diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 529fbb1..16f2646 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ defaults:
   buckets: [.005, .01, .025, .05, .1, .25, .5, 1, 2.5 ]
   match_type: glob
   glob_disable_ordering: false
+  ttl: 0 # metrics do not expire
 mappings:
 # This will be a histogram using the buckets set in `defaults`.
 - match: test.timing.*.*.*
@@ -350,6 +351,18 @@ mappings:
 
 Possible values for `match_metric_type` are `gauge`, `counter` and `timer`.
 
+### Time series expiration
+
+The `ttl` parameter can be used to define the expiration time for stale metrics.
+The value is a time duration with valid time units: "ns", "us" (or "µs"),
+"ms", "s", "m", "h". For example, `ttl: 1m20s`. `0` value is used to indicate
+metrics that do not expire.
+
+ TTLs are applied to each mapped metric name/labels combination whenever
+ new samples are received. This means that you cannot immediately expire a
+ metric only by changing the mapping configuration. At least one sample must
+ be received for updated mappings to take effect.
+
 ## Using Docker
 
 You can deploy this exporter using the [prom/statsd-exporter](https://registry.hub.docker.com/u/prom/statsd-exporter/) Docker image.
diff --git a/exporter.go b/exporter.go
index b227516..13c98f1 100644
--- a/exporter.go
+++ b/exporter.go
@@ -22,14 +22,17 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"regexp"
+	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/log"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 
+	"github.com/prometheus/statsd_exporter/pkg/clock"
 	"github.com/prometheus/statsd_exporter/pkg/mapper"
 )
 
@@ -48,6 +51,15 @@ var (
 	intBuf = make([]byte, 8)
 )
 
+func labelNames(labels prometheus.Labels) []string {
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(labels))
+	for labelName := range labels {
+		names = append(names, labelName)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	return names
+}
+
 // hashNameAndLabels returns a hash value of the provided name string and all
 // the label names and values in the provided labels map.
 //
@@ -64,74 +76,82 @@ func hashNameAndLabels(name string, labels prometheus.Labels) uint64 {
 }
 
 type CounterContainer struct {
-	Elements map[uint64]prometheus.Counter
+	//           metric name
+	Elements map[string]*prometheus.CounterVec
 }
 
 func NewCounterContainer() *CounterContainer {
 	return &CounterContainer{
-		Elements: make(map[uint64]prometheus.Counter),
+		Elements: make(map[string]*prometheus.CounterVec),
 	}
 }
 
 func (c *CounterContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string) (prometheus.Counter, error) {
-	hash := hashNameAndLabels(metricName, labels)
-	counter, ok := c.Elements[hash]
+	counterVec, ok := c.Elements[metricName]
 	if !ok {
-		counter = prometheus.NewCounter(prometheus.CounterOpts{
-			Name:        metricName,
-			Help:        help,
-			ConstLabels: labels,
-		})
-		if err := prometheus.Register(counter); err != nil {
+		counterVec = prometheus.NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
+			Name: metricName,
+			Help: help,
+		}, labelNames(labels))
+		if err := prometheus.Register(counterVec); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		c.Elements[hash] = counter
+		c.Elements[metricName] = counterVec
+	}
+	return counterVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
+}
+
+func (c *CounterContainer) Delete(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels) {
+	if _, ok := c.Elements[metricName]; ok {
+		c.Elements[metricName].Delete(labels)
 	}
-	return counter, nil
 }
 
 type GaugeContainer struct {
-	Elements map[uint64]prometheus.Gauge
+	Elements map[string]*prometheus.GaugeVec
 }
 
 func NewGaugeContainer() *GaugeContainer {
 	return &GaugeContainer{
-		Elements: make(map[uint64]prometheus.Gauge),
+		Elements: make(map[string]*prometheus.GaugeVec),
 	}
 }
 
