Do You Have An Idea Or Shortcut For Cleaning Up The Mess?
Decorating By DeniseMarlaine Updated 8 Jun 2006 , 11:34pm by knoxcop1
I tried something new with my decorator bags. I adapted SugarFrosted's tip cleaning idea by turning the bags inside out and flattening them between two cake racks. I used twist ties to fasten the racks together and placed the whole thing in the dishwasher--standing up like a plate. They came out squeaky clean!
I should warn you that I tried this a long time ago with my 18" icer bags. But after a few washings, the seam (glue or heat seal or whatever makes the seam on the decorator bags) began to come unstuck. I think it might have been a chemical reaction caused by the bleach in the dishwasher detergent. It was a costly situation, so please don't do it again or you probably will need to replace your bags, like I did. It is possible that the bag materials and construction have changed since that time. They do seem flimsier now than 10 years ago. So if you want to continue using that method, try it with one bag over and over, just to test what it will do. Good Luck! 
I posted this in another thread, but I'll post it here too...
I have a pair of bamboo tongs which are meant for taking bagels out of the toaster. I hold my decorating tips with the tongs and run them under the hottest tap water, then put them in the dishwasher.
I always use disposable bags, but I make sure when I cut the ends off, that I cut them high enough so that when I'm done, I can just squeeze the couple out the end, rather than trying to dig in there to get it out.
I'm also clean as I go, which helps so much at the end.
Thanks for the warning SugarFrosted. Do you know another way to get them really clean? Up till now I've kept my BC bags separate from my RI bags because I never felt I could get the BC bags fully clean.
Sammy, if you cut the bag high enough to squeeze out the coupler, do you ever squeeze it out inadvertenty while piping icing?
I start with an empty dishwasher and start loading it up as I go.
I HATE cleaning up buttercream and am afraid of putting too much down the drain so I have found that baby wipes will help get buttercream off of just about anything, couplers, tips, bowls, bench scrapers, beaters and spatulas. I also use a toothpick to clean out the tips first then wipe with a baby wipe and then throw them in the dishwasher.
I place my tips and couplers in a thick glass and use my insta -hot to cover them with water. I shake it a few times, then let them sit while I keep cleaning. I do this a second time then place them in that little mesh bag and run them through the dishwasher. This usally works, though if I put to many in, I sometimes have to run a few through a second time. Thanks to a tip (no pun intended) from someone in my wilton class, I use Dawn dishwasher tablets - Dawn does seem to be the best for degreasing.
Bags are disposable all the way ! Worth every penny not to have to get that butter cream out ! (especially the all crisco one)
I've heard that throwing your tips in a bowl with equal parts of vinegar and water also helps remove all traces of grease (haven't tried it, and am assuming it will work only after rinsing/washing first). But I've heard this is a crucial step before making royal icing.
I've heard that throwing your tips in a bowl with equal parts of vinegar and water also helps remove all traces of grease (haven't tried it, and am assuming it will work only after rinsing/washing first). But I've heard this is a crucial step before making royal icing.
I've done that and it does work. Have any of you noticed your tips getting discolored? Mine are starting to look all mottled.
Also, what is a bench scraper and where can I get one?
Sorry I took so long to answer.. but a bench scraper is a pastry tool used for scraping dough off of your work surface (bench).Good when you are rolling out pastry. I use it for fondant work also.
Thanks Rezzycakes. I've seen these mentioned elsewhere and wondered if they were something borrowed from the woodshop or something. I need to get to the cake store!
For keeping the decorator bags clean in the first place, I blob my icing onto a piece of plastic wrap (about 12x12), roll the icing in the wrap into a fat log, taper one end of the wrapped frosting with your hands so it's cone-shaped and drop the whole cone into your decorator bag. twist the large open end so no frosting excapes. When your frosting is gone, pull out the scrunched up plastic wrap and toss it and start a new wrap-full. My bags are all SOOOOO much cleaner. When I wash them, only the tip of the decorator bag has frosting in it.
I can't take credit for this tip. I learned it a long time ago on CC and would never do it any other way!
I read through all the post and I don't think I saw this, I put a small pan on my stove with water and when it starts to boil I throw in my tips. Then I turn it off and put in some soap. I also wash my bags well and then put in the top rack of my dishwasher. So far no problems. I also put my boiled out tips in the mesh bags and put it in the dishwasher too. When its done I just put them on paper towel to dry before putting them away. Sandy
Sammy, if you cut the bag high enough to squeeze out the coupler, do you ever squeeze it out inadvertenty while piping icing?
It hasn't happened yet. I try to keep it low enough that it holds tight when I screw the couple together, but high enough to squeeze out of the bag with a little push.
[quote="TheVienneaus"]For keeping the decorator bags clean in the first place, I blob my icing onto a piece of plastic wrap (about 12x12), roll the icing in the wrap into a fat log, taper one end of the wrapped frosting with your hands so it's cone-shaped and drop the whole cone into your decorator bag. twist the large open end so no frosting excapes. When your frosting is gone, pull out the scrunched up plastic wrap and toss it and start a new wrap-full. My bags are all SOOOOO much cleaner. When I wash them, only the tip of the decorator bag has frosting in it.
