How To Clean Reusable Straws: Instructions, Supplies & Tips

Reusable straws are one of the best swaps you can make, right up until the day you glance inside one and wonder what exactly is living in there. Don’t toss it. A clogged or cloudy straw almost always just needs the right cleaning routine, not the trash can. Below is the exact method we use to keep metal, silicone, glass, and bamboo straws fresh, so you can keep sipping reusably and keep doing away with disposable for good.

The quick version: rinse your straw right after your drink, run a slim straw brush through it with warm water and a little dish soap, then stand it up to air-dry fully before storing. That covers 90% of cleaning. The rest of this guide handles stains, odors, and deep gunk. Prefer to skip the fuss entirely? Some straws are designed to open flat for easy cleaning.

Our top picks

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• The one tool you actually need: a straw cleaning brush set with a few sizes and stiff nylon bristles. This does more than any soak or spray.
• Easiest to keep clean: an insulated tumbler with a removable straw, so the straw pops out and rinses in seconds.

What you’ll need

You almost certainly have most of this already:

• A straw cleaning brush (or a pipe cleaner in a pinch)
• Warm water and a little mild dish soap
• A bowl or the sink for soaking
• White vinegar and baking soda for the occasional deep clean
• A clean towel or drying rack

Keep your straw brush dedicated to straws so you’re not moving grime around from other dishes.

Everyday cleaning, step by step

This is the routine for after most drinks. It takes under a minute.

• Rinse immediately. Run warm water through the straw right after you finish. Sugary and creamy drinks are far easier to clear before they dry.
• Add a drop of soap. Put a little dish soap on your straw brush and dip it in warm water.
• Brush the inside. Push the brush all the way through and back a few times, twisting as you go so the bristles reach the full inner wall.
• Rinse until clear. Flush with warm water until there are no soap bubbles left.
• Dry fully. Stand the straw upright or lay it on a rack until it’s completely dry inside before storing. Trapped moisture is what leads to odor and mold.

Which cleaning method should you use?

Different situations call for different methods. Here’s when to reach for each.

Method	How to do it	Best for	Watch out for
Brush + soap	Scrub inside with a straw brush and warm soapy water	Everyday cleaning, all materials	Nothing, this is the go-to
Soak	Rest in warm soapy water 5–10 minutes, then brush	Dried-on residue before scrubbing	Very long soaks can wear bamboo
Vinegar + baking soda	Make a paste or soak, brush, then rinse well	Odors, cloudiness, hard-water spots	Rinse thoroughly so no taste lingers
Boiling	Simmer 2–3 minutes, cool, then remove	Deep sanitizing of metal, glass, silicone	Skip for bamboo and non–BPA-free plastic
Dishwasher	Top rack, secured so it won’t fall	Hands-off cleaning of dishwasher-safe straws	Check the label; hard on bamboo

Cleaning by straw material

The basics are the same, but a few details change with the material.

Silicone straws

Soft silicone straws are the most forgiving. Brush them with warm soapy water, and if the tip detaches, remove it so you can clean the crevice underneath. Most are dishwasher safe for extra sanitizing.

Metal straws

Stainless steel is durable but hides residue in its narrow bore, so the brush is essential. For stubborn buildup, soak in a vinegar-and-water solution, then brush and rinse with hot water. Metal is also fine to boil if you want a deeper clean. Our guide to metal straws covers their pros and quirks.

Glass straws

Glass is the easiest to inspect because you can see straight through it. Brush gently, and a vinegar rinse restores clarity if hard water leaves a film. Let it cool before boiling to avoid thermal shock.

Bamboo straws

Bamboo needs the gentlest touch. Hand wash only, skip long soaks and boiling, and dry it completely so the natural fiber doesn’t split or mold.

Getting rid of deep gunk, stains, and odors

When the everyday routine isn’t enough, step it up. For deep-set residue, soak the straw in warm water with a spoonful of baking soda for 20 to 30 minutes to loosen the grime, then work the brush through. For a musty smell or cloudy film, a soak in equal parts white vinegar and warm water usually does the trick; just rinse well afterward so nothing tastes tangy. If a straw has held dairy, nut milk, or protein shakes, a two-to-three-minute boil (for metal, glass, or silicone) is a reliable reset. Let it cool before handling.

Storage and maintenance tips

Clean straws stay clean when they’re stored dry. Never cap or bag a straw that’s still damp inside. Give each one a full air-dry, then keep them in a clean case or an upright container rather than loose in a drawer. If you carry a straw in your bag, a travel straw with its own case keeps lint and crumbs out between uses. A quick brush-through every week or two prevents buildup from ever getting a foothold.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my reusable straw?

Rinse after every drink and brush with soap daily if you use it often. Do a deeper vinegar or boiling clean every week or two, or any time the straw has held a creamy, sugary, or dairy-based drink.

Are reusable straws dishwasher safe?

Most metal, silicone, and glass straws are dishwasher safe, though a brush still cleans the inside better than a dishwasher alone. Bamboo should be hand washed. Always check the manufacturer’s label, and place straws on the top rack so they don’t fall.

How do I get the smell or mold out of a straw?

Odor and mold come from moisture trapped inside. Soak the straw in equal parts white vinegar and warm water, scrub with a brush, rinse well, and, most importantly, dry it completely before storing. Boiling metal, glass, or silicone straws adds another layer of sanitizing.

Can I use vinegar and baking soda on straws?

Yes. Both are gentle, food-safe, and effective for odors, cloudiness, and hard-water spots on any straw material. Rinse thoroughly afterward so no vinegar taste remains.

What’s the easiest straw to keep clean?

Straws that open flat or come apart are the simplest, since you can reach every surface. A removable silicone straw in an insulated tumbler is another low-effort option. See our roundup of easy-to-clean straws for specific picks.

The bottom line

Cleaning reusable straws is genuinely easy once you have a brush and a habit: rinse, brush, dry. Do that, and one straw can replace hundreds of disposables without ever getting grimy. Grab a straw cleaning brush set if you don’t have one yet, and browse the rest of our reusable straw guides to find the style that fits your life.