 func (c *GaugeContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string) (prometheus.Gauge, error) {
-	hash := hashNameAndLabels(metricName, labels)
-	gauge, ok := c.Elements[hash]
+	gaugeVec, ok := c.Elements[metricName]
 	if !ok {
-		gauge = prometheus.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
-			Name:        metricName,
-			Help:        help,
-			ConstLabels: labels,
-		})
-		if err := prometheus.Register(gauge); err != nil {
+		gaugeVec = prometheus.NewGaugeVec(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+			Name: metricName,
+			Help: help,
+		}, labelNames(labels))
+		if err := prometheus.Register(gaugeVec); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		c.Elements[hash] = gauge
+		c.Elements[metricName] = gaugeVec
+	}
+	return gaugeVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
+}
+
+func (c *GaugeContainer) Delete(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels) {
+	if _, ok := c.Elements[metricName]; ok {
+		c.Elements[metricName].Delete(labels)
 	}
-	return gauge, nil
 }
 
 type SummaryContainer struct {
-	Elements map[uint64]prometheus.Summary
+	Elements map[string]*prometheus.SummaryVec
 	mapper   *mapper.MetricMapper
 }
 
 func NewSummaryContainer(mapper *mapper.MetricMapper) *SummaryContainer {
 	return &SummaryContainer{
-		Elements: make(map[uint64]prometheus.Summary),
+		Elements: make(map[string]*prometheus.SummaryVec),
 		mapper:   mapper,
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *SummaryContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string, mapping *mapper.MetricMapping) (prometheus.Summary, error) {
-	hash := hashNameAndLabels(metricName, labels)
-	summary, ok := c.Elements[hash]
+func (c *SummaryContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string, mapping *mapper.MetricMapping) (prometheus.Observer, error) {
+	summaryVec, ok := c.Elements[metricName]
 	if !ok {
 		quantiles := c.mapper.Defaults.Quantiles
 		if mapping != nil && mapping.Quantiles != nil && len(mapping.Quantiles) > 0 {
@@ -141,54 +161,63 @@ func (c *SummaryContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help
 		for _, q := range quantiles {
 			objectives[q.Quantile] = q.Error
 		}
-		summary = prometheus.NewSummary(
+		summaryVec = prometheus.NewSummaryVec(
 			prometheus.SummaryOpts{
-				Name:        metricName,
-				Help:        help,
-				ConstLabels: labels,
-				Objectives:  objectives,
-			})
-		if err := prometheus.Register(summary); err != nil {
+				Name:       metricName,
+				Help:       help,
+				Objectives: objectives,
+			}, labelNames(labels))
+		if err := prometheus.Register(summaryVec); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		c.Elements[hash] = summary
+		c.Elements[metricName] = summaryVec
+	}
+	return summaryVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
+}
+
+func (c *SummaryContainer) Delete(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels) {
+	if _, ok := c.Elements[metricName]; ok {
+		c.Elements[metricName].Delete(labels)
 	}
-	return summary, nil
 }
 
 type HistogramContainer struct {
-	Elements map[uint64]prometheus.Histogram
+	Elements map[string]*prometheus.HistogramVec
 	mapper   *mapper.MetricMapper
 }
 
 func NewHistogramContainer(mapper *mapper.MetricMapper) *HistogramContainer {
 	return &HistogramContainer{
-		Elements: make(map[uint64]prometheus.Histogram),
+		Elements: make(map[string]*prometheus.HistogramVec),
 		mapper:   mapper,
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *HistogramContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string, mapping *mapper.MetricMapping) (prometheus.Histogram, error) {
-	hash := hashNameAndLabels(metricName, labels)
-	histogram, ok := c.Elements[hash]
+func (c *HistogramContainer) Get(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, help string, mapping *mapper.MetricMapping) (prometheus.Observer, error) {
+	histogramVec, ok := c.Elements[metricName]
 	if !ok {
 		buckets := c.mapper.Defaults.Buckets
 		if mapping != nil && mapping.Buckets != nil && len(mapping.Buckets) > 0 {
 			buckets = mapping.Buckets
 		}
-		histogram = prometheus.NewHistogram(
+		histogramVec = prometheus.NewHistogramVec(
 			prometheus.HistogramOpts{
-				Name:        metricName,
-				Help:        help,
-				ConstLabels: labels,
-				Buckets:     buckets,
-			})
-		c.Elements[hash] = histogram
-		if err := prometheus.Register(histogram); err != nil {
+				Name:    metricName,
+				Help:    help,
+				Buckets: buckets,
+			}, labelNames(labels))
+		if err := prometheus.Register(histogramVec); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		c.Elements[metricName] = histogramVec
+	}
+	return histogramVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
+}
+
+func (c *HistogramContainer) Delete(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels) {
+	if _, ok := c.Elements[metricName]; ok {
+		c.Elements[metricName].Delete(labels)
 	}
-	return histogram, nil
 }
 
