How To Clean Straws

CLEANING REUSABLE STRAWS AT HOME

As more Americans become aware of the health and environmental impacts of the 500 million single-use straws used in the U.S. each day, there is a growing movement to refuse single-use plastic straws and switch to reusable alternatives instead. Here are tips for cleaning your reusable stainless steel drinking straws at home:

CLEANING DRINKING STRAWS BY HAND AT HOME

Step One

NOTE: All of our straws are dishwasher safe. However, for our painted straws, we recommend hand wash only. These instructions for hand wash apply to any size reusable straw, either raw brushed silver, or with a paint finish. Rinse the straw under hot water. Ideally, use a sink or smaller cleaning tub with hot soapy water.

Step Two

Wet a straw cleaner brush and rub a bit of dish soap on it until it gets sudsy. Push the soapy brush or twisted pipe cleaner back and forth through the straw and on its exterior to remove any debris or drink residue. More brushing may be needed for pulpy drinks like smoothies. Less brushing will be necessary for water or non-pulpy drinks.

Step Three

Wash and rinse the straw with hot soap and water. Place in utensil rack to air dry.

CLEANING REUSABLE STRAWS WITH DISHWASHER AT HOME

Step One

NOTE: All of our straws are dishwasher safe. However, for our painted straws, we recommend hand wash only as the high heat of a dishwasher can cause the paint to chip or peel. If you have a painted steel straw, please follow the “hand wash” instructions. For raw unpainted silver straws, you can hand wash or use these dishwasher instructions. Rinse the straw under hot water. Use a sink or smaller cleaning tub with hot soapy water, ideally.

Step Two

Wet a straw cleaner brush and rub a bit of dish soap on it until it gets sudsy. Push the soapy brush or twisted pipe cleaner back and forth through the straw and on its exterior to remove any debris or drink residue. More brushing may be needed for pulpy drinks like smoothies. Less brushing will be necessary for water or non-pulpy drinks.

Step Three

Place used straws in utensil dish rack of your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher as normal. Remove the cleaned straws when cycle is completed. Let them additionally air dry, as needed. Once dry inside and out, the straws are ready to be stored and used again.

STORING CLEAN STRAWS AT HOME

For household or office applications, you can store your cleaned straws vertically inside a cup in a kitchen cupboard or cabinet, or in a drawer along with your other reusable flatware. We also offer Steelys drinking straw sets in small cotton carrying pouches and canvas sleeves that make it easier and more hygienic to store and carry reusable straws in bags, purses, or automobile storage compartments.

TOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CLEANING REUSABLE STRAWS

CLEANING STRAWS AT BAR or RESTAURANT