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How hard are they to clean? =) We have reusable plastic straws, and I have a heck of a time cleaning them after a milkshake, or even juice.

That's my question, too - how do you clean them? I gave away our glass iced-tea straws because I couldn't figure out how to keep them clean...

Interesting question. I've only used them for alcoholic beverages, not smoothies, so they've been easy to clean. I suppose you could buy some pipe cleaners at the craft store and run them through the straw to clean?

have you tried a pipe cleaner? i'd go to a tobacco store or something so you don't get weird plasticy ones, but you should be able to find them at a craft store, too.

i have glass straws and they get clean in the dishwasher.

The trick with straws is to rinse them out right away. Everything will rinse away if the straw isn't allowed to sit. I think this will work for most people because the normal dish washing routines that I'm familiar with are: 1. Rinse dishes and stack by sink to be washed in the evening (or whenever) 2. Wash dishes after every meal. or 3. Rinse dishes and put in dish washer. A pipe cleaner does also work great. Keep one on hand!

Cool straws! Here is another great reusable straw that might be of interest Glass Drinking Straws. I own these and love them. When I ordered these straws, it came with one very small cleaning bush. I haven't had problems cleaning these straws and I agree with what zhasmene said, the trick is to rinse them out well and right away.

So now the debate: Glass vs. Metal?

Glass seems more "trendy" and potentially dangerous (glass from straw chipping into liquid while stirring?) than the metal however I'd also be afraid the liquids would leech some metal and alter the taste of a consumed beverage?

Wooh! Birthday gift for friend obsessed with straws, check!

Aquarium stores sell small cylindrical brushes on the end of a wire handle for cleaning tubes, etc. They would work well for straws as well.