 type Event interface {
@@ -234,12 +263,19 @@ func (c *TimerEvent) MetricType() mapper.MetricType { return mapper.MetricTypeTi
 
 type Events []Event
 
+type LabelValues struct {
+	lastRegisteredAt time.Time
+	labels           prometheus.Labels
+	ttl              time.Duration
+}
+
 type Exporter struct {
-	Counters   *CounterContainer
-	Gauges     *GaugeContainer
-	Summaries  *SummaryContainer
-	Histograms *HistogramContainer
-	mapper     *mapper.MetricMapper
+	Counters    *CounterContainer
+	Gauges      *GaugeContainer
+	Summaries   *SummaryContainer
+	Histograms  *HistogramContainer
+	mapper      *mapper.MetricMapper
+	labelValues map[string]map[uint64]*LabelValues
 }
 
 func escapeMetricName(metricName string) string {
@@ -256,14 +292,21 @@ func escapeMetricName(metricName string) string {
 // Listen handles all events sent to the given channel sequentially. It
 // terminates when the channel is closed.
 func (b *Exporter) Listen(e <-chan Events) {
+	removeStaleMetricsTicker := clock.NewTicker(time.Second)
+
 	for {
-		events, ok := <-e
-		if !ok {
-			log.Debug("Channel is closed. Break out of Exporter.Listener.")
-			return
-		}
-		for _, event := range events {
-			b.handleEvent(event)
+		select {
+		case <-removeStaleMetricsTicker.C:
+			b.removeStaleMetrics()
+		case events, ok := <-e:
+			if !ok {
+				log.Debug("Channel is closed. Break out of Exporter.Listener.")
+				removeStaleMetricsTicker.Stop()
+				return
+			}
+			for _, event := range events {
+				b.handleEvent(event)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -273,6 +316,9 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 	mapping, labels, present := b.mapper.GetMapping(event.MetricName(), event.MetricType())
 	if mapping == nil {
 		mapping = &mapper.MetricMapping{}
+		if b.mapper.Defaults.Ttl != 0 {
+			mapping.Ttl = b.mapper.Defaults.Ttl
+		}
 	}
 
 	if mapping.Action == mapper.ActionTypeDrop {
@@ -313,7 +359,7 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 		)
 		if err == nil {
 			counter.Add(event.Value())
-
+			b.saveLabelValues(metricName, prometheusLabels, mapping.Ttl)
 			eventStats.WithLabelValues("counter").Inc()
 		} else {
 			log.Debugf(regErrF, metricName, err)
@@ -333,7 +379,7 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 			} else {
 				gauge.Set(event.Value())
 			}
-
+			b.saveLabelValues(metricName, prometheusLabels, mapping.Ttl)
 			eventStats.WithLabelValues("gauge").Inc()
 		} else {
 			log.Debugf(regErrF, metricName, err)
@@ -359,6 +405,7 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 			)
 			if err == nil {
 				histogram.Observe(event.Value() / 1000) // prometheus presumes seconds, statsd millisecond
+				b.saveLabelValues(metricName, prometheusLabels, mapping.Ttl)
 				eventStats.WithLabelValues("timer").Inc()
 			} else {
 				log.Debugf(regErrF, metricName, err)
@@ -374,6 +421,7 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 			)
 			if err == nil {
 				summary.Observe(event.Value())
+				b.saveLabelValues(metricName, prometheusLabels, mapping.Ttl)
 				eventStats.WithLabelValues("timer").Inc()
 			} else {
 				log.Debugf(regErrF, metricName, err)
@@ -390,13 +438,56 @@ func (b *Exporter) handleEvent(event Event) {
 	}
 }
 
