) {
+	dsn := os.Getenv("MEM_TEST_DB")
+	if dsn == "" {
+		t.Skip("MEM_TEST_DB not set; skipping")
+	}
+	s3Endpoint := os.Getenv("MEM_TEST_S3_ENDPOINT")
+	if s3Endpoint == "" {
+		t.Skip("MEM_TEST_S3_ENDPOINT not set; skipping")
+	}
+
+	s3AccessKey := os.Getenv("MEM_TEST_S3_ACCESS_KEY")
+	if s3AccessKey == "" {
+		s3AccessKey = "mem"
+	}
+	s3SecretKey := os.Getenv("MEM_TEST_S3_SECRET_KEY")
+	if s3SecretKey == "" {
+		s3SecretKey = "mem-minio-password"
+	}
+	s3Bucket := os.Getenv("MEM_TEST_S3_BUCKET")
+	if s3Bucket == "" {
+		s3Bucket = "mem"
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	cfg, err := pgxpool.ParseConfig(dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse MEM_TEST_DB: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(cfg.ConnConfig.Database, "_test") {
+		t.Fatalf("refusing non-test database %q", cfg.ConnConfig.Database)
+	}
+	pool, err := pgxpool.NewWithConfig(ctx, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("pgxpool: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	store, err := storage.New(ctx, s3Endpoint, s3AccessKey, s3SecretKey, s3Bucket, "", false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.New: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	userID := folderTestUUID(t, ctx, pool,
+		`INSERT INTO users (email, password_hash) VALUES ($1, 'x') RETURNING id`,
+		"folder-blob-cleanup-"+uuid.NewString()+"@example.com")
+	defer func() {
+		_, _ = pool.Exec(ctx, `DELETE FROM users WHERE id = $1`, userID)
+	}()
+
+	svc := New(pool, store, nil)
+
+	if _, err := svc.Create(ctx, userID, "/CleanupParent/Child"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create folders: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	childFolder, err := svc.Get(ctx, userID, "/CleanupParent/Child")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get child folder: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	type testFile struct {
+		id         uuid.UUID
+		name       string
+		path       string
+		folderID   uuid.UUID
+		storageKey string
+	}
+	files := []testFile{
+		{
+			id:         uuid.New(),
+			name:       "a.txt",
+			path:       "/CleanupParent",
+			folderID:   mustFolderID(t, ctx, pool, userID, "/CleanupParent"),
+			storageKey: fmt.Sprintf("users/%s/%s/a.txt", userID, uuid.New()),
+		},
+		{
+			id:         uuid.New(),
+			name:       "b.txt",
+			path:       "/CleanupParent/Child",
+			folderID:   childFolder.ID,
+			storageKey: fmt.Sprintf("users/%s/%s/b.txt", userID, uuid.New()),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if err := store.Put(ctx, f.storageKey, bytes.NewReader([]byte("content-"+f.name)), int64(len("content-"+f.name)), "text/plain"); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("put object %s: %v", f.storageKey, err)
+		}
+		if _, err := pool.Exec(ctx,
+			`INSERT INTO files (id, user_id, name, path, folder_id, size, sha256, mime, storage_key, tags, index_status)
+			 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, 'text/plain', $8, '{}', 'pending')`,
+			f.id, userID, f.name, f.path, f.folderID, len("content-"+f.name),
+			"sha256-"+f.id.String(), f.storageKey,
+		); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("insert file row %s: %v", f.name, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if _, err := store.Get(ctx, f.storageKey); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("precondition: object %s should exist before delete: %v", f.storageKey, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := svc.Delete(ctx, userID, "/CleanupParent", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("recursive delete: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var remaining int
+	if err := pool.QueryRow(ctx,
+		`SELECT COUNT(*) FROM files WHERE user_id = $1 AND path LIKE '/CleanupParent%'`,
+		userID).Scan(&remaining); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("count remaining files: %v", err)
+	}
+	if remaining != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 0 file rows after recursive delete, got %d", remaining)
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if _, err := store.Get(ctx, f.storageKey); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("object %s still exists in bucket after recursive delete", f.storageKey)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func mustFolderID(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, userID uuid.UUID, path string) uuid.UUID {
+	t.Helper()
+	var id uuid.UUID
+	if err := pool.QueryRow(ctx,
+		`SELECT id FROM folders WHERE user_id = $1 AND path = $2`, userID, path).Scan(&id); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("lookup folder %q: %v", path, err)
+	}
+	return id
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/folder/folder_test.go b/server/internal/folder/folder_test.go
index dcb9fc9..21fd464 100644
--- a/server/internal/folder/folder_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/folder/folder_test.go
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestMemoryPathLifecycleIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 		 VALUES ('folder memory test', $1) RETURNING id`,
 		userID)
 
-	svc := New(pool)
+	svc := New(pool, nil, nil)
 	for _, p := range []string{
 		"/A%_/Child",
 		"/AtomicSource/original/Child",
diff --git a/server/internal/folder/workspace_lock_integration_test.go b/server/internal/folder/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
index 53d3eee..caf433d 100644
--- a/server/internal/folder/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/folder/workspace_lock_integration_test.go
@@ -53,12 +53,12 @@ func TestWorkspacePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("content lock blocks folder rewrite", func(t *testing.T) {
 		userID, _ := createWorkspaceLockTenant(t, ctx, database.Pool, "content-blocks-folder")
-		service := New(database.Pool)
+		service := New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 		if _, err := service.Create(ctx, userID, "/Shared/Child"); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("create source: %v", err)
 		}
 		renameBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "folder-rewrite")
-		renameService := New(renameBackend.Pool)
+		renameService := New(renameBackend.Pool, nil, nil)
 
 		writerTx, err := database.Pool.BeginTx(ctx, pgx.TxOptions{})
 		if err != nil {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestWorkspacePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 		createBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "folder-create")
 		memoryBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "memory-remember")
 		checkpointBackend := pglockwait.NewBackend(t, ctx, dsn, "handoff-checkpoint")
-		folderService := New(createBackend.Pool)
+		folderService := New(createBackend.Pool, nil, nil)
 		memoryService := memory.New(memoryBackend.Pool)
 		handoffService := handoff.New(checkpointBackend.Pool)
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func TestWorkspacePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("concurrent renames cannot split a subtree", func(t *testing.T) {
 		userID, _ := createWorkspaceLockTenant(t, ctx, database.Pool, "rename-race")
-		service := New(database.Pool)
+		service := New(database.Pool, nil, nil)
 		child, err := service.Create(ctx, userID, "/Race/Child")
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("create source subtree: %v", err)
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ func TestWorkspacePathLockingIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 			service *Service
 		}
 		attempts := []renameAttempt{
-			{name: "RaceB", backend: renameBBackend, service: New(renameBBackend.Pool)},
-			{name: "RaceC", backend: renameCBackend, service: New(renameCBackend.Pool)},
+			{name: "RaceB", backend: renameBBackend, service: New(renameBBackend.Pool, nil, nil)},
+			{name: "RaceC", backend: renameCBackend, service: New(renameCBackend.Pool, nil, nil)},
 		}
 
 		gateTx, err := database.Pool.BeginTx(ctx, pgx.TxOptions{})