diff --git a/cypress.config.js b/cypress.config.js
index 082535a4..3ec98bd0 100644
--- a/cypress.config.js
+++ b/cypress.config.js
@@ -1,73 +1,62 @@
-const { defineConfig } = require("cypress");
-const net = require("net");
+const { defineConfig } = require('cypress')
+const net = require('net')
 
-const DEFAULT_DB_HOST =
-  process.env.CYPRESS_DB_HOST ?? process.env.MARIADB_HOST ?? "127.0.0.1";
-const DEFAULT_DB_PORT = Number(
-  process.env.CYPRESS_DB_PORT ?? process.env.MARIADB_PORT ?? 3306,
-);
-const DEFAULT_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS = Number(
-  process.env.CYPRESS_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT ?? 30_000,
-);
+const DEFAULT_DB_HOST = process.env.CYPRESS_DB_HOST ?? process.env.MARIADB_HOST ?? '127.0.0.1'
+const DEFAULT_DB_PORT = Number(process.env.CYPRESS_DB_PORT ?? process.env.MARIADB_PORT ?? 3306)
+const DEFAULT_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS = Number(process.env.CYPRESS_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT ?? 30_000)
 
-const RETRY_DELAY_MS = 1_000;
-const SOCKET_TIMEOUT_MS = 2_000;
+const RETRY_DELAY_MS = 1_000
+const SOCKET_TIMEOUT_MS = 2_000
 
 /**
  * @param {{ host?: string; port?: number; timeoutMs?: number }} [options]
  * @param {{ dbHost?: string; dbPort?: number; dbWaitTimeoutMs?: number }} [env]
  */
 async function waitForDatabase(options = {}, env = {}) {
-  const host = options.host ?? env.dbHost ?? DEFAULT_DB_HOST;
-  const port = Number(options.port ?? env.dbPort ?? DEFAULT_DB_PORT);
-  const timeoutMs = Number(
-    options.timeoutMs ?? env.dbWaitTimeoutMs ?? DEFAULT_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS,
-  );
+  const host = options.host ?? env.dbHost ?? DEFAULT_DB_HOST
+  const port = Number(options.port ?? env.dbPort ?? DEFAULT_DB_PORT)
+  const timeoutMs = Number(options.timeoutMs ?? env.dbWaitTimeoutMs ?? DEFAULT_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS)
 
   if (!Number.isFinite(port)) {
-    throw new Error(`Invalid database port provided for waitForDbHealthy: ${port}`);
+    throw new Error(`Invalid database port provided for waitForDbHealthy: ${port}`)
   }
 
-  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs;
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs
 
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const attemptConnection = () => {
-      const socket = net.createConnection({ host, port });
+      const socket = net.createConnection({ host, port })
 
       const cleanup = () => {
-        socket.removeAllListeners();
-      };
+        socket.removeAllListeners()
+      }
 
-      const scheduleRetry = (error) => {
-        cleanup();
-        socket.destroy();
+      const scheduleRetry = error => {
+        cleanup()
+        socket.destroy()
 
         if (Date.now() >= deadline) {
-          reject(
-            new Error(
-              `Timed out waiting for MariaDB at ${host}:${port} (${error.message})`,
-            ),
-          );
-          return;
+          reject(new Error(`Timed out waiting for MariaDB at ${host}:${port} (${error.message})`))
+          return
         }
 
-        setTimeout(attemptConnection, RETRY_DELAY_MS);
-      };
+        setTimeout(attemptConnection, RETRY_DELAY_MS)
+      }
 
-      socket.once("connect", () => {
-        cleanup();
-        socket.end();
-        resolve(null);
-      });
+      socket.once('connect', () => {
+        cleanup()
+        socket.end()
+        resolve(null)
+      })
 
-      socket.once("error", scheduleRetry);
+      socket.once('error', scheduleRetry)
       socket.setTimeout(SOCKET_TIMEOUT_MS, () => {
-        scheduleRetry(new Error("Connection attempt timed out"));
-      });
-    };
+        scheduleRetry(new Error('Connection attempt timed out'))
+      })
+    }
 