+// removeStaleMetrics removes label values set from metric with stale values
+func (b *Exporter) removeStaleMetrics() {
+	now := clock.Now()
+	// delete timeseries with expired ttl
+	for metricName := range b.labelValues {
+		for hash, lvs := range b.labelValues[metricName] {
+			if lvs.ttl == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			if lvs.lastRegisteredAt.Add(lvs.ttl).Before(now) {
+				b.Counters.Delete(metricName, lvs.labels)
+				b.Gauges.Delete(metricName, lvs.labels)
+				b.Summaries.Delete(metricName, lvs.labels)
+				b.Histograms.Delete(metricName, lvs.labels)
+				delete(b.labelValues[metricName], hash)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// saveLabelValues stores label values set to labelValues and update lastRegisteredAt time and ttl value
+func (b *Exporter) saveLabelValues(metricName string, labels prometheus.Labels, ttl time.Duration) {
+	metric, hasMetric := b.labelValues[metricName]
+	if !hasMetric {
+		metric = make(map[uint64]*LabelValues)
+		b.labelValues[metricName] = metric
+	}
+	hash := hashNameAndLabels(metricName, labels)
+	metricLabelValues, ok := metric[hash]
+	if !ok {
+		metricLabelValues = &LabelValues{
+			labels: labels,
+			ttl:    ttl,
+		}
+		b.labelValues[metricName][hash] = metricLabelValues
+	}
+	now := clock.Now()
+	metricLabelValues.lastRegisteredAt = now
+	// Update ttl from mapping
+	metricLabelValues.ttl = ttl
+}
+
 func NewExporter(mapper *mapper.MetricMapper) *Exporter {
 	return &Exporter{
-		Counters:   NewCounterContainer(),
-		Gauges:     NewGaugeContainer(),
-		Summaries:  NewSummaryContainer(mapper),
-		Histograms: NewHistogramContainer(mapper),
-		mapper:     mapper,
+		Counters:    NewCounterContainer(),
+		Gauges:      NewGaugeContainer(),
+		Summaries:   NewSummaryContainer(mapper),
+		Histograms:  NewHistogramContainer(mapper),
+		mapper:      mapper,
+		labelValues: make(map[string]map[uint64]*LabelValues, 0),
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/exporter_test.go b/exporter_test.go
index 0722240..b4615b8 100644
--- a/exporter_test.go
+++ b/exporter_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
 
+	"github.com/prometheus/statsd_exporter/pkg/clock"
 	"github.com/prometheus/statsd_exporter/pkg/mapper"
 )
 
@@ -38,22 +40,19 @@ func TestNegativeCounter(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	events := make(chan Events, 1)
-	c := Events{
-		&CounterEvent{
-			metricName: "foo",
-			value:      -1,
-		},
-	}
-	events <- c
-	ex := NewExporter(&mapper.MetricMapper{})
-
-	// Close channel to signify we are done with the listener after a short period.
+	events := make(chan Events, 0)
 	go func() {
-		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
+		c := Events{
+			&CounterEvent{
+				metricName: "foo",
+				value:      -1,
+			},
+		}
+		events <- c
 		close(events)
 	}()
 
+	ex := NewExporter(&mapper.MetricMapper{})
 	ex.Listen(events)
 }
 
@@ -62,34 +61,37 @@ func TestNegativeCounter(t *testing.T) {
 // It sends the same tags first with a valid value, then with an invalid one.
 // The exporter should not panic, but drop the invalid event
 func TestInvalidUtf8InDatadogTagValue(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		if e := recover(); e != nil {
+			err := e.(error)
+			t.Fatalf("Exporter listener should not panic on bad utf8: %q", err.Error())
+		}
+	}()
+
+	events := make(chan Events, 0)
+
+	go func() {
+		for _, l := range []statsDPacketHandler{&StatsDUDPListener{}, &mockStatsDTCPListener{}} {
+			l.handlePacket([]byte("bar:200|c|#tag:value\nbar:200|c|#tag:\xc3\x28invalid"), events)
+		}
+		close(events)
+	}()
+
 	ex := NewExporter(&mapper.MetricMapper{})
-	for _, l := range []statsDPacketHandler{&StatsDUDPListener{}, &mockStatsDTCPListener{}} {
-		events := make(chan Events, 2)
-
-		l.handlePacket([]byte("bar:200|c|#tag:value\nbar:200|c|#tag:\xc3\x28invalid"), events)
-
-		// Close channel to signify we are done with the listener after a short period.
-		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
-			close(events)
-		}()
-
-		ex.Listen(events)
-	}
-}
-
-type MockHistogram struct {
-	prometheus.Metric
-	prometheus.Collector
-	value float64
-}
-
-func (h *MockHistogram) Observe(n float64) {
-	h.value = n
+	ex.Listen(events)
 }
 
