How to Properly Clean Out Bamboo Straws

How to Properly Clean Out Bamboo Straws

Maintain the sustainability of your bamboo straw with upkeep so that it lasts you years like it is supposed to

Steps for how to clean out your bamboo straw

In order to sustain the life of your environmentally sustainable bamboo straw, it is recommended that you at least rinse it out after it is used. Try to refrain from running your bamboo straw through a dishwasher. The machine uses high temperature heat that will diminish the strength of the straw. Running hot water through it, or shaking it up in a warm, soapy mixture can also do the trick. Here are some simple steps to give it a nice deep-clean. These care instructions, on how to wash the bamboo straw, should be performed about once a month to prevent bacterial build-up. 

Step 1.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Make sure pot is large enough to fit the straw into.

Step 2.

Add in a tablespoon or so of white vinegar to the water. This will help to kill a large amount of different bacterium. 

Step 3.

Place the straw in the water and let it soak for 10 minutes.

Step 4.

Make sure to dry your bamboo straw! Not allowing it to dry results in the weakening then wearing down of the bamboo. Drying it will also help to reduce the chances of it harboring a smell. Store straw in well-ventilated, non-moist area.

How to wash mold out of your bamboo straw

Don't throw it out! It is not uncommon for a reusable straw of any kind to gather some mold. 

Step 1.

Put together a bath of hot soapy water.

Step 2.

Place the straw in the hot bath. Leave the straw to soak for 10 minutes. This will start breaking down the mold, making it loose enough for easy removal. Bamboo straws float, so you will need to weight it down with a dish or something heavy, to keep it submerged.

Step 3.

Take the straw from the bath and run it under warm water from the faucet. Doing so will release any large chunks of mold from the bamboo straw.

Step 4. 

Get a pipe cleaner or straw brush and wet it down. If you don't have either of these on hand, a clean mascara brush could be a household item that would work as a substitute. Push it down through the straw multiple times to remove the rest of the gathered mold. If brush is not wide enough to clean the inner rim, wrap a cotton cloth around it to reach better.

Step 5.

Rinse the straw and brush with warm water continuously throughout the cleaning process. Continue step 4 and 5 until there is no more mold coming from within.


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