I'm new to cake decorating and so far I am loving it!! But I hate the cleanup!! Does anyone have any cleaning hints/tips/shortcuts?? If so please share....

I like the parchment bags, they save on washing. Other than that there isn't much I can help you with, it always looks like a tornado hit my kitchen.

the mess is the worst part!

I can identify! Is there a cleanup fairy?

place your tips in a cup or bowl and cover with water and add a drop or two of soap.. nuke in microwave for 2 minutes (as long as the metal is covered with water you are ok) if thay are a bit greasy feeling after this, repeat but instead of soap use a few drops of vinegar. rinse well and dry.

I also HATE cleaning up!! When I have to clean up mixing bowls and other things that have buttercream on them, I turn the faucet on as hot as it goes, and the scalding water just melts off the buttercream.

heres another but it can be tricky to do..... convince your DH/DSO to clean up for you (bribe with leftover cake/icing) I have yet to master this one...

just lots and lots of hot hot water. i wash everything by hand cause we do not have a dishwasher. i am the dishwasher. i wash glasses first then plates and pans and bowls. then utencils and then last of all the pastry bags. hot hot water.

I use Dawn concentrate in the pump bottle...it's convenient, cuts grease and I can wash things one at a time if needed. I was always having to change my dishwater because of getting too greasy or getting filled with cake crumbs...yuk!

I have a tile countertop to to clean the icing from between the grout lines is a PIA, I got a large sheet of plexiglass and use it to roll things out on and work on. If I don't have time to wipe it down, I put it in a trash bag and deal with it in a few hours, usually after my daughter is in bed! Disposable bags are a must have too. I always laught at the food network challenge when they get judged on the clean work areas, I would be out just for my mess!

Thanks for all the great tips! My Wilton instructor also urged us to be careful of the pipes due to the shortening, now after each cake I flush the drain with baking soda, followed by vinegar and hot hot water.

Please continue to share your ideas, I didn't know you could put tips in water in the microwave!

My Wilton instructor told me to put a bath towel over the KA when I start the mixer and all the powdered sugar will stay under the towel and not end up in a sugar cloud. I am afraid it will somehow end up in the bowl, knowing how I work...

its sort of a pipe cleaner of sorts....use it on slow drains and it works wonders...must be a chemical reaction from baking soda and vinegar.

For the most part I find myself putting everything in soapy water and "rinsing" it off as I'm done using it. I put everthing in one of the big bowls I've used, drain the water. rinse and wipe down the sink, then run hot water and soap again, and wash everything. I usually put the couplers and tips in a glass canning jar with really hot water and dish soap, shake a little, then let them sit while I do everything else. Last thing I do is rinse and shake the things in the canning jar and turn them out on a towel

As I look at it written down, it seems like a lot, but it works for me. Oh well no pain, no gain!

I try to clean up as I go. A pain, but I HATE cleaning up the huge mess all at once when I am done. Too overwhelming! I clean mixing bowls and used utensils while the cake is baking and just keep my trash can handy so I can throw away cake boxes, pudding boxes, sugar bags, butter wrappers right after I open and use the packages. I have a dishwasher but really hate loading and unloading it, and don't mind washing dishes by hand (I know, call me crazy), so I wash the dishes, keep the dishwasher open and stick things in the dishwasher as I wash them (I use the dishwasher as a drainer/dryer so I don't use up the counter space drying dishes in a dish drainer). If I need to re-use another bowl or spatula, I just grab it out of the dishwasher. I cannot have chaos in the kitchen while I'm trying to do a cake. It makes me crazy !!! Hope this helps.

Thanks Klykat! I'll try that out next time...

I agree that cleaning as you go is the best way... each bowl I use, I wash and stack to let it dry, then if I need it again it's ready! Another thing I do it not fill the sink with dishwater. It gets so greasy, cold, and nasty so quickly. I use a sponge, soap, and SUPER HOT water to scrub each greasy item. Also, the trick with putting tips in a glass of super hot soapy water that a few people have already mentioned works wonders!! Of course the tip brush takes care of anything that doesn't kill! Love that little thing!