 func TestHistogramUnits(t *testing.T) {
-	events := make(chan Events, 1)
+	// Start exporter with a synchronous channel
+	events := make(chan Events, 0)
+	go func() {
+		ex := NewExporter(&mapper.MetricMapper{})
+		ex.mapper.Defaults.TimerType = mapper.TimerTypeHistogram
+		ex.Listen(events)
+	}()
+
+	// Synchronously send a statsd event to wait for handleEvent execution.
+	// Then close events channel to stop a listener.
 	name := "foo"
 	c := Events{
 		&TimerEvent{
@@ -98,22 +100,22 @@ func TestHistogramUnits(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	events <- c
-	ex := NewExporter(&mapper.MetricMapper{})
-	ex.mapper.Defaults.TimerType = mapper.TimerTypeHistogram
+	events <- Events{}
+	close(events)
 
-	// Close channel to signify we are done with the listener after a short period.
-	go func() {
-		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
-		close(events)
-	}()
-	mock := &MockHistogram{}
-	key := hashNameAndLabels(name, nil)
-	ex.Histograms.Elements[key] = mock
-	ex.Listen(events)
-	if mock.value == 300 {
+	// Check histogram value
+	metrics, err := prometheus.DefaultGatherer.Gather()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Cannot gather from DefaultGatherer: %v", err)
+	}
+	value := getFloat64(metrics, name, prometheus.Labels{})
+	if value == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Histogram value should not be nil")
+	}
+	if *value == 300 {
 		t.Fatalf("Histogram observations not scaled into Seconds")
-	} else if mock.value != .300 {
-		t.Fatalf("Received unexpected value for histogram observation %f != .300", mock.value)
+	} else if *value != .300 {
+		t.Fatalf("Received unexpected value for histogram observation %f != .300", *value)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -173,3 +175,183 @@ func TestEscapeMetricName(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// TestTtlExpiration validates expiration of time series.
+// foobar metric without mapping should expire with default ttl of 1s
+// bazqux metric should expire with ttl of 2s
+func TestTtlExpiration(t *testing.T) {
+	// Mock a time.NewTicker
+	tickerCh := make(chan time.Time, 0)
+	clock.ClockInstance = &clock.Clock{
+		TickerCh: tickerCh,
+	}
+
+	config := `
+defaults:
+  ttl: 1s
+mappings:
+- match: bazqux.*
+  name: bazqux
+  ttl: 2s
+`
+	// Create mapper from config and start an Exporter with a synchronous channel
+	testMapper := &mapper.MetricMapper{}
+	err := testMapper.InitFromYAMLString(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Config load error: %s %s", config, err)
+	}
+	events := make(chan Events, 0)
+	defer close(events)
+	go func() {
+		ex := NewExporter(testMapper)
+		ex.Listen(events)
+	}()
+
+	ev := Events{
+		// event with default ttl = 1s
+		&GaugeEvent{
+			metricName: "foobar",
+			value:      200,
+		},
+		// event with ttl = 2s from a mapping
+		&TimerEvent{
+			metricName: "bazqux.main",
+			value:      42,
+		},
+	}
+
+	var metrics []*dto.MetricFamily
+	var foobarValue *float64
+	var bazquxValue *float64
+
+	// Step 1. Send events with statsd metrics.
+	// Send empty Events to wait for events are handled.
+	// saveLabelValues will use fake instant as a lastRegisteredAt time.
+	clock.ClockInstance.Instant = time.Unix(0, 0)
+	events <- ev
+	events <- Events{}
+
+	// Check values
+	metrics, err = prometheus.DefaultGatherer.Gather()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Gather should not fail")
+	}
+	foobarValue = getFloat64(metrics, "foobar", prometheus.Labels{})
+	bazquxValue = getFloat64(metrics, "bazqux", prometheus.Labels{})
+	if foobarValue == nil || bazquxValue == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Gauge `foobar` and Summary `bazqux` should be gathered")
+	}
+	if *foobarValue != 200 {
+		t.Fatalf("Gauge `foobar` observation %f is not expected. Should be 200", *foobarValue)
+	}
+	if *bazquxValue != 42 {
+		t.Fatalf("Summary `bazqux` observation %f is not expected. Should be 42", *bazquxValue)
+	}
+
+	// Step 2. Increase Instant to emulate metrics expiration after 1s
+	clock.ClockInstance.Instant = time.Unix(1, 10)
+	clock.ClockInstance.TickerCh <- time.Unix(0, 0)
+	events <- Events{}
+
+	// Check values
+	metrics, err = prometheus.DefaultGatherer.Gather()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Gather should not fail")
+	}
+	foobarValue = getFloat64(metrics, "foobar", prometheus.Labels{})
+	bazquxValue = getFloat64(metrics, "bazqux", prometheus.Labels{})
+	if foobarValue != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Gauge `foobar` should be expired")
