OK, so we all love to decorate, but the clean up.... 
uugghhh. Does anyone have any suggestions on a quicker way to clean the tips. I'm so tired of standing at the sink, one by one cleaning the tips.......And the bag for the dishwasher is useless......the tips get inside one another and never get cleaned.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Stacey
I put all of my tips into a microwave save bowl, a squirt of dish detergent, cover with water about 1/2-1" above the highest tip. Place in microwave for 10 mins. Once done pour into a mesh colander and rinse with warm water. Put on towel to dry.
Tada! done (this is the best tip I ever learned here on CC, saves me a ton of time and headache in clean up)
I throw them all in those baskets you can get for baby bottle parts that go on the rop rack of your dishwasher. Works great! That way they are contained but have more room to move around than those dishwasher bags - I also throw in my plastic couplers and they come out sparkling. 
I had a V-8 moment (hand slap on forehead, followed by a big DUH!) when one CC'er shared the idea of keeping a bowl of hot soapy water handy and throwing them in that. When you're ready to clean up, they are practically just rinsable. What a time saver!
I throw them all in those baskets you can get for baby bottle parts that go on the rop rack of your dishwasher. Works great! That way they are contained but have more room to move around than those dishwasher bags - I also throw in my plastic couplers and they come out sparkling.
I do the same. 
Ok, maybe this is a little lame, and not everyone has this "resource", but I've entertained young children by letting them squeeze out and eat the tiny bit of frosting with their little fingers in exchange for cleaning them for me. It keeps them busy for a long time and they like the soapy water and the little brushes. Of course, I do have to go back and rinse them in really hot water and double check them!
I put all of my tips into a microwave save bowl, a squirt of dish detergent, cover with water about 1/2-1" above the highest tip. Place in microwave for 10 mins. Once done pour into a mesh colander and rinse with warm water. Put on towel to dry.
I'm confused about this tip on tips I did not think that metal could go in the microwave 
Usually metal can go in the microwave as long as its not touching the sides. However, I'm sure it all depends on the microwave. If you try this, keep an eye on it.
If you have a really old microwave, like when they first came out 30 years ago, you'll have a problem. The newer ones are usually ok.
I put my tips and couplers a few in each compartment of my silverware basket in the dishwasher. If you only put a few in each part, they don't get stuck inside each other. And then throw silverware over top to keep them from flying out.
I put all of my tips into a microwave save bowl, a squirt of dish detergent, cover with water about 1/2-1" above the highest tip. Place in microwave for 10 mins. Once done pour into a mesh colander and rinse with warm water. Put on towel to dry.
I'm confused about this tip on tips
I did not think that metal could go in the microwave
As long as you have water covering them completely then it will be ok (and one that isn't really really old) The water acts as an insulation so you won't get sparks)
Same concept is to put them in a boiling pot of water with a little dish soap (this works to... i just like to keep my kitchen as cool as possible, expecially during the summer)
a tablespoon of white vinegar in a cup of really hot soapy water really helps cut the grease
I put them in a glass of hot water as I'm finished with them, then when I'm all done I dump them in the sink, squirt dish soap over the top and use my hand sprayer with the hottest tap water possible and spray like crazy until all the soap bubbles are gone. This usually does the job but sometimes I put more dish soap and respray..........basically I am just to lazy to pick each one of and clean it!
When I'm decorating i keep a pot on the stove. when I'm finished with each tip I through it in the pot. Add a little baking soda and heat to boil. Then I dump and rinse...super quick always gets them clean.
After trying the "cover with water and nuke" method, I've used nothing else.
I was hesitant at first, and stood about 6 feet from the microwave, just in case. It's fun seeing the tips and couplers tumbling around in boiling water with soap. They absolutely sparkle.
Ok, maybe this is a little lame, and not everyone has this "resource", but I've entertained young children by letting them squeeze out and eat the tiny bit of frosting with their little fingers in exchange for cleaning them for me. It keeps them busy for a long time and they like the soapy water and the little brushes. Of course, I do have to go back and rinse them in really hot water and double check them!
amysjustpeachy, I think that's an incredible idea. What a great way to keep the kids occupied and get your tips cleaned.
Where I work we use 50+ tips a week.
Get some super hot water soak them for an hour and then rinse.
Microwave! Putting all of your tips and couplers into a plastic bowl with a good squirt of dawn or palmolive then covered in hot water and microwaved for 1.5 to 2 minutes will never fail you and your tips will be squeeky clean. I always make sure there is at least two inches of water covering the tips & couplers.
Of note, I do rinse the globs of icing out of the tips before doing this but all that requires is running hot water over the top of them until the icing falls out. Maybe takes 3 or 4 seconds.
Sorry to be so stupid, but you put your metal tips in the microwave and it doesn't spark ??? I would have never thought to do that! If this is what you REALLY mean, I'll have to try that! I always just soak them for a long time in HOT soapy water, but I always seem to forget about them until the water evaproated, and then I'm left with a messy bunch of tips that have ising dried all over them!...lol
Sorry to be so stupid, but you put your metal tips in the microwave and it doesn't spark ??? I would have never thought to do that! If this is what you REALLY mean, I'll have to try that! I always just soak them for a long time in HOT soapy water, but I always seem to forget about them until the water evaproated, and then I'm left with a messy bunch of tips that have ising dried all over them!...lol
Not stupid to think that at all as I think we all thought that when it first came about.
Yes, it works beautifully putting them in the microwave. Just make sure you have about 2 to 3 inches of water covering the tips then let the microwave do the work for you. The water will be VERY hot when you take them out so rinse under very warm water carefully then set out to dry. You won't believe how nice they come out.
[quote="indydebi"]I had a V-8 moment (hand slap on forehead, followed by a big DUH!) 
Why is it Dearest Indydebi, that everytime you post a comment either I:
1. Burst out laughing or
2. Make a mental note of such helpful suggestions??
I absolutely LOVE anything you have to say!!!
I put all of my tips into a microwave save bowl, a squirt of dish detergent, cover with water about 1/2-1" above the highest tip. Place in microwave for 10 mins. Once done pour into a mesh colander and rinse with warm water. Put on towel to dry.
I'm confused about this tip on tips
I did not think that metal could go in the microwave As long as you have water covering them completely then it will be ok (and one that isn't really really old) The water acts as an insulation so you won't get sparks)
Same concept is to put them in a boiling pot of water with a little dish soap (this works to... i just like to keep my kitchen as cool as possible, expecially during the summer)
What's wrong with an old microwave? I swear my microwave is almost as old as my rental house 30+ years and it works just fine. Is there something I should be aware of?
Love the microwave method for those of you who are thinking of trying it. Will never clean my tips another way!
Add me to the microwave band wagon. I love it!
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