Easiest way of clean up I know is to move to Asia. Cleaning ladies cost very little, can actually carry on a conversation, unlike dishwashers, ooh and aah at every decoration you put on a cake, love taking home the scraps, so that you don't have to eat them and get fat, somehow they don't seems to put on weight quite as easily as I do. On the other hand, the getting of supplies is very difficult, so I suppose, that evens it out.

I have learned that if you squeeze out all you can of the frosting, then you open the bag, and let the buttercream crust (if you use a crusting one). Then just turn upside down over a garbage pail and rub your hands together over the outside of the bag. It will crumble the buttercream into the garbage. Then wash in hot water or the dishwasher. I use the featherweight bags from Wilton.

If you click on the link below, it will take you to a post that I made about filling the decorating bag - It should cut down on your cleanup time if you use the regular featherweight bags.
When making BC frosting, I use the crisco sticks -they are measured into 1 cup increments, so it's easy to unwrap and toss the wrapper away, it doesn't dirty up my measuring cups which is a plus!
I have a dishwasher, and have bought the little draw string (lingerie) style pouch to clean my tips and couplers.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-357683-.html#357683

Note my signiture

For the past 3 months DD & I have been taking our Wilton cake classes, so the kitchen has shown it. Messier than usual only because everything we have done has been doubled. Now that classes are over I'm sure it will be less of a mess. Cleaning routine for us involves cleaning as we go. Using a trash bag near by to throw away the trash, rather than letting it collect on the counters. Getting in the habit of putting things away. Cleaning as your cake bakes, helps the baking time pass quicker. You know it's that old saying of "A watched pot never boils'? Try sweeping the kitchen floor while your icing is crusting(hopefully on the dinning room table rather than in the kitchen with the dust). If using fondant, sweep before you give yourself permission to play, (it keeps your fondant from collecting house fuzzies). Then when your ready to enjoy decorating the BIG job of cleaning is done. All that's left is cleaning the few things you have used, wiping a counter or table, and putting away the few supplies you may have out.
Developing a routine, keeps the stress of a mess away, leaving you free to enjoy your craft.

Happy Baking
Gloria I

(if messy kitchens are happy kitchens...mine's delirious)

Newlywedws-Thanks so much for that tip!! The one thing I don't like about cake decorating is cleaning the bags so this will help a ton

I keep really hot water and use Dawn detergent. It cuts grease so well and as I use bowls, pans and utensils there put in the water and washed immediately after use. I am not an affiliate of Dawn, but it is a great product! HA.

Clean as You Go !!! That is what I do and I find it the best way . I leave a bowl of hot soapy water to throw my tips in while I'm doing other things. I rinse constantly with HOT water so the bowls and utensil stay pretty grease free till I wash them. All my food supplies are in cabinets above my work area so as I finish with an item I just reach up and put it back (flour, sugar etc) I make 1 trip to the fridge to get out cold items and 1 trip back as soon as these are used this keeps you clutter free. Keep a tray on hand if your fridge is a distance from the work area. I keep a small plate on my counter for spoons, spatuals, beaters etc so that the counter does not get sticky, my flour is in plastic folger coffee can keeps fresh and I use the lid to put my measuring cup on so flour doesnt land on my counter (can be sticky when wet lol hard to scrape up) I hope this helps you. I live in a small apartment so space is at a premium and clutter just is not in my vocabulary lol but I envy all of you that have a full size kitchen but I know I would still follow this routine as it is ingrained in me now lol

Hellooooooo? Dishwashers??????
I put EVERYTHING into the dishwasher! It takes 5 minutes and I'm done. Bags, tips, EVERYTHING!

Sorry but I hate dishwashers lol call me abnormal but I find it just as fast to just wash and dry them myself and saves on my electric bill lol I once bugged my husband for one (which he so lovingly bought me) and after 2 months of having used it maybe 4 times I sold it at a very big loss lol needless to say hubby was not pleased lol

LOL Ursula. I'm moving to Asia.

(20 years of doing this and I have no tips. I do dream of a drain in the middle of my floor and a hose with hot water that I can just spray everything down with. )