Using Metal Straws: A Good Alternative

Straws are a utensil that people often use to direct liquids from glasses to their mouths. Unfortunately, they currently make up more than 0.02% of the nine million tons of plastic that ends up in the sea every year. However, are you familiar with the use of metal straws?

Most straws people use worldwide are made of plastic or polyethylene. However, because of the environmental damage they cause, people are now increasingly trying to make them with biodegradable or reusable materials.

In this article, we decided to focus on metal straws as they are becoming more and more popular with those looking for eco-friendly alternatives. What are their benefits? How do you clean them? We answer these questions below!

The benefits of using metal straws

The main purpose of straws is to be able to drink liquids from glasses without coming into direct contact with them. The use of straws goes beyond consuming drinks more comfortably. However, in many cases they are not necessary.

Initially, they were manufactured as an alternative to reduce the risk of disease from contact with poorly washed containers, such as bottles, glasses or cups.

The downside is that they are made of plastic as it is an easy to use and cheap material. Moreover, from the time they were first manufactured, they became popular all over the world.

Of course, the effects of using plastic only started to be felt years later, after experts discovered that they also contribute to environmental pollution.

Fortunately, thanks to campaigns to reduce its use, many have stopped using it unless absolutely necessary. As expected, people also looked for other options to replace their plastic footprint with other materials to manufacture them.

In social networks, especially on Instagram, the use of metal straws has become a trend to drink smoothies, shakes or other drinks. The reason? They are 100% reusable and help protect the environment. In fact, they also have several other benefits.

They are stronger and more durable

Metal straws are made of stainless steel, therefore they are more durable and resistant than plastic straws. In fact , the material remains in optimal conditions regardless of the temperature or texture of the liquids.

They are reusable

Unlike plastic and other types of materials, metal straws are 100% reusable and can last for many years if you take good care of them. What does this mean? Well, you reduce your plastic footprint and in turn save money.

You can take them anywhere

If you want to make a difference in all the places you visit, you can take this utensil with you. Fortunately, you can easily carry it in any bag or backpack as it doesn’t take up much space and there’s no risk of it breaking.

Metal straws don’t bend

Plastic straws are usually soft and break very easily. However, those made of stainless steel are of high quality and do not suffer from this kind of problem. They keep their original shape, which means they are always ready to use.

They help protect the environment

Plastic straws are responsible for some of the plastic pollution in seas and oceans. Plastic is one of the elements that most damage nature.

For this reason, even though it may seem like a small gesture, avoiding plastic straws is very helpful in helping to protect the environment. So there are plenty of reasons to use metal straws.

How to clean metal straws

For obvious reasons to use metal straws safely, it’s important that you know how to disinfect them. You can’t ignore the fact that drink residue builds up in straws, which can create an ideal environment for bacteria. Make sure to use one of the following methods:

• Wash them with antibacterial soap and water and use a brush specifically designed for these utensils.
• Sterilize them in boiling water.
• Clean them with white vinegar, water and baking soda. Of course, use the brush to remove any debris left inside.

Where can you get metal straws?

Due to their popularity in the last year, metal straws are available in many cookware stores. However, you can also buy them online along with the right cleaning products. You can even find them in different colors and designs. So what are you waiting for? Start doing your part to help the environment!