How to clean the straw so mould does not settle in it

Why the straw

The cup has few parts and they all wash easily — except the straw. It is a long narrow tube that a sponge cannot enter and tap water cannot scour. Milk or juice residue stays inside and warmth suits it.

Dark specks on the inner wall are usually mould. Rinsing will not shift them and neither will the dishwasher, because the water simply runs through.

What actually works

A straw brush is a thin bristle on a wire that passes through the whole length of the tube. Two or three passes mechanically remove the film that water leaves behind.

Do it right after use, while the residue is still liquid. Once dry it holds far more stubbornly. After rinsing, leave the straw to dry taken apart — assembled and damp is exactly the environment mould wants.

How often

Rinse after every use, brush once a day. If the child also drinks milk or smoothies, brush after every such drink — protein and fat settle faster than water.

Boil the silicone parts from time to time. Silicone takes it, and boiling reaches where the brush cannot.

When to replace

The straw is a consumable. Replace it when it softens, clouds, cracks, or shows specks that do not come out with cleaning.

With normal use it lasts several months. There is no reason to replace the whole cup — straws are sold on their own, in stage 1 and stage 2, weighted or plain.