diff --git a/.github/instructions/executing-commands.md b/.github/instructions/executing-commands.md
index 244c015..77b778a 100644
--- a/.github/instructions/executing-commands.md
+++ b/.github/instructions/executing-commands.md
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ produces now. Never run it to make a red test green without reading the diff fir
 service is a one-off container (`--rm`) under the `build` profile — it does not need to be
 started before use.
 
+Every task routed through `docker compose` removes the `volume-init` container it pulled in
+through `depends_on` when it finishes, so a run leaves no stopped containers behind. The
+teardown is visible in the output; it is not an error. `task cleanup` takes down whatever is
+left of the project — containers and networks, but not the `cache` volume.
+
 `task demo:record:<tape>` re-records `docs/demo/<tape>.tape` into `docs/static/demo/<tape>.gif`
 inside the `vhs` Docker Compose service under the `demo` profile. It needs network access and
 the Docker socket, and it always dirties the working tree — the same tape never produces
diff --git a/Taskfile.dist.yml b/Taskfile.dist.yml
index 2c3d266..3bacdac 100644
--- a/Taskfile.dist.yml
+++ b/Taskfile.dist.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ tasks:
       FIXGID:
         sh: echo ${FIXGID:-$(id -g)}
     cmds:
+      - defer: docker compose rm --stop --force volume-init
       - FIXUID={{ .FIXUID }} FIXGID={{ .FIXGID }} docker compose {{ .SUB_CMD }} {{ .CLI_ARGS }}
 
   dc:build:
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ tasks:
 
       The following files/dirs are excluded: none
     cmds:
+      - docker compose --profile "*" down --remove-orphans
       - git clean
         -xd
         --force