This is one of the best tips I learned right here on cc...take your dirty tips and couplers and put them in a bowl covered with water and a drop or two of dawn. Put them in the microwave for two minutes. Leave it in there awhile because the steam really cleans your microwave. Sometimes I need to do it twice because the water is pretty dirty, but it is soooooooooo much easier than cleaning them each by hand. Oh also the bowl is really hot....so be careful!
I have success with lots of hot water, a bit of soap and then into the dishwasher. There are little brushes you can buy that fit down into the tip, too. Plenty of hot water and soap will clean them, and if you're still doubtful, a final rinse in hot water and vineger should do the trick.
I dont have a dishwasher but I put them in a bowl of hot water to soak while I clean up the rest of things then I use my little brush designed for cleaning tips (looks like a mini bottle washer) and just clean them well with that in my soapy dish water. Works like a charm Merrissa do you put metal tips in your microwave?
I dont have a dishwasher but I put them in a bowl of hot water to soak while I clean up the rest of things then I use my little brush designed for cleaning tips (looks like a mini bottle washer) and just clean them well with that in my soapy dish water. Works like a charm Merrissa do you put metal tips in your microwave?
yup, they are fine in the microwave. My mother in law in fact just sticks her coffee mug with a spoon in it in the microwave all the time...just sticking right out!!
I have a dishwasher but prefer to just wash my tips by hand to make sure all the gunk gets out of them. I just take a bowl with REALLY hot water and dish soap and plop the tips in there to soak for awhile. If the water cools down, I just dump it and replace it with really hot water again. Most of time, it's not even really necessary to "scrub" the tips as the icing just melts off. I just rinse them then with really hot water and they are good to go.
Hope this helps.
If you are going to work with RI a lot, it's a good idea to just get a second set of the tips you'll need and keep them separate. That way, you don't have to wonder if there's any grease left anywhere on them. I have just a few that I keep totally separate. My tips are always clean, but I don't have to worry about changing tips out in a hurry between the two icing mediums.
I just drop my tips in a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar and let them air dry before I use them with RI. Of course I've washed them after I used them last, but I don't boil them or anything. I just wash my tips up at the same time I'm washing my mixing bowls.
yikes merissa..........that's so scary LOL There is no arching or anything???
No I guess not! I havent the guts to try it(the spoon thing) . Though I have read that forks and sharp objects are more likely to arc. I dont know much about physics so I am not an expert on what can be put into the microwave or not. I told my husband about the tips covered in water and put into the microwave. He just shrugged and said he was skeptical about not putting some metals in the microwave anyway. Anyway I heard about this technique here and I know lots of others do it...havent heard of any problems
I was just going through the recent posts and noticed this one. I made a cake late last night and haven't completly cleaned my tips yet. I'm going to try the vinagar idea and let you all know how it works. I think my fiance would have a heart attack if I tried to put metal in the microwave... He's an electrical engineer, and just heard of a guy who throws his braker every time he leaves the house and really likes the idea so I'm not going to encourage him.
I'll let you know this evening how it goes! Anything to make life easier! Thanks for bringing up the subject. 
when I'm done decorating I throw all my used tips and couplers in a pot of boiling water then leave them soak for a bit. After a few minutes I dump the pot of water rinse eveything off then throw them im again with clean water and DAWN, then again bring to a boil and let sit for a few....works wonders!
mine sounds strange but i was taught by a cake decerator to just put some salt and water in the bowl i was planning on mixing with and clean my tips,bowl and beaters( apparently salt cuts grease ). i soak my bags in hot soapy water after everytime i use them...so i know they are grease free....
I just take my cleaned tips out of the box and toss in the mixing bowl of my KA. I put some vinegar and warm water in the bowl. I wash the tips and bowl with the mixture. That way both things are grease free and ready to go.
I've never had any problem with RI that way.
Oh and while I'm at it I also rinse the paddle to the KA with the mixture too.
Joanne
I also use my bowl with HOT soapy water. I don't like searching my dish water for the tips 
After I have cleaned them in the water. I soak them as well with the 50/50 water and vinegar method. I had a huge problems with royal icing and this helped me I also read on another post someone has seperate tips, couplers and bags only for royal icing. So they are less likely to have the greasy residue. I guess if you do alot of royal the investment would be worth it 
I have to make my first batch of RI for Wilton Course 2 this weekend. The instructor said there really wasn't a way to make things grease free and we should buy a second set of everything. Doesn't make sense for me when I don't expect to do much more than cakes for the family.
I can't wait to try these hints.
Is it okay to boil the featherweight bags? Will vinegar work on the bags too?
Thanks in advance!
Uh--Newbie question. Why does grease ruin RI?
This is one of the best tips I learned right here on cc...take your dirty tips and couplers and put them in a bowl covered with water and a drop or two of dawn. Put them in the microwave for two minutes. Leave it in there awhile because the steam really cleans your microwave. Sometimes I need to do it twice because the water is pretty dirty, but it is soooooooooo much easier than cleaning them each by hand. Oh also the bowl is really hot....so be careful!
I learned this also but to microwave the water and soap and then add the tips. It works great.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%