-    attemptConnection();
-  });
+    attemptConnection()
+  })
 }
 
 module.exports = defineConfig({
@@ -86,17 +75,14 @@ module.exports = defineConfig({
       return config
     },
     baseUrl: 'http://localhost:5173/',
-    specPattern: [
-      'cypress/e2e/**/*.cy.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}',
-      'cypress/e2e/**/*.spec.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}',
-    ],
+    specPattern: ['cypress/e2e/**/*.cy.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}', 'cypress/e2e/**/*.spec.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}'],
   },
   env: {
-    databaseResetUrl: "http://localhost:4000/test/reset-test-database",
+    databaseResetUrl: 'http://localhost:4000/test/reset-test-database',
     dbHost: DEFAULT_DB_HOST,
     dbPort: DEFAULT_DB_PORT,
     dbWaitTimeoutMs: DEFAULT_DB_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS,
   },
   viewportHeight: 900,
   viewportWidth: 1200,
-});
+})
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/asAdmin.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/asAdmin.cy.js
index c6611d9f..1f9fefbb 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/asAdmin.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/asAdmin.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Open each page, table view and detail view, and check at least some correct text appears', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/delete.spec.ts b/cypress/e2e/delete.spec.ts
index d4898ff1..700cd4bb 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/delete.spec.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/delete.spec.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ const createRegion = (regionTarget: DeleteTarget, name: string) => {
 
 describe('Delete flow', () => {
   before('Wait for database and reset', () => {
-    cy.task('waitForDbHealthy')
-    cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+    cy.resetDatabase()
   })
 
   beforeEach('Login as delete-capable coordinator', () => {
@@ -38,26 +37,28 @@ describe('Delete flow', () => {
 
       const name = regionName('Success')
 
-      cy.wrap(null).then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name)).then(createdId => {
-        cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`).as('deleteRegion')
+      cy.wrap(null)
+        .then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name))
+        .then(createdId => {
+          cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`).as('deleteRegion')
 
-        cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
-          expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
-          return true
+          cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
+            expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
+            return true
+          })
+
+          cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
+
+          cy.wait('@deleteRegion').its('response.statusCode').should('be.oneOf', [200])
+
+          cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('be.visible')
+
+          cy.url().should('include', '/region')
+          cy.contains(name).should('not.exist')
+
+          cy.visit(`/region/${createdId}`)
+          cy.contains('Error loading data')
         })
-
-        cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
-
-        cy.wait('@deleteRegion').its('response.statusCode').should('be.oneOf', [200])
-
-        cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('be.visible')
-
-        cy.url().should('include', '/region')
-        cy.contains(name).should('not.exist')
-
-        cy.visit(`/region/${createdId}`)
-        cy.contains('Error loading data')
-      })
     })
   })
 
@@ -70,33 +71,35 @@ describe('Delete flow', () => {
 
       const name = regionName('Cancel')
 
-      cy.wrap(null).then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name)).then(createdId => {
-        let deleteCallCount = 0
-        cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`, req => {
-          deleteCallCount += 1
-          req.reply({ statusCode: 500 })
-        }).as('deleteRegionCancel')
+      cy.wrap(null)
+        .then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name))
+        .then(createdId => {
+          let deleteCallCount = 0
+          cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`, req => {
+            deleteCallCount += 1
+            req.reply({ statusCode: 500 })
+          }).as('deleteRegionCancel')
 
-        cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
-          expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
-          return false
+          cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
+            expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
+            return false
+          })
+
+          cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
+
+          cy.then(() => {
+            expect(deleteCallCount).to.eq(0)
+          })
+
+          cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('not.exist')
+          cy.url().should('match', /\/region\/\d+$/)
+          cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
+
+          cy.visit('/region')
+          cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
+          cy.visit(`/region/${createdId}`)
+          cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
         })
-
-        cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
-
-        cy.then(() => {
-          expect(deleteCallCount).to.eq(0)
-        })
-
-        cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('not.exist')
-        cy.url().should('match', /\/region\/\d+$/)
-        cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
-
-        cy.visit('/region')
-        cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
-        cy.visit(`/region/${createdId}`)
-        cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
-      })
     })
   })
 
@@ -110,29 +113,31 @@ describe('Delete flow', () => {
       const name = regionName('Failure')
       const failureMessage = 'Test delete failure'
 
