If you've made the switch to metal straws in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, congratulations! You're on your way to doing your part to reduce plastic pollution.
But did you know that improperly cleaning your metal straws can actually be harmful to the environment? That's right; metal straws can be difficult to clean because they are often narrow and have intricate designs. f not cleaned properly, metal straws can harbor bacteria and become breeding grounds for germs. In this blog post, we'll show you how to properly clean your reusable metal straws so that you can use them over and over again without harming the environment.
Metal straws are a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws. They are reusable, which means that you can avoid contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Paper straws are quite common these days, but many people complain about the experience - paper and water not being the best of bedfellows.
If you want to switch from plastic straws but don't like the soggy effect that paper straws can provide, metal straws might be the perfect reusable straw solution.
They are durable, recyclable, and of course, reusable - as long as you take care to clean inside of the straw. Here's how you do it...
In order to properly clean your metal straws, you'll need the following items:
Fill a bowl or cup with hot water and add a drop or two of dish soap. Swirl the water around so that the soap is evenly distributed.
Place your metal, reusable straws in the soapy water and let them soak for a few minutes. This will help loosen any dirt or grime that may be clinging to the straws.
Take a toothbrush or specialist straw cleaning brush and scrub the inside and outside of each straw. Pay special attention to the area where the mouthpiece meets the straw, as this is where bacteria are most likely to accumulate.
Rinse the straw thoroughly with hot water. Be sure to remove all of the soap suds before moving on to the next step.
Place each straw on a clean towel or cloth and allow it to air dry completely. If you're in a hurry, you can also dry each straw with a clean towel or cloth.
Once your straws are dry, you can disinfect them by wiping them down with rubbing alcohol. This step is optional but may be necessary if you plan on using your straws for drinking purposes.
And there you have it! By following these simple steps, you can easily clean your metal straws and reuse them time and again without harming the environment.
If you already have a bunch of plastic straws, Leslie put together some tips on how to dispose and repurpose plastic straws to reduce plastic waste.
Cleaning reusable straws may seem like a tricky task, but it's really low effort. A little soap and water goes a long way!
With this step-by-step guide, you'll have a reusable metal straw sparkling clean and ready to use on your next yummy smoothy in no time. And don't forget, by using metal straws instead of plastic straws, you're helping to reduce plastic pollution and protect our environment!
Step-by-step - that's how we steadily progress to a zero-waste lifestyle.
If you found this article helpful, check out our article on how to clean steel water bottles and polish up your sustainable cleaning skills!