Ditch The Plastic Straws

Did you know In the United States, we use an estimated 500,000,000 straws a day! 

Plastic straws are one of the easiest things to replace when going eco-friendly or trying reduce plastic in the kitchen.  One day I decided plastic straws were no longer going to be a part of our household. 

A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world

With 4 kids and no plastic straws I’ll share our experience and the pros and cons of glass straws, metal straws, silicone straws and bamboo straws. Then you can you decide what will work best for you!

Reasons to Avoid Plastic Drinking Straws

  • Pollution
  • Environment
    • Plastic is not biodegradable. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces presenting many problems especially with marine life.
    • An estimated 500 million plastic straws are thrown out every DAY in the United States.
    • Bush Gardens Theme Park has completely replaced  plastic straws with paper straws. Truthfully I was not a fan of the  paper straws, but I do believe it’s a good step in the right direction.
    • McDonald’s and many other big chains are also in the process of phasing out plastic straws.
  • Health
  • Money
    • If you use a lot of straws it will cost you more money to keep buying disposable straws.
    • Reusable straws aren’t actually that expensive.
    • You can find a pack of 16 Metal Straws on Amazon for less than $10
    • If you decide you prefer Glass Straws they are also a reasonable price.

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Reasons to Switch to Reusable Straws

  • Eco-friendly 
    • Keeps plastic out of the of the environment and from the ocean.
    • If you choose bamboo straws they are a made from a renewable resource and they can be composted at the end of their life.
  • Reusable
    • You buy once and use for a lifetime.
    • Save money in the long run.
  • Easy to Clean
    • Dishwasher Safe
    • I recommend you use the small cleaning brush that comes with the straws to quickly clean the inside of the straw before throwing in the dishwasher.
  • Non-Toxic
    • No need to worry about BPA and other toxins.
    • If you are looking at metal straws make sure you buy Food-Grade Stainless steel.
    • Glass is always safe and does not leach chemicals.
  • They Make Good Gifts
    • Especially if you have a Eco-friendly or green conscientious person on your list.
    • If you are looking for something unique then I recommend glass straws from Strawsome.

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Reusable Straw Comparision

This post may contain affiliate links, you can read my affiliate disclosure here.

Reusable straws are definitely NOT the same, so you should be sure and pick which one is right for you and your family.  Pros and Cons for Glass Straws, Metal Straws, Silicone Straws and Bamboo Straws.

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Glass Straws

Pros

  • They are see through so you can see if they are clean.
  • They come in pretty colors and fun shapes.
  • Can be used with hot or cold drinks
  • Mouthfeel: Glass straws are really smooth similar to sipping from the rim of a glass cup

Cons

  • Breakable
  • Not as safe for children.
  • Not good for Traveling

ALINK Glass Smoothie Straws

  • Set of 8
  • Variety pack – comes with both straight and bent versions.
  • Colored option
  • Includes 2 Cleaning Brushes

Reusable Bent Glass Drinking Straws

  • 6 Pack
  • Can be Used in Hot or Cold Drinks
  • Made with Shatter Resistant Pyrex-Glass
  • Includes 2 Cleaning Brushes
  • No BPA, Non-Toxic
  • Reusable, Eco-Friendly

Hummingbird Glass Straws

  • Rainbow Gecko
  • Made In The USA
  • Shatter Resistant Pyrex-Glass
  • For Smoothies, Tea, Juice, Water
  • Includes a Cleaning Brush

Metal Straws

Pros

  • Not breakable like glass straws.
  • Travel friendly.

