Grilling season is in full swing, and everyone’s loving the return of al fresco cooking and dining. Before you hit the barbecue with a platter of meat and veggies, you’ll want to scrub those grates clean of all charred material left over from last season. And from what we’ve been reading, maybe don’t use a grill brush made from metal.

According to the Center for Disease Control, many kinds of steel grill brushes shed bristles that are razor-sharp on both ends and small enough to be ingested without detection…until of course they start shredding up your insides. Not to terrify you, but it seems like a pretty easy gadget to toss in return for the satisfaction of knowing your beautifully barbecued Steelhead salmon isn’t packing actual steel.

Instead, rely on our tried-and-true hack for cleaning your grill to a spotless shine every time.

That’s right, heat up the grill and choose your weapon: a generous spritz of white vinegar and half an onion speared on the end of a fork or scrunched-up ball of aluminum foil. Scrub vigorously and discard! Or, in the case of the onion half, slice off a quarter inch or so and toss right back on the grill. Food waste, you know?