Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I received these straws, opened them all and easily rinsed them clean in an oval glass dish with water and a little clear, unscented soap. I let them air dry and sealed them all again. There were absolutely zero odd smells and they all sealed perfectly again; I had to squint to find the seam at all. They smelled fresh and clean and were ready for use. I tried them all in a glass of water. Zero leaks anywhere along any of the straws and no odd/additional flavors. I did notice a few things: 1). They feel thicker in the mouth...and are a little bit. Like most healthier options we seek to incorporate, we may need to simply get used to a different texture. No big deal to me for a pure straw experience! Sure, the toxic plastics and metals may seem more comfy, but at what health expense/cost? They feel a bit different but so what; it's a good thing in your drink - and you can FULLY clean them. 2). You may need to draw with a little bit more effort to get the liquid up...but not much. Think of it as face calisthenics! Maybe other reviewers were having struggles that aren't present on my set? 3). I find the little breathe-port notch fits better for me with the notch outward, against one's upper lip, for a seal. No problems with drinking thru the straws. 4). I noticed no leaks. There may be a little air sound exchange when drinking but I don't notice it much or care. People slurp soup but nobody stops eating the soup. 5). I received these straws in a cardboard package, NOT plastic, and they shipped from Amazon. Silicone can take on and retain smells. This means if Amazon warehouses them next to something with an odor, it could have picked up that odor and taste. Also, I recommend washing them by hand in a dilution of clear, unscented (like a clear, pure, unscented glycerin) soap and water, air drying them, and be mindful of not putting them by/with strong smelling things. No detergents or soaps, or even swapping straws for different drinks. That is why you get so many of them. I designate my straws by colors to their uses - tea, water, coffee, smoothies. Works great. No issues. 6). These fit perfectly with/in EcoWare's pure silicone lids for mason jars (awesome that you can flip those for regular AND wide mouth jars - and no need to use those flimly and breakish travel drinking jars!) and I wash those the same way as above. Snug seal and the breathe-port divet let's you drink with cleanliness, purity and ease. Like the straws, I designate these lids for their uses. Works great. 7). You CAN Google how to get smells out of silicone. They are pure, so it should be fine. The right directions involve periodically long-baking them on low heat. I do this occasionally with silicone items. DO NOT try this without researching it and knowing what you're doing. Still, if it is an odor issue for you, you may want to give this a try; it does work. 8). The reviewer that warned of silicone bits...you can check for any bits or edges; I had none. Still, this silicone is pure and inert and should have no capacity to harm you, even if you did get a "bit" somehow. Might have been a random flaw in production. Long review, but now you have the stats to make an informed decision. Summary: I think these are terrific. I understand they are not what the world has us used to using, and I am okay with making this much better choice (for me) and adapting to its new experience for the benefits it provides.