topic Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws in Kitchen

Cleaning reusable drink straws

Lilysmom — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:33:05 GMT

Is there a brush that is available to do this? If so, where can I get one. Other ideas?

In Canada, there is serious discussion of banning the use of plastic disposable straws.

TIA. LM

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Melvin-QVC — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:44:33 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:

Is there a brush that is available to do this? If so, where can I get one. Other ideas?

In Canada, there is serious discussion of banning the use of plastic disposable straws.

TIA. LM

@Lilysmom I just searched online and someone mentioned your best option would be using a pipe cleaner. They also mentioned if the straw is too wide, to braid a couple of them together to widen them. I hope this helps.

Melvin, Customer Care

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Mz iMac — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:44:51 GMT

All I do is put on playtex gloves, run the hot water spicket w/the straw underneath. The hot water will clean the inside of the straw.

Or you can put the straws on the bottom rung(s) of the dishwasher & "air dry."

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Pook — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:47:55 GMT

@Lilysmom I have plastic straw spoons and I always use denture tablets to soak mine in then wash with dishes after rinsing off from the denture tablets.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

kitcat51 — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:48:09 GMT

Easy to find...sold at BBB, Walmart, Lowes, Amazon & others.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Zhills — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:55:08 GMT

A local business is replacing plastic with paper straws.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Alison Wonderland — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 19:55:30 GMT

Some brands come with a brush to clean the insides of the straw and some are dishwasher safe.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:01:27 GMT

Amazon has a number of different brush options as well as straws in several configurations and materials.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

mima — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:10:21 GMT

I use thick pipe cleaners. If they aren't big enough around, I take two and tie a knot about an inch from the end. The knot does the scrubbing. I scrub while running under hot water.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

summerwind — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:12:34 GMT

I remember paper straws. They'd get soggy, then collapse when you sucked. Hope they're better made this time around.

This would've been 1950s into the 60s. Was probably a bigger problem with malts/shakes, we didn't get sodas.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

mzlg — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:15:16 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
Is there a brush that is available to do this? If so, where can I get one. Other ideas?

In Canada, there is serious discussion of banning the use of plastic disposable straws.

TIA. LM

@Lilysmom, our family uses - Pipe Cleaners / Chenille Stems - which you can purchase from the 99 cents/Dollar type stores & craft stores.

IHTH

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Katcat1 — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:17:04 GMT

I would soak them in very hot, soapy water for 5 min. Then rinse out.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Mz iMac — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:31:15 GMT

Ok, I am curious now so I have to ask.....

What are you people drinking that you need pipe cleaners & such to scrub clean the inside of a straw instead of just rinsing the inside w/hot water?

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

sidsmom — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:40:17 GMT

Saw this in Container Store.

The Straw Brush is for 16” straws

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:48:52 GMT

Why the possible ban on plastic straws? I just soak them in hot soapy dishwater, wipe outside with dishcloth and rinse.

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

jackthebear — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:55:09 GMT

there are brushes to do this

have seen them

but to me reusable straws are kind of icky ----but thats me

try amazon, or the section where they sell all those drink bottles in a BBB type of store

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:58:41 GMT

I have a brush just for that. It has stiff brissels and it's very, very thin. I purchased it on QVC probably 6 or 8 months ago. There were 3 in the package.

I use it for the straws used in those cups that have seals on them. They are amazing!

People have no idea about the black bacteria left in those sealed thermos bottles, etc. I take the things apart and get the nastiest black stuff out of them!

Here's something on QVC but I googled what you posted and tons of tiny straw-cleaning brushes came up!

Product Detail

L44499

Koffie Straw Set of 2 Reusable Silicone Coffee Straws

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Lilysmom — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 21:02:36 GMT

@Melvin-QVC, thanks! I have used one but two is better for my coffee straw, thanks! LM

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Lilysmom — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 21:12:47 GMT

Wow, great suggestions. 50% of plastic garbage on beaches is plastic straws. It is a real problem for marine life. I live in coastal Nova Scotia and it is a real issue.

The kind of straws I am interested in cleaning are aluminum and/or stainless steel. I use them with my coffee and coffee stains do build up.

To clean out the aluminum coffee mugs, you can put a dishwasher detergent pod in the mug with hot water and let soak. The mugs are spotless after that. I also have some heavy duty reusable plastic straws but I don’t want to use that method to clean those as it leaves an after taste. DH can’t taste it but I can.

I will definitely check Walmart/$ store etc. I don’t shop Amazon that much.

Thanks for the great feedback. LM

Re: Cleaning reusable drink straws

Lilysmom — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 21:16:51 GMT

@Annabellethecat66, thank you! I know the coffee build up can be significant. I am always cleaning my straws and now I have some help finding the best way to do it! LM