The Vent and Rant Thread

[badgoodDeb]

Reusable straws are so difficult to get clean inside.

I generally don't use a straw at all. Except sometimes at restaurants where they are given to me. At home, never.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Reusable straws are so difficult to get clean inside.

We have straw brushes that seem to do fine. My wife carries a travel set in her bag that has a collapsible metal straw and brush. Not sure if she's actually used it yet.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Reusable straws are so difficult to get clean inside.

I generally don't use a straw at all. Except sometimes at restaurants where they are given to me. At home, never.

There are silicone straws that open up like this one. I haven't seen them yet, but they might be easier to clean than regular reusable straws.

[Deskisamess]

We rarely use a straw, but I will use one at restaurants, because how most wait-staff carry drinking glasses skeeves me out, and I totally dislike the feel of a plastic glass.

We went to a wedding a few years ago and they used some sort of biodegradable plates and forks/spoons. The feel of the fork on my lips was hooorrrrrible. I'd eat with my fingers before using them again. It literally made me shudder, one of our sons had the same type of physical reaction.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

There are silicone straws that open up like this one. I haven't seen them yet, but they might be easier to clean than regular reusable straws.

We have a few of those as well. I don't think I've tried them yet.
(Yes, when this straw thing became an issue, my wife went on a straw buying spree.)

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Reusable straws are so difficult to get clean inside.

We almost never use straws, but when we do, mostly for mocha shakes at home, the metal ones we have are easy to clean, especially since they can be soaked and rinsed in boiling water.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

We almost never use straws, but when we do, mostly for mocha shakes at home, the metal ones we have are easy to clean, especially since they can be soaked and rinsed in boiling water.

As can silicone.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

There are silicone straws that open up like this one. I haven't seen them yet, but they might be easier to clean than regular reusable straws.

Not according to the low star reviews. That ridge would collect stuff, and there is mention of air getting through making them not work. They look huge too.

Personally, I'd get stainless and use a skinny brush to clean them, if I was inclined to use straws. Silicone items coming from China don't excite me, I wouldn't use them. Too many non-food grade silicone items are being sold.

[BetterRed]

Roll your own

[CRussel]

Y'ah know, I grew up with plain old paper straws. They even had bendy ones. And they worked just FINE. Yes, they're disposable, but they break down completely in the environment, and you never need to worry about not getting one of them completely clean. Or having questionable silicone in your beverage of choice. Now for milkshakes, I can see the argument for a large diameter stainless one, but for everything else, single use paper straws are just fine. (And we managed quite well with paper ones even for milkshakes in the day, I might add.)

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Y'ah know, I grew up with plain old paper straws. They even had bendy ones. And they worked just FINE.

I've choked on paper straws after they disintegrated. They also don't work at all for hot drinks, and depending on how they are manufactured may not be celiac/allergen-friendly.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Y'ah know, I grew up with plain old paper straws. They even had bendy ones. And they worked just FINE. Yes, they're disposable, but they break down completely in the environment, and you never need to worry about not getting one of them completely clean. Or having questionable silicone in your beverage of choice. Now for milkshakes, I can see the argument for a large diameter stainless one, but for everything else, single use paper straws are just fine. (And we managed quite well with paper ones even for milkshakes in the day, I might add.)

The ones in your day may have been different. Many of the ones used to replace plastic straws today are very close to what's described in that vid I posted.

[Deskisamess]

I remember paper straws from my youth. (I'm 62) They were very waxy, and probably wouldn't meet today's biodegradable standards, but I don't know that. It may be another reason.

Maybe we didn't know to dislike them because they were the only ones we had.

I don't think the current crop of paper straws are "fine." The ones I've had were awful and didn't last 10 minutes, let alone the whole meal.

[Rumpelteazer]

We do have a bunch of stainless steel straws. Once in a while we get milkshakes when we order out food and the paper straws don't work. These stainless straws are nice and wide, so they work well with thicker drinks like milkshakes and smoothies.

[Rumpelteazer]

I'm annoyed I can't pre-order the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition from the Dutch Amazon website. It doesn't even mention a release date. According to the German Amazon it's going to be released on the 10th and you can pre-order. I'm now tempted to pre-order it in Germany, but I'm afraid it will take longer to arrive than when I order it from the Dutch website (the new, regular Paperwhite was available for pre-order one or two days before its release).