DIY Budget-Friendly Straw Claw Grabber

Many types of plastic straws threaten our ecosystem as they are made out of non-biodegradable materials that cannot be broken down naturally; as a result, they usually end up in landfills and incinerators that pollute and destroy the habitat of wildlife. 

In December 2022, Canada’s prohibition on the import and manufacture of single-use plastic came into effect, and plastic straws became a past event in history. However, even today, plastic straws remain prevalent in our households due to their tremendously packaged amount, and their short, single-use life is inescapable.

For this reason, we are motivated to create a life beyond single-use. With a few accessible household materials, such as scissors and string, plastic straws can be transformed into a budget-friendly, multipurpose straw claw grabber. Aside from being a claw tool, it can also serve as a back-scratcher, a children’s toy, a leisure activity, and anything that your imagination can lead to.

Let’s give those plastic straws in your cabinet a new, purposeful life! 

Plastic Straws

String

Scissors

Pens/Markers

Tape

Use your hand as a reference, cut the straws into varying lengths that resemble your fingers.

Draw two horizontal dashes with a pen or marker approximately an inch apart. You will need a total of three dashes per straw.

Use the horizontal dashes as a reference to the horizontal diagonal points to a diamond.To ensure that the diagonal holes line up, gently flatten the straw with your fingers, then cut diagonally following the ends of your dashes. Following the marks, carefully make triangular cuts on each of the straws. Carefully take off the tiny triangular piece of straw.

When you try to bend the straw, it should look like the last image!

NOTE: 

Be careful NOT to cut through the straw (it needs to be in one piece)!

Do not cut through both sides of the straws; the hole is only necessary on one side, as it indicates the direction of the bend in your straws.

Cut the string into five long strands roughly twice the length of the straw. Thread the string through each straw, hold the end of the straw to the end of the string, wrap around, and secure with a layer of firm tape. Repeat this step for each of the five straws.

Once the loose end of the string is pulled, the straw curls, which gives it the ability to retrieve objects.

NOTE: 

Do not use weak tapes that are not durable.

Adjust the straw positions of the ends of the five straws together into the shape of a hand. Slightly bend the joints of the straws to ensure that the straws face the center when their strings are pulled. Tape the straw ends together. 

Your straw claw grabber is now ready for use!