I just picked up this same tip on another thread. What a great idea! Can't wait to try it out.
What an interesting idea denise - I hate refilling bags - and all the mess that goes allong with it. How easy would it be to just plop a new plastic wrapped blob of icing in.
I've got an order for tonight and am going to try this method. girl...you so smart!
I'll have to try the microwave method, especially at work since we don't have a dishwasher there.
To wash all my tips at home I throw them in one of those baskets that you use for washing baby bottle nipples. Works great and I never rinse them out first.
Barb[/i]
Nothing revolutionary here... lol, but I'm very anal about keeping my work space clean. 
So, here's what I do. I don't know how helpful any of this is! 
1. I throw away anything I'm done with, when I'm done... cake boxes, bags, egg cartons, etc. For a big job I keep my trash can out and ready to fill.
2. I keep the left side of my sink filled with water and a little Dawn, ready for any tools, pans, or bowls. Usually throw my tips in a rubbermade bowl with soapy water. Again, I toss everything in the water the sec I'm done with it.
3. I put ingredients away after I use them and don't let them clutter up my counter space. Too much clutter makes me nuts!
4. Probably my best tip... When making bags, I make them all at once. Get several small plastic bowls and mix my colors, fill each bag as it sits upright in a drinking glass, then remove it and gently sit it upright in a larger plastic bowl. Once I have all my bags filled, they're all sitting upright in the bowl. Keeps my counter space clean and organized.
5. I sometimes store my filled bags in a large ziploc bag inside my fridge if I think I might need the colors for touch ups or another cake.
6. I keep a plastic bag for all my towels as I use them. I seem to go through a lot of towels. Then when I'm done, I toss them in the washing machine.
Still, it's a mess to make a cake! I'm constantly wiping down my workspace, but when I'm ready to focus on the final clean up, I feel like most of my mess is already behind me. 
Another thing I do before I even start the process is to vacuum my kitchen. I use attachments to vacuum even my countertops, stove, corners, and cabinets... why? I worry about shedding! Not from a pet, but from me! I have long hair and sometimes I feel like I'm molting! lol, I pull my hair up before starting, but always worry about a stray hair that I might have lost earlier that day. I'd die if anyone ever found a hair in one of my cakes! 
Great hints wendysue - I wish I was a little more obsessive about keeping things clean as I go along. I do many of the little things, (bowl for my bags, filling the bags by using glasses, a garbage bowl on the counter) but still manage to look like an I Love Lucy episode by the time I am done! (both me and the kitchen!)
I will think of you next weekend when I am working on a big project and see if i can channel some of your work habits.
Oops! Not my idea. I tried to quote TheVienneaus and somehow it didn't work like it should. So, unfortunately I can't take credit for this terrific idea.
The only tip I have that wasnt said already is I lay paper towles flat all over my counter, under my mixer, everywhere. Then before I mix in any powdered sugar I lightly spray the paper towles with water, it catches most of the powered sugar and it wont get blown all over the place.
I cover my KA (with the pouring shield in place) with a towel after I add powdered sugar and before I turn it on. No clouds in my kitchen! 
For keeping the decorator bags clean in the first place, I blob my icing onto a piece of plastic wrap (about 12x12), roll the icing in the wrap into a fat log, taper one end of the wrapped frosting with your hands so it's cone-shaped and drop the whole cone into your decorator bag. twist the large open end so no frosting excapes. When your frosting is gone, pull out the scrunched up plastic wrap and toss it and start a new wrap-full. My bags are all SOOOOO much cleaner. When I wash them, only the tip of the decorator bag has frosting in it.
I can't take credit for this tip. I learned it a long time ago on CC and would never do it any other way!
TheVienneaus - I just tried this idea - it is awsome. It's the million dollar idea in my opinion. Who ever you got it from is genious! EVERYONE, if you haven't tried this yet - you've got to! It's great.
SLK, Thanks for the compliment. I have no idea who posted it on cc when I found it; but I'm glad I found it and I'm glad you did too. Plastic wrap is pretty cheap compared the the work of washing bags.
Another tip, I use disposable bags ... but I don't throw them away until they are wrecked. They are washable. I love being able to see what color is in the bag. I stopped using featherweight bags years ago.
I have long hair and sometimes I feel like I'm molting! lol, I pull my hair up before starting, but always worry about a stray hair that I might have lost earlier that day. I'd die if anyone ever found a hair in one of my cakes!
This is one of my main concerns too...I would just DIE!!
I only use parchment bags so I can just throw them away afterward and I always clean as I go...wash the pans right away etc... and am constantly wiping the counter and floor.
I'm interested in the microwave for cleaning the tips since I've always understood that you can't use metal in the microwave 
hmmm...
The only tip I have that wasnt said already is I lay paper towles flat all over my counter, under my mixer, everywhere. Then before I mix in any powdered sugar I lightly spray the paper towles with water, it catches most of the powered sugar and it wont get blown all over the place.
Hotdog! That's a great idea!! Thanks!
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