diff --git a/db.go b/db.go
index fbe1da3..e75ac89 100644
--- a/db.go
+++ b/db.go
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ func ConnectDB(dbPath string) (*gorm.DB, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to database: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	// set auto_vacuum mode to ON
+	// this automagically removes old rows from the database when idle
+	db.Exec("PRAGMA auto_vacuum = ON;")
 	// AutoMigrate will create the tables if they don't exist
 	db.AutoMigrate(&Box{}, &Item{}, &User{})