-      cy.wrap(null).then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name)).then(createdId => {
-        cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`, {
-          statusCode: 500,
-          body: { message: failureMessage },
-        }).as('deleteRegionFailure')
+      cy.wrap(null)
+        .then(() => createRegion(regionTarget, name))
+        .then(createdId => {
+          cy.intercept('DELETE', `**/region/${createdId}`, {
+            statusCode: 500,
+            body: { message: failureMessage },
+          }).as('deleteRegionFailure')
 
-        cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
-          expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
-          return true
+          cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
+            expect(message).to.eq(regionTarget.confirmText)
+            return true
+          })
+
+          cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
+
+          cy.wait('@deleteRegionFailure').its('response.statusCode').should('eq', 500)
+
+          cy.contains(failureMessage).should('be.visible')
+          cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('not.exist')
+          cy.url().should('match', /\/region\/\d+$/)
+          cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
+
+          cy.visit('/region')
+          cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
         })
-
-        cy.get(regionTarget.deleteButton).click()
-
-        cy.wait('@deleteRegionFailure').its('response.statusCode').should('eq', 500)
-
-        cy.contains(failureMessage).should('be.visible')
-        cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('not.exist')
-        cy.url().should('match', /\/region\/\d+$/)
-        cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
-
-        cy.visit('/region')
-        cy.contains(name).should('be.visible')
-      })
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/locality.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/locality.cy.js
index 91d5dc3f..7e9b1b14 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/locality.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/locality.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Adding species in Locality -> Species tab for an existing locality', () => {
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ describe('Adding species in Locality -> Species tab for an existing locality', (
     cy.contains('Genus Amblycoptus belongs to family Soricidae, not Bovidae.')
   })
 
-
   it('minus action only marks the clicked species row as removed', () => {
     cy.visit(`/locality/20920?tab=2`)
     cy.contains('Lantian-Shuijiazui')
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/login.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/login.cy.js
index 9000a514..5f26941a 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/login.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/login.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('User redirecting after logging in works', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/misc.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/misc.cy.js
index a64de728..90ff583a 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/misc.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/misc.cy.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const doesNotHaveStagingMode = viewUrl => {
 }
 
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Test individual features across the app', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/occurrence-edit.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/occurrence-edit.cy.ts
index a219a4cd..4a5bcce3 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/occurrence-edit.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/occurrence-edit.cy.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Occurrence editing', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/person.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/person.cy.js
index 0fcbd1cc..ba22ed61 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/person.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/person.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating a person', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/reference.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/reference.cy.js
index fc410936..91cbdf8a 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/reference.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/reference.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating a journal', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/region.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/region.cy.js
index 927382d5..768c04b5 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/region.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/region.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating a region', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/sequence_edit.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/sequence_edit.cy.ts
index 3587d23e..9a591f84 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/sequence_edit.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/sequence_edit.cy.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 describe('Sequence edit behavior', () => {
   before('Wait for database and reset state', () => {
-    cy.task('waitForDbHealthy')
-    cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+    cy.resetDatabase()
   })
 
   beforeEach('Login as admin', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/species.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/species.cy.js
index 261bf7c2..bd6c399b 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/species.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/species.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating a species', () => {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ describe('Editing a species', () => {
 
 describe('Taxonomy checks work', () => {
   before('Reset database', () => {
-    cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+    cy.resetDatabase()
   })
 
   beforeEach('Login as admin', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/timeBound.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/timeBound.cy.js
index 73800ba5..7b7858a4 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/timeBound.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/timeBound.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating time bound', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/timeUnit.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/timeUnit.cy.js
index cf582b58..86b607b4 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/timeUnit.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/timeUnit.cy.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const buildTimeUnitName = (base = 'Testing Time Unit Creation') =>
   `${base} ${Date.now()}-${Math.floor(Math.random() * 1e6)}`
 
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Creating a time unit', () => {
@@ -317,30 +317,30 @@ describe('Deleting a time unit', () => {
       const deletePath = `**/time-unit/${slug}`
       cy.intercept('DELETE', deletePath).as('deleteTimeUnit')
 
-      cy.fixture('login').its('deleteTargets').then(deleteTargets => {
-        const confirmText = deleteTargets.find(target => target.entity === 'TimeUnit')
-          ?.confirmText
-        const expectedConfirm =
-          confirmText ||
-          'Are you sure you want to delete this item? This operation cannot be undone.'
+      cy.fixture('login')
+        .its('deleteTargets')
+        .then(deleteTargets => {
+          const confirmText = deleteTargets.find(target => target.entity === 'TimeUnit')?.confirmText
+          const expectedConfirm =
+            confirmText || 'Are you sure you want to delete this item? This operation cannot be undone.'
 
