Various embodiments for scrubbing data within a data storage subsystem are disclosed. An event is detected in which utilization of the data storage subsystem has fallen below a dynamically adjusted threshold value. A storage element is selected from a plurality of storage elements within the data storage subsystem. Data modifications are temporarily suspended on the selected storage element while simultaneously maintaining read access to the selected storage element. A scrubbing operation is performed on the selected storage element after the temporary designation, wherein the scrubbing operation automatically initiates when a quantity of active data to be scrubbed reaches a predetermined quantity threshold, the predetermined quantity threshold of active data comprising a total threshold number of bytes or blocks corresponding to a greatest frequency of access thereof.