The GoSili straws are the only fully translucent straws we tested, which made us realize how handy it was to be able to see whether a straw was fully clean (the only other straw that let us sort of see what was inside was the Koffie straw; dark blobs of smoothie contrasted with the pink silicone). Whatever the reason, many media outlets and environmental campaigns have touted reusable straws as an easy way to reduce waste. Mermaid Straw is a supporter of Plastic Bank, an organization committed to stopping ocean plastic while improving the lives of collectors in vulnerable coastal communities. And finally, we tried punching the straws through plastic to-go-cup lids. They dont come with a dedicated case, however, so we think theyre best for using at home. They should get cleaner in an upright caddy, and Wirecutter supervising editor Winnie Yang says shes also found it effective to stick straws onto the tines of her dishwashers middle rack, but using a brush is the safest option.) ThisBaby Sea TurtleZipper Pouchis SO CUTE! To test the straws we slurped fizzy Coca-Cola, a thick smoothie, and iced coffee. To eliminate waste, we use as little packaging as possible and not every package will look the same. Among the silicone straws we tested, the GoSili Reusable Silicone Straws stood out for their thick and translucent material. And sometimes its just convenient (or possibly even delightful!) Excellent for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. After testing 21 bottles, we have three favorites. You should also check if the straw works for both cold and hot beverages if you plan to use it for both. Excellent for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst at The Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates fiber-based products ranging from bedding to clothing. Scrub the inside and outside of the straw before rinsing and using again. Although we prioritized metal straws because theyre durable and easy to clean, we included silicone straws for kids and people who are worried about biting down on metal. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 5 of the Best Organic Baby Formula Brands of 2022, Honor the Environment With These Earth Day Quotes, Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Living, Weve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. Are you a straw chewer? By now, we all know that single-use plastics are dangerous for the environment, but even still, Americans use nearly 500 million plastic straws every day. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. We ran them all through our test-kitchens dishwasher a few times to see if metal straws rusted (none did) and to find out how much gunk would come out on its own without scrubbing. OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case, Our pick: OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case, Also great: GoSili Reusable Silicone Straws, sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose, reduce your plastic habit in many other ways, Starbucks recalled 2.5 million metal straws, Tested and Approved: The Best Reusable Straws, Plastic Bags, or Paper? 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Eco-friendly options for sipping sustainably. For dedicated straw-cleaning tools, you can also get a basic brush set such as the Dawn Straw Cleaning Brushes. "The silicone part of the straw moves so you can adjust the length (genius! If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. 20 pc Silicone Tip Stainless Steel Straw Set. We absolutely love how FinalStraw comes with a cute, colorful and compact case so you can store your straw and cleaning brush inside. ), and it's nice to sip out of silicone vs. metal," she says. Shipping times depend on location and mail service selected. Perfect for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. They come in a set of two with a cleaning brush. Excellent for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. They come in two-, three-, four-, or five-piece sets (the five-piece set comes with four straws and a cleaning brush), with mouthpieces in a mix of colors. Our top pick comes with a carrying case, but our other picks dont, so youll also need to get creative about transporting them when youre on the go. OXO doesnt offer wider options, while Klean Kanteen makes 10 mm straws for drinking thicker beverages. You can run them through the dishwasher, but we still recommend pulling a brush through to remove any lingering crud. We've got you covered with our reusable food grade 6mmSilicone Tips. Whether you want a reusable straw for slurping morning smoothies at home or for drinking iced coffee on the go, we recommend the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case. The tip also slides along the base so you can extend the straw from about 8 to 10 inches to work with taller drinking vessels. We ended up just pushing and pulling a brush through the same spotslike mopping a floor with water thats already dirty. Based on our research, we determined that a good reusable straw should check the following boxes: Metal or silicone: We considered only stainless steel and silicone straws, skipping over bamboo, paper, or glass options. If you dont need to take your straw on the go, we recommend saving a few dollars and going with the Klean Kanteen set. If you dont care about getting a carrying case and just want a set of straws to use at home, the Klean Kanteen Steel Straws are a better deal than the OXO set. You can find the straws in a variety of options on Klean Kanteens site. The included case makes this set expensive for two strawsfor about the same price, you can get four straws from Klean Kanteen. But we fear that this collapsible straw, which has a continuous silicone lining that bends and extends as you expand an outer steel casing, would collect smoothie or coffee in its crevices and begin to smell (or worse, gather mold). Brushes should fit all the way through a straw without getting stuck on a corner or pulling against silicone walls. The straw set has a variety of eight colors to choose from, making it convenient to distinguish which one is yours in the party. The company also makes silicone lids for cups that fit their straws, and sells individual straws with tin carrying cases. For example, if you plan to drink smoothies or other thicker beverages, you'll need a wider, firm straw. Other silicone straws collapsed slightly when we drank smoothies with them. Wirecutter senior editor Harry Sawyers told us hes used that set for cleaning out travel mugs, water bottles, and three kids water bottles daily since 2016, without the brushes getting damaged or even stained in all that time. Excellent for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. At the rate we're using straws, there is estimated to be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. This was difficult to do with taller curved straws, especially ones that came with shorter brushes. The telescoping, collapsible Zoku Pocket Straw is made of metal and has a silicone mouthpiece. The metal tubes rolled and clanked around our teeth, felt clammy, and added a slightly metallic taste to beverages. OXO also makes sets of bent straws, but these arent adjustable, and they dont come with a carrying case. But if you want to buy less stuff, always be prepared, or, sure, cut down on your plastic usage, a reusable straw might be for you. review process. Although you can just put the straws in the dishwasher, we recommend separating them and giving each section a good scrub to get everything out. Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. One of our editors says "Not only does this straw include a case, but it also can easily hook onto my purse so I never forget it at home." Can double as a reusable snack bag OurShark Zipper Pouchshowcases several species of our friends in the sea! Simply choose your favorite color, stick it on your Mermaid Straw and enjoy. We test reusable straws with a broad panel of real testers who use the straws with coffee, water, and smoothies. These SipWell stainless steel drinking straws are widely popular on Amazon with over 13,000 reviews. If youre willing to make the investment and stay diligent about cleaning every nook and cranny, you might like this straw. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Don't like the feeling of drinking from a metal straw? The silicone and stainless steel Klean Kanteen Steel Straws are just as easy to drink from and clean as OXOs. While using a metal or silicone straw may help you minimize how much plastic or general stuff you buy, we think its important to consider the whole picture before you commit. Many of the straws we tested came with brushes, but we didnt disqualify those that didnt, since brushes are cheap and easy to buy separately. Were not going to tell you that the mere act of forgoing plastic straws for a reusable one will save the environment. We also like that you can get the OXO straws in a variety of colors and in sets of two or four. But its still soft enough to bite down on if you usually chew straws or like to create a narrower opening to drink from. For the price, we think the Hiware set offers the most value, giving you 12 straws for slightly more than the price of eight Yihong straws. I have them in different colors & i use the 3 sizes. If your straw doesn't come with a straw cleaner, we recommend investing in one for easy cleaning. Theyre not extendable, but they come with a brush, and at the time of publication, you could get a set of four Klean Kanteen straws for about the same price as the set of two OXO straws. The silicone top extends from about 8 to 10 inches, so you can adjust the length depending on the cup you use. Emma Seymour is a Senior Textiles Product Analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Here's the scoop on different eco-friendly straw materials: Some reusable straws are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. If you have kids, or are wary of jabbing yourself with a hard straw, you may prefer a softer, all-silicone straw over one that contains metal. Most reusable straws are solid colors, but these hard plastic straws by Janyum come in a 30 pack full of fun patterns, including polka dots, stripes, and fruits in bright colors all testers loved the patterns. We stand by our original top-rated picks, plus included two new products from OXO and FinalStraw. The straws are made fromhigh quality stainlesssteel and have removablesilicone tips. By entering your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Can double as a reusable snack Our Trippy Doodle Zipper Pouchis so fun! These straws come in a pack of five with a squeegee cleaner included, which online reviewers found super easy to use. Perfect for on the go storage for all of your Mermaid Straw reusable straws, flatware, tips, cleaning brushes, etc. *Fits our 6mm Stainless Steel & Telescopic Straws. Because they are resistant to heat, our testers loved that they could use these straws with cold and hot beverages. If you want to bring one with you, we recommend a Ziploc or reusable silicone bag (the straws silicone tip will pick up lint from a cloth bag). We also like how the stainless steel straw is offered in rainbow, silver, gold or black and comes with silicone tips on both ends of the straw to make sipping easier! As with all metal straws, these will be easier to push through the opening of a plastic to-go lid than a flimsier, all-silicone straw. When drinking smoothies or boba tea, you need a wider straw that can accommodate a thicker beverage. As a result, many big brands and local coffee shops have banned plastic straws, meaning if you want a straw with your iced coffee, youll need to bring your own. These straws are dishwasher safe, and we found that most debris washed out of them. We think these will hold up to some chewing better than thinner ones we tried, and we like that you can see through the straw to tell if its clean. We also cleaned each straw with the brush it came with or used a Dawn Straw Cleaning Brush (we like these brushes for their sturdy handles, flexible bristles, and grippy handles). These straws are extendable, and come with a cleaning brush and a carrying case. The Klean Kanteen Straws are about 9 inches long (from end to end when bent) and a comfortable medium width, similar to other metal straws we tested. Manna bottles use top-quality metals, always. We recommend getting the set that includes straws in 5-, 6-, and 8-inch lengthstheyll work with a 16-ounce iced Americano or in a cup of juice at home. First, you should determine what type of beverage you want to use your reusable straw for. This silicone reusable straw from GoSili received the highest overall score in our evaluations and is one of the most affordable picks. Or maybe it was sparked by the viral video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose, or the rapid proliferation of the inaccurate statistic that Americans use 500 million straws each day (although the exact number is hard to know, The New York Times reports that a more accurate estimate is between 170 million and 390 million per daywhich, admittedly, is still a lot of straws). Theyre also translucent, so you can see whether there are bits of smoothie stuck inside. The multipack comes with straws in multiple lengths, including some short enough for kids, but GoSili also offers sets of 8-inch, extra-long, or extra-wide straws.