diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index 3fba19d..b824baf 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ async function runMigrations() {
         IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name = 'users' AND column_name = 'ai_verification_enabled') THEN
           ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN ai_verification_enabled BOOLEAN DEFAULT false;
         END IF;
+        IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name = 'users' AND column_name = 'notifications_cleared_at') THEN
+          ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN notifications_cleared_at TIMESTAMP;
+        END IF;
       END $$;
     `);
 
diff --git a/backend/src/models/index.ts b/backend/src/models/index.ts
index 414f8d0..6064ffd 100644
--- a/backend/src/models/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/models/index.ts
@@ -856,28 +856,41 @@ export const notificationHistoryQueries = {
     return result.rows;
   },
 
-  // Get recent notifications (for bell dropdown)
+  // Get recent notifications (for bell dropdown) - respects cleared_at
   getRecent: async (userId: number, limit: number = 10): Promise<NotificationHistory[]> => {
     const result = await pool.query(
-      `SELECT * FROM notification_history
-       WHERE user_id = $1
-       ORDER BY triggered_at DESC
+      `SELECT nh.* FROM notification_history nh
+       JOIN users u ON u.id = nh.user_id
+       WHERE nh.user_id = $1
+         AND (u.notifications_cleared_at IS NULL OR nh.triggered_at > u.notifications_cleared_at)
+       ORDER BY nh.triggered_at DESC
        LIMIT $2`,
       [userId, limit]
     );
     return result.rows;
   },
 
-  // Count notifications in last 24 hours (for badge)
+  // Count notifications since last clear (for badge)
   countRecent: async (userId: number, hours: number = 24): Promise<number> => {
     const result = await pool.query(
-      `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM notification_history
-       WHERE user_id = $1 AND triggered_at > NOW() - INTERVAL '1 hour' * $2`,
+      `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM notification_history nh
+       JOIN users u ON u.id = nh.user_id
+       WHERE nh.user_id = $1
+         AND nh.triggered_at > NOW() - INTERVAL '1 hour' * $2
+         AND (u.notifications_cleared_at IS NULL OR nh.triggered_at > u.notifications_cleared_at)`,
       [userId, hours]
     );
     return parseInt(result.rows[0].count, 10);
   },
 
+  // Clear notifications (sets timestamp, doesn't delete)
+  clear: async (userId: number): Promise<void> => {
+    await pool.query(
+      `UPDATE users SET notifications_cleared_at = NOW() WHERE id = $1`,
+      [userId]
+    );
+  },
+
   // Get total count for pagination
   getTotalCount: async (userId: number): Promise<number> => {
     const result = await pool.query(
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/notifications.ts b/backend/src/routes/notifications.ts
index 6bbeea8..4a4c3aa 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/notifications.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/notifications.ts
@@ -69,4 +69,16 @@ router.get('/count', async (req: AuthRequest, res: Response) => {
   }
 });
 
+// Clear notifications (marks as seen, doesn't delete history)
+router.post('/clear', async (req: AuthRequest, res: Response) => {
+  try {
+    const userId = req.userId!;
+    await notificationHistoryQueries.clear(userId);
+    res.json({ message: 'Notifications cleared' });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error clearing notifications:', error);
+    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to clear notifications' });
+  }
+});
+
 export default router;
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.ts b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
index 7731671..9eb1db2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -313,6 +313,9 @@ export const notificationsApi = {
     api.get<{ count: number }>('/notifications/count', {
       params: hours ? { hours } : undefined,
     }),
+
+  clear: () =>
+    api.post<{ message: string }>('/notifications/clear'),
 };
 
 // Admin API
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.tsx
index de2c6ce..90ecf0e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationBell.tsx
@@ -99,6 +99,16 @@ export default function NotificationBell() {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleClear = async () => {
+    try {
+      await notificationsApi.clear();
+      setNotifications([]);
+      setRecentCount(0);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Failed to clear notifications:', error);
+    }
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="notification-bell" ref={dropdownRef}>
       <style>{`
@@ -171,6 +181,22 @@ export default function NotificationBell() {
           height: 18px;
         }
 
+        .notification-clear-btn {
+          background: none;
+          border: none;
+          color: var(--text-muted);
+          font-size: 0.75rem;
+          cursor: pointer;
+          padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+          border-radius: 0.25rem;
+          transition: all 0.2s;
+        }
+
+        .notification-clear-btn:hover {
+          background: var(--background);
+          color: var(--text);
+        }
+
         .notification-list {
           max-height: 320px;
           overflow-y: auto;
@@ -300,10 +326,11 @@ export default function NotificationBell() {
         <div className="notification-dropdown">
           <div className="notification-dropdown-header">
             <span>Notifications</span>
-            <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-              <path d="M18 8A6 6 0 0 0 6 8c0 7-3 9-3 9h18s-3-2-3-9" />
-              <path d="M13.73 21a2 2 0 0 1-3.46 0" />
-            </svg>
+            {notifications.length > 0 && (
+              <button className="notification-clear-btn" onClick={handleClear}>
+                Clear
+              </button>
+            )}
           </div>
 
           {loading ? (