A woman I know was one of 5 or 6 kids. Her parents used one of these for the family milk. It holds 5 gallons. A new one is cost prohibitive, but if I didn’t have such a tiny kitchen, I would consider scouring the used market. Milk takes up so much room in my fridge.
My kids are big fans of straws. I have a few cleanable, reuseable ones, but they tend to get chewed up after a week of use. Plus, the Carnation Instant Breakfast I encourage the kids to use to make chocolate milk gunks them up. Instead of worrying about clean straws all the time, I just buy the cheap-o disposable ones. I think 100 straws cost $0.76.
For a while, we had one of these. Cute, retro-style…but I had to re-fill it every other day. I have 5 straw users here drinking several cups of whatever a day. Frequently, it would sit empty and the kids got their straws directly from the straw bag. I ditched the dispenser.
But, the cheap-o straws come in a cheap-o bag that splits open and won’t actually hold the straws. Frequently we have straw disasters and piles to pick up. Unfortunately, yesterday, the party responsible for the disaster threw a fit at having to clean it up, and even after an act of mercy presented her with assistance, she was too far gone in tantrum mode to accept the help and threw the straws back on the ground. The straws sat on the kitchen floor. I was too busy with school to deal with the mess, and figured ten minutes would calm the perpetrator and cooperation would be more easily attained.
But then some nameless toddler took advantage of school time to hunt around the pantry and find a juice box (a rare treat). Unable to open it the proper way, he merely used his teeth to puncture the box. He then enjoyed his refreshment right over the pile of straws, covering them all with sticky juice. Lovely.
I think it’s time for a new dispenser.
I found this one, which is pretty cheap. The big, fast-food types are 4 or 5 times this price (they hold more and will stand up to more abuse, I’m sure). But I was really attracted to the 12,500 straws for $27…that’s 5 straws for a penny! So, at an estimated rate of 15 straws per day, the supply will last for well over two years.
Would it be too cruel to wrap the big box of straws and put it under the tree?
Reit This Way 
LOL! No, it would not be cruel at all. That’s a great deal. I’m impressed at the perserverance of your little one in getting that juice box open. Smart kid, even though it created Sticky-ville.
We are big straw-users at this end– straw-users and straw-chewers, that is.I am taking notes as I read this post.
Umm. If straws were a treat in your house as opposed to a daily fact of life, it wouldn’t be cruel. But as it is, that would be a little like going to replace your plates and putting the new ones under the Christmas tree.Of course, it might give your older little ones a tiny glimpse of reality and economics. On that basis alone, I’d consider it…
Hey, that’s cool! My kids would love that.
Oooooh, very cool.When I had my youngest son, my Dh was most excited about the “Bendy straws” that came in the birth kit. I think I used one, he used the rest.
Too funny! You are a very patient mama. I think I would just ditch the straws altogether. But don’t take any advice from me…I’ve been known to vacuum a toy up if it’s left on the floor after having asked a child to pick it up. 😦
<>Would it be too cruel to wrap the big box of straws and put it under the tree? <>Um….cruel for WHOM, exactly? You? Or them? Answer that…and you’ll find your answer. 🙂
I think it would be a funny family present.
Nope. If you buy it in December, it’s totally wrappable. 🙂
No WAY! My kids would think that was TOTALLY COOL!
Nothing wrong with wrapping the straws…they like em, it’s a gift. I love the big metal milk fridge! I’ve always wanted one…but never thought it was actually possible. Where would I get big bags of milk though…um…