How To Reuse Plastic Straws: 13 Practical Ideas

collage: hand slipping part of a straw over a razor/woman's hands filling part of a straw with face serum/hands inserting a folded straw into a plastic coffee cup lid/hands sealing an inflated ziplock bag with a straw lying nearby

Reusing Plastic Straws Is More Practical Than You Think

Ever wondered how to reuse plastic straws to keep them off the beach and out of the ocean? The Ocean Conservancy cites plastic straws among the top 10 most picked-up items on public beaches, and not only are they a huge source of litter, but they’re also a problem for traditional single-stream recycling centers. (Plastic straws often get stuck in the mechanisms of large sorting machines because of their size and shape.)

If you’re looking to avoid contributing to these and other straw-related problems, you have a few options. You can refuse them when they’re offered, carry a reusable straw with you (think glass, stainless steel, or silicone), or use compostable straws instead.

But there are also plenty of ways you can reuse plastic straws when you’re done with your drink. The sheer quantity of straw-based craft projects you can find online is enough to make your head spin, but today I’ll be focusing mainly on practical applications.

From tangle-free jewelry storage to hulling strawberries, plastic straws are good for so much more than just sipping a cold beverage! So don’t toss those straws in the trash — use these clever ideas to give them a new job!

13 Practical Ways To Reuse Plastic Straws

straw taped to edge of notebook with pen inside straw

1. Add A Pen Holder To A Notebook

You can tape a straw to the side of a notebook so you always have a makeshift pencil or pen holder with you. You could also update the idea by taping a straw to your tablet cover to hold a stylus. Use decorative tape to add some style.

collage: strawberry with a straw poked through it, with the stem at the end of the straw/hand holding a hulled strawberry

2. Hull Strawberries

You can hull strawberries (i.e., remove the white center and green leaves) easily by gently inserting a regular drinking straw into the fruit. Start at the pointy end and move the straw straight up. This technique leaves the strawberries looking nice and pretty, especially if you’re using them in a recipe.

ziplock bag of romaine with a straw coming out from the corner of the bag/ziplock bag of romaine with air sucked out of it.

3. Remove Air From Ziplock Bags

Getting as much air as possible out of a plastic bag helps to keep the food inside it fresher because it won’t oxidize as rapidly. No need to run out and buy a vacuum sealer. All you need is a zipper-top plastic bag, a straw, and a good pair of lungs.

First, put your food in the plastic bag and then insert the straw. Seal the zipper around the straw, then suck out as much air as you can. Slip the straw out quickly and zip the bag completely closed.

hands holding an inflated ziplock bag with a straw lying nearby on a pink background

4. Inflate Ziplock Bags

Alternatively, you can also use zippered plastic bags when shipping items that need a little cushioning. Just stick a drinking straw into the bag, zip it up, then inflate. When it’s as big as you want it, quickly slide out the straw and seal the bag completely. Instant air cushion packaging.

5. Prevent Knots And Tangles

Use straws to prevent your jewelry from becoming tangled. Thread a chain through a drinking straw and then clasp it shut. This method works well in a drawer or a suitcase – it’s a great way to prevent tangles while traveling! You can also prevent a tangle from happening on the string of a child’s pull toy. Just slip a straw over the string and knot the end.

hands removing bobby pins from inside a straw

6. Store Pins

Use a straw as a makeshift storage container for straight pins or bobby pins. Bend one end of the straw over and secure it with some tape, place your pins into the other end of the straw, then fold and seal the other end with more tape. It’s great for travel!

vase of red and white flowers with hands slipping a leafy stem into a straw

7. Give Short Flowers A Boost

If a few too-short flowers are hampering the aesthetic of your bouquet, you can give them a boost with a couple of straws. Just slide each stem into a straw, trim the straw to the desired height, then place them in the vase. (Just make sure to fill the vase enough to submerge the shorter stems!)

hand holding a piece of straw filled with black pepper with scotch tape and pepper shaker nearby

8. Make Purse-Friendly Seasoning Packets

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been forced to endure under-salted movie theater popcorn because there weren’t any salt packets or shakers available. Now I just use this tip to bring my own salt supply with me!

Just fold one end of a plastic straw over and secure it tightly with tape, pour salt (or your seasoning of choice) into the other end of the straw, then fold and tape the other end. It fits perfectly in my purse!

woman's hands pumping facial serum into a length of a straw

9. Make Single-Use Dispensers

Carrying around a whole bottle of lotion, conditioner, or sunscreen in your purse or luggage can be a pain (not to mention the risk of them spilling on your stuff!) Luckily, you can use your clothes iron and a few plastic straws to create your own single-use containers.

Place a sheet of paper over over a plastic straw (this will prevent the straw from melting onto the plate of your iron), then use your hot iron to melt and seal it on one end. Next, fill the straw with whatever you want to put in it, then use the iron again to seal the other side. Be sure to label each straw so you know what’s in it!

woman's hands sealing a coffee cup lid with a folded straw

10. Prevent Drink Spills

If you are driving and have a full cup of coffee or tea in your cup holder, fold a straw in half and insert the folded end into the hole in the lid. The folded straw will act as a stopper and prevent your drink from spilling until you’re able to drink it.

straw being used to smooth caulk around a sink

11. Make Caulking Easier

Caulk may be easy to apply, but it’s a lot less easy to make it look good — unless you have a plastic straw on hand. While it’s still wet, hold a straw at an angle and gently run the tip along the caulk line. If you’re having a hard time getting caulk in to tight corners, you can even tape a short piece of a straw to the nozzle of the gun to give yourself the extra length you need.

two cords, one white and one black, both with a piece of a straw on them used as a label

12. Label Cords And Cables

With as many electronics as we all have these days, cord management is critical, and keeping your cords labeled can help eliminate unnecessary confusion. Slice a plastic straw open lengthwise, then cut it into small segments. Slip the segments around cords and cables near the plug and label them with a permanent marker. Easy!

woman's hands slipping a length of a straw over the blade of a disposable razor

13. Cover Your Razor

Use a straw to protect your razor blade when traveling. Slice open a straw lengthwise, cut it to the length of your razor’s head, then slide it over the razor and you’re good to go.

Looking For More Posts Like This?

I’ve written dozens of blog posts about creative alternative uses for everyday items, and now there’s a quick and easy way to peruse them!
Check out all of my “Uses For” posts here.

What’s your best tip for reusing plastic straws?