+	}
+	if bazquxValue == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Summary `bazqux` should be gathered")
+	}
+	if *bazquxValue != 42 {
+		t.Fatalf("Summary `bazqux` observation %f is not expected. Should be 42", *bazquxValue)
+	}
+
+	// Step 3. Increase Instant to emulate metrics expiration after 2s
+	clock.ClockInstance.Instant = time.Unix(2, 200)
+	clock.ClockInstance.TickerCh <- time.Unix(0, 0)
+	events <- Events{}
+
+	// Check values
+	metrics, err = prometheus.DefaultGatherer.Gather()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Gather should not fail")
+	}
+	foobarValue = getFloat64(metrics, "foobar", prometheus.Labels{})
+	bazquxValue = getFloat64(metrics, "bazqux", prometheus.Labels{})
+	if bazquxValue != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Summary `bazqux` should be expired")
+	}
+	if foobarValue != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Gauge `foobar` should not be gathered after expiration")
+	}
+}
+
+// getFloat64 search for metric by name in array of MetricFamily and then search a value by labels.
+// Method returns a value or nil if metric is not found.
+func getFloat64(metrics []*dto.MetricFamily, name string, labels prometheus.Labels) *float64 {
+	var metricFamily *dto.MetricFamily
+	for _, m := range metrics {
+		if *m.Name == name {
+			metricFamily = m
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if metricFamily == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var metric *dto.Metric
+	labelsHash := hashNameAndLabels(name, labels)
+	for _, m := range metricFamily.Metric {
+		h := hashNameAndLabels(name, labelPairsAsLabels(m.GetLabel()))
+		if h == labelsHash {
+			metric = m
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if metric == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var value float64
+	if metric.Gauge != nil {
+		value = metric.Gauge.GetValue()
+		return &value
+	}
+	if metric.Counter != nil {
+		value = metric.Counter.GetValue()
+		return &value
+	}
+	if metric.Histogram != nil {
+		value = metric.Histogram.GetSampleSum()
+		return &value
+	}
+	if metric.Summary != nil {
+		value = metric.Summary.GetSampleSum()
+		return &value
+	}
+	if metric.Untyped != nil {
+		value = metric.Untyped.GetValue()
+		return &value
+	}
+	panic(fmt.Errorf("collected a non-gauge/counter/histogram/summary/untyped metric: %s", metric))
+}
+
+func labelPairsAsLabels(pairs []*dto.LabelPair) (labels prometheus.Labels) {
+	labels = prometheus.Labels{}
+	for _, pair := range pairs {
+		if pair.Name == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		value := ""
+		if pair.Value != nil {
+			value = *pair.Value
+		}
+		labels[*pair.Name] = value
+	}
+	return
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index b69800f..488a957 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/onsi/gomega v1.4.3 // indirect
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/prometheus/client_golang v0.9.2
+	github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.0.0-20180712105110-5c3871d89910
 	github.com/prometheus/common v0.0.0-20181126121408-4724e9255275
 	github.com/sergi/go-diff v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.0.3 // indirect
diff --git a/pkg/clock/clock.go b/pkg/clock/clock.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dc8394
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/clock/clock.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package clock
+
+import (
+	"time"
+)
+
+var ClockInstance *Clock
+
+type Clock struct {
+	Instant  time.Time
+	TickerCh chan time.Time
+}
+
+func Now() time.Time {
+	if ClockInstance == nil {
+		return time.Now()
+	}
+	return ClockInstance.Instant
+}
+
+func NewTicker(d time.Duration) *time.Ticker {
+	if ClockInstance == nil || ClockInstance.TickerCh == nil {
+		return time.NewTicker(d)
+	}
+	return &time.Ticker{
+		C: ClockInstance.TickerCh,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/mapper/mapper.go b/pkg/mapper/mapper.go
index 46e90e6..b9fe3d7 100644
--- a/pkg/mapper/mapper.go
+++ b/pkg/mapper/mapper.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"github.com/prometheus/statsd_exporter/pkg/mapper/fsm"
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+	"time"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ type mapperConfigDefaults struct {
 	Quantiles           []metricObjective `yaml:"quantiles"`
 	MatchType           MatchType         `yaml:"match_type"`
 	GlobDisableOrdering bool              `yaml:"glob_disable_ordering"`
+	Ttl                 time.Duration     `yaml:"ttl"`
 }
 