-        cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
-          expect(message).to.eq(expectedConfirm)
-          return true
+          cy.on('window:confirm', message => {
+            expect(message).to.eq(expectedConfirm)
+            return true
+          })
+
+          cy.get('[id=delete-button]').click()
+
+          cy.wait('@deleteTimeUnit').its('response.statusCode').should('be.oneOf', [200, 204])
+
+          cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('be.visible')
+
+          cy.url().should('include', '/time-unit')
+          cy.contains(displayName).should('not.exist')
+
+          cy.visit(`/time-unit/${slug}`)
+          cy.contains('Error loading data')
         })
-
-        cy.get('[id=delete-button]').click()
-
-        cy.wait('@deleteTimeUnit').its('response.statusCode').should('be.oneOf', [200, 204])
-
-        cy.contains('Deleted item successfully.').should('be.visible')
-
-        cy.url().should('include', '/time-unit')
-        cy.contains(displayName).should('not.exist')
-
-        cy.visit(`/time-unit/${slug}`)
-        cy.contains('Error loading data')
-      })
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/ui.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/ui.cy.js
index 2f5976f2..514fd5a0 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/ui.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/ui.cy.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 */
 
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Button Tests', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/updateLogNavigation.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/updateLogNavigation.cy.ts
index 5570cd8c..31bed148 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/updateLogNavigation.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/updateLogNavigation.cy.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 /// <reference types="cypress" />
 
 describe('Update log navigation', () => {
-  before('Wait for database to become ready', () => {
-    cy.task('waitForDbHealthy')
-  })
-
   before('Reset database', () => {
-    cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+    cy.resetDatabase()
   })
 
   beforeEach('Login as admin', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/userPage.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/userPage.cy.js
index c278b832..5d513563 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/userPage.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/userPage.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Change password form validates passwords correctly and shows errors to the user', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/userRights.cy.js b/cypress/e2e/userRights.cy.js
index 7012a8d7..275efd84 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/userRights.cy.js
+++ b/cypress/e2e/userRights.cy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 before('Reset database', () => {
-  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl'))
+  cy.resetDatabase()
 })
 
 describe('Broadly test what different user rights see', () => {
diff --git a/cypress/support/commands.js b/cypress/support/commands.js
index e9d47d91..6be6430a 100644
--- a/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -25,13 +25,16 @@
 // Cypress.Commands.overwrite('visit', (originalFn, url, options) => { ... })
 
 Cypress.Commands.add('login', username => {
-  cy.clearLocalStorage()
+  cy.clearAllLocalStorage()
+  cy.clearAllSessionStorage()
+  cy.clearCookies()
+  cy.intercept('POST', '**/user/login').as('loginRequest')
   cy.visit('/login')
-  cy.get('[data-cy="login-button"]', { timeout: 10000 }).should('be.visible').click()
-  cy.get('[data-cy="username-basic"]').type(username)
-  cy.get('[data-cy="password-basic"]').type('test')
-  cy.get('[data-cy="login-button"]').click()
-  cy.contains(`${username}`)
+  cy.get('[data-cy="username-basic"]', { timeout: 10000 }).should('be.visible').clear().type(username)
+  cy.get('[data-cy="password-basic"]').should('be.visible').clear().type('test', { log: false })
+  cy.get('[data-cy="login-button"]').should('be.visible').click()
+  cy.wait('@loginRequest').its('response.statusCode').should('eq', 200)
+  cy.location('pathname', { timeout: 10000 }).should('not.eq', '/login')
 })
 
 Cypress.Commands.add('loginAsDeleteCoordinator', () => {
@@ -50,7 +53,8 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('pageForbidden', url => {
 })
 
 Cypress.Commands.add('resetDatabase', () => {
-  cy.task('resetDatabase')
+  cy.task('waitForDbHealthy')
+  cy.request(Cypress.env('databaseResetUrl')).its('status').should('eq', 200)
 })
 
 // use this once you have edited some data and want to save it