FAQ

Rust, Dishwashers, and How Long It Lasts

Do metal straws rust?

Food-grade 304 stainless steel does not rust in the conditions a drinking straw lives in. The chromium in it forms a layer that reforms every time it is scratched, which is the whole point of stainless. What people usually see and call rust is either mineral deposit from hard water, which wipes off, or discoloration from a drink, which is cosmetic.

Can you put a metal straw in the dishwasher?

Yes, including the hot cycle. Heat is not what damages stainless steel. Worth knowing: a dishwasher rinses a straw, it does not scrub the inside of one — water pressure does not reliably reach the inner wall of a narrow tube. Use the dishwasher for convenience and the brush for actually cleaning it.

How long does a reusable metal straw last?

Longer than the reason you bought it. There is no wear mechanism in a steel tube that carries liquid: nothing degrades, softens, or breaks down with use. What ends the life of a reusable straw is almost always losing it, not wearing it out. Any part that could fail is a part that was added around the steel, which is why what surrounds the straw matters as much as the straw.