 type MetricMapper struct {
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ type MetricMapping struct {
 	HelpText        string            `yaml:"help"`
 	Action          ActionType        `yaml:"action"`
 	MatchMetricType MetricType        `yaml:"match_metric_type"`
+	Ttl             time.Duration     `yaml:"ttl"`
 }
 
 type metricObjective struct {
@@ -177,6 +180,10 @@ func (m *MetricMapper) InitFromYAMLString(fileContents string) error {
 			currentMapping.Quantiles = n.Defaults.Quantiles
 		}
 
+		if currentMapping.Ttl == 0 && n.Defaults.Ttl > 0 {
+			currentMapping.Ttl = n.Defaults.Ttl
+		}
+
 	}
 
 	m.mutex.Lock()
diff --git a/pkg/mapper/mapper_test.go b/pkg/mapper/mapper_test.go
index 08e4306..8d1ea49 100644
--- a/pkg/mapper/mapper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mapper/mapper_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ package mapper
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type mappings map[string]struct {
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ type mappings map[string]struct {
 	labels     map[string]string
 	quantiles  []metricObjective
 	notPresent bool
+	ttl        time.Duration
 }
 
 func TestMetricMapperYAML(t *testing.T) {
@@ -603,6 +605,66 @@ mappings:
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		// Config that has a ttl.
+		{
+			config: `mappings:
+- match: web.*
+  name: "web"
+  ttl: 10s
+  labels:
+    site: "$1"`,
+			mappings: mappings{
+				"test.a": {},
+				"web.localhost": {
+					name: "web",
+					labels: map[string]string{
+						"site": "localhost",
+					},
+					ttl: time.Second * 10,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		// Config that has a default ttl.
+		{
+			config: `defaults:
+  ttl: 1m2s
+mappings:
+- match: web.*
+  name: "web"
+  labels:
+    site: "$1"`,
+			mappings: mappings{
+				"test.a": {},
+				"web.localhost": {
+					name: "web",
+					labels: map[string]string{
+						"site": "localhost",
+					},
+					ttl: time.Minute + time.Second*2,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		// Config that override a default ttl.
+		{
+			config: `defaults:
+  ttl: 1m2s
+mappings:
+- match: web.*
+  name: "web"
+  ttl: 5s
+  labels:
+    site: "$1"`,
+			mappings: mappings{
+				"test.a": {},
+				"web.localhost": {
+					name: "web",
+					labels: map[string]string{
+						"site": "localhost",
+					},
+					ttl: time.Second * 5,
+				},
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	mapper := MetricMapper{}
@@ -633,6 +695,9 @@ mappings:
 					t.Fatalf("%d.%q: Expected labels %v, got %v", i, metric, mapping, labels)
 				}
 			}
+			if mapping.ttl > 0 && mapping.ttl != m.Ttl {
+				t.Fatalf("%d.%q: Expected ttl of %s, got %s", i, metric, mapping.ttl.String(), m.Ttl.String())
+			}
 
 			if len(mapping.quantiles) != 0 {
 				if len(mapping.quantiles) != len(m.Quantiles) {