diff --git a/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist b/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist
index c62434b5..cc0389a7 100644
--- a/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist
+++ b/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist
@@ -94,3 +94,5 @@ ACCOUNTINGSYSTEM_EMAIL = "{{ django_accountingsystem_email }}"
 ECONOMYTEAM_EMAIL = "{{ django_economyteam_email }}"
 ECONOMYTEAM_NAME = "Economy"
 
+ORDER_TTL = 24
+ORDER_TTL_UNIT = 'hours'
diff --git a/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist.dev b/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist.dev
index 3009d2c9..488767e4 100644
--- a/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist.dev
+++ b/src/bornhack/environment_settings.py.dist.dev
@@ -78,3 +78,6 @@ CHANNEL_LAYERS = {
 }
 
 REIMBURSEMENT_MAIL = "reimbursement@example.com"
+
+ORDER_TTL = 30
+ORDER_TTL_UNIT = 'minutes'
diff --git a/src/shop/email.py b/src/shop/email.py
index ba1edef5..14042b9d 100644
--- a/src/shop/email.py
+++ b/src/shop/email.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
-from utils.email import add_outgoing_email
 import logging
+
+from django.conf import settings
+
+from utils.email import add_outgoing_email
+
 logger = logging.getLogger("bornhack.%s" % __name__)
 
 
@@ -45,6 +49,25 @@ def add_invoice_email(invoice):
     )
 
 
+def add_order_cancelled_email(order):
+    formatdict = {
+        'ordernumber': order.pk,
+        'order_ttl': settings.ORDER_TTL,
+        'order_ttl_unit': settings.ORDER_TTL_UNIT
+    }
+
+    subject = 'Your non-paid BornHack order has been cancelled.'
+
+    # add email to outgoing email queue
+    return add_outgoing_email(
+        text_template='emails/order_cancelled_email.txt',
+        html_template='emails/order_cancelled_email.html',
+        to_recipients=order.user.email,
+        formatdict=formatdict,
+        subject=subject,
+    )
+
+
 def add_test_email(recipient):
     return add_outgoing_email(
         text_template='emails/testmail.txt',
diff --git a/src/shop/order_cleanup_worker.py b/src/shop/order_cleanup_worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff4e94c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shop/order_cleanup_worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from dateutil import relativedelta
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from shop.models import Order
+from shop.email import add_order_cancelled_email
+
+import logging
+
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+logger = logging.getLogger('bornhack.%s' % __name__)
+
+
+def do_work():
+    """
+    The order cleanup worker scans for orders that are still open
+    but are older than ORDER_TTL, and marks those as closed.
+    """
+
+    time_threshold = timezone.now() - relativedelta.relativedelta(**{settings.ORDER_TTL_UNIT: settings.ORDER_TTL})
+
+    orders_to_delete = Order.objects.filter(open=True, cancelled=False, created__lt=time_threshold)
+
+    for order in orders_to_delete:
+        logger.info(
+            "Cancelling order %s since it has been open for more than %s %s" %
+            (order.pk, settings.ORDER_TTL, settings.ORDER_TTL_UNIT)
+        )
+        order.mark_as_cancelled()
+        add_order_cancelled_email(order)
diff --git a/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.html b/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44650fe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.html
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Hello!<br>
+<br>
+Your order number {{ ordernumber }} has been open for more than {{ order_ttl }} {{ order_ttl_unit }} and has been cancelled.<br>
+<br>
+This means you will have to open a new order.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Best regards,<br>
+<br>
+The BornHack Team<br>
+<br>
diff --git a/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.txt b/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c530ee12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shop/templates/emails/order_cancelled_email.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Hello!
+
+Your order number {{ ordernumber }} has been open for more than {{ order_ttl }} {{ order_ttl_unit }} and has been cancelled.
+
+This means you will have to open a new order.
+
+Best regards,
+
+The BornHack Team