Cons

  • Not see through
    • Its not as fun when you can’t see the liquid coming up the straw.
    • Not convenient with little kids to see if they actually are drinking: how much or how fast.
  • Temperature sensitive
    • Drinking a cold smoothie? The straw gets super cold.
    • Washing the straw in hot water? Careful, don’t burn yourself.
  • You can occasionally get a metallic taste with your drinks

SipWell Stainless Steel Drinking Straws

  • Simple Pack of 4
  • For basic drinks
  • Comes with a cleaning brush
  • Under $10

Reusable Metal Straws

  • Pack of 6
  • Red, Blue, Green, Gold, Orange, Purple
  • Color doesn’t Fade
  • Food Grade Aluminum
  • Fits 30oz tumblers
  • Includes a Cleaning Brush

Boba Straws

  • Pack of 5
  • Rainbow Color
  • Big Smoothies Straws – Extra Wide
  • For Bubble Tea, Juice, or Thick Milkshakes
  • Includes a Cleaning Brush
  • Comes with a Carrying Case

Silicone Straws

Pros

  • Dishwasher Safe
  • Soft – no worries about getting hurt
  • Safe for kids
  • Travel friendly – no worry about breakage

Cons

  • You can’t see through them
  • Not temperature sensitive like metals straws.
  • Very bendable – this could be a pro or a con depending on how you feel. I thought it made them more awkward to wash.

Flathead Bent Silicone Straws

  • These are the ones that we use!
  • Pack of 10
  • High Quality Silicone
  • Fun Colors
  • Includes a Cleaning Brush

Hiware Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws

  • Pack of 8
  • 100% reusable food-grade silicone
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Environmental Friendly

12 Pack Silicone Reusable Straws

  • 6 each bent straws and straight
  • Comes with 4 cleaning brushes and a linen storage pouch

Bamboo Straws

Pros

  • Made from plants – originate in nature and end up in nature
  • Biodegradable and compostable
  • Not temperature sensitive like metals straws.
  • Cheaper
  • Life-span is limited – won’t last forever like glass, silicone or metal

Cons

  • Life-span is limited – won’t last forever like glass, silicone or metal
  • Woody taste
  • Not dishwasher safe – a con for some, but I found its just as easy to wash all my reusable straws.
  • Only comes in straight form – no bend versions

Bambaw Bamboo Drinking Straws

  • 12 Pack
  • Made from organic bamboo harvested far away from pandas
  • Bamboo is from abundant fast-growing bamboo plantation
  • Compostable
  • Comes with a user’s guide, cleaning brush and a straw bag

Organic Bamboo Straws

  • Pack of 10
  • Assorted Sizes
  • Comes with a bag and coconut fiber brush

The Verdict on Reusable Straw Options

Overall I prefer Glass Straws, even if they aren’t as practical. 

If you have kids I would lean more toward the Silicone Straws.  After 4 years of use we started having a few chips on our glass straws, but I had them replaced for free (excluding shipping) since Strawsome offers a life-time guarantee.  Our kids loved the metal straws over the glass ones. However after we bought silicone straws it was hands down their favorite out of all the straws. 

Given the choice nobody wanted to use the bamboo straws. I do like them, even though the kids do not.

After reading the Pro’s and Con’s which reusable straw did you pick? Let me know in the comments!

10 Comments on Pros & Cons: Glass Straws, Metal Straws, Silicone Straws, Bamboo Straws

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  2. Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting information. I’m going to look into buy some reusable straws now.

  3. Thanks for the advice. I found the glass straw to have the most advantages and least disadvantages. The glass straw may break easily, but I really only use straws when I’m at home so I didn’t find that to be a problem. I just got my glass straws today and I love them!

  4. I simply want to tell you that I am just beginner to blogging and site-building and actually loved you’re web site. Regards for sharing with us.

  5. Pretty useful post about reusable straws. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed it.

  6. Just found your blog and love it! I’ve been using glass straws for a couple of years and really love them; however, they are NOT biodegradable and I believe, still pose a threat to sea life. I’m unable to find information on this concern. Am I correct in thinking (hoping) that glass straws are not a threat to sea life because 1) consumers aren’t as likely to throw them out, as they are not considered “disposable,” 2) glass doesn’t have the life span of plastics because eventually it breaks or is crushed, 3) glass straws are heavier and don’t float as readily so they end up on on the bottoms of water bodies and remain there unseen and do not attract attention of fish, turtles and other sea life?

    I’d be so interested in reading your thoughts on this issue which continues to challenge me. Thanks for all you do!

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