Reusable Straw Cleaning Brush: Why and How to Use It
By frank green Australia: Reusable Cups and Bottles, Stainless ... | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Tips & Care
A dedicated straw cleaning brush keeps your reusable straw hygienic and your drinks tasting fresh. Here's how to use one properly and the mistakes to avoid.
Quick answer
Use a straw cleaning brush after every drink that isn't plain water. Rinse the straw immediately, push the brush through from both ends with warm soapy water, then rinse and air-dry fully before reassembling. A dedicated brush like the Reusable Straw Cleaning Brush is the simplest way to reach the inside of a reusable straw, where residue and odours build up.
Why a straw needs its own brush
A reusable straw has a narrow, dark, hard-to-reach tube. A bottle brush or sponge can't get inside, so drink residue, smoothie pulp, and coffee oils stay behind. Over time that film affects taste and becomes a hygiene concern. A straw cleaning brush is sized for the job: its slim handle and bristle tip scrub the full inner length of the straw. If you use a straw lid, the same brush helps clean the lid's straw opening and the straw itself, which is why frank green includes the Reusable Straw Cleaning Brush in its parts and accessories range. It's a small tool, but it's the difference between a straw that's rinsed and one that's actually clean.
How often to clean, and when a rinse is enough
Plain water: a thorough rinse is usually enough if you'll refill within a few hours. Anything else — coffee, juice, smoothies, iced tea, milk-based drinks — needs a brush clean after use. If you can't clean it straight away, rinse the straw and leave it to soak in warm water until you can. Sugary or dairy drinks are the ones to prioritise; they leave the most behind and are the most likely to cause odours. As a routine, brush the straw at the end of each day even on water-only days, and give it a deeper clean weekly.
How to clean a reusable straw with a brush
- Rinse immediately after use: Flush the straw with warm water as soon as you finish your drink. This stops residue from drying inside the tube. Common mistake: leaving a smoothie or coffee straw to sit for hours, which lets the film set hard. If you can't brush it now, at least rinse and soak it.
- Add warm soapy water: Put a drop of mild dish soap in a bowl of warm water, or apply it directly to the brush bristles. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage the straw surface. Mild soap and warm water are enough for daily cleaning.
- Brush from both ends: Push the brush through the straw from one end, then pull it back and repeat from the other end. Twist gently as you go. This reaches the middle section that a single pass can miss. Two directions, not one — that's the checkpoint.
- Scrub the straw lid opening too: If you use a straw lid, run the brush around the lid's straw hole and the silicone seal area. Residue collects there just as it does inside the straw. Common mistake: cleaning the straw but forgetting the lid. The lid is part of the straw setup — clean both.
- Rinse and check: Hold the straw up to the light and look through it. Rinse until the water runs clear and no suds remain. If you can still see film, repeat the brush step. Clear water and a clear tube mean it's clean.
- Air-dry fully before reassembling: Stand the straw upright in a drying rack or leave it on a clean cloth so air can pass through. Don't put it back in the lid or bottle while damp. Common mistake: reassembling a wet straw, which traps moisture and encourages odours. Dry separately, then reassemble.
The right tool for the job
- Reusable Straw Cleaning Brush: Reusable Straw Cleaning Brush is designed to help clean frank green straws and straw lids as part of the parts and accessories range. It's sized for the straw's narrow bore, so you can scrub the full inner length instead of just rinsing the ends.
