A computer-implemented method for targeted sweep of a key-value data storage is provided. The method comprises before a write transaction to a database having a key value store commits, and before each of one or more write commands of the write transaction are persisted to the key value store, writing an entry for each of the one or more write commands to an end of a targeted sweep queue, the entry comprising metadata including: data identifying a cell to which the write command relates, a start timestamp of the write transaction, and information identifying a type of the write transaction.