Hi Everyone: Just wanted to let you know what happened to me last night. I had just made to big cookies for my sister's boyfriend and instead of washing out my tubes I would put them in water with a little soap and heat the water in the microwave. I quess I had it on to long. Suddenly, I started to smell something but didn't know what it was. I looked in the microwave and the plastic bowl that I had used was melted to the glass turntable. The tubes were melted to the plastic and were black. The green light on the microwave is now out. I quess I heated it to long. Now, I have to tried to see what tubes I had used and replace them and then go out and buy myself another microwave. Thank goodness they are now cheap. No more microwave and hello dishpan hands. Thanks for listening. Vicki0052. 
You poor thing!! I feel your pain. Last week I made a batch of monkey bread and the pan I used (angel food pan) leaked!!! I did have foil in the bottom of the oven - but it went around the foil - and I had just stepped outside for a minute. Well when I came back in the house was filled with smoke!!!! YUK!!!!!! Luckily the oven cleaned up nicely and the house no longer stink..... 
I had questions as to how that method would work - there is something in the back of my mind telling me "NO metal in the microwave"!!! I just put boiling water and DAWN in a 4 cup measure and as I am done with the tips, I throw them in there. The next morning I drain and rinse them and they are all clean and ready to go again. (and no chance of burning up the microwave!)
That sucks that you have to replace all of those tips AND your microwave. 
How long did you leave them in there? I have done this ALOT now and never had a problem yet. It seemed strange to me to at first, but as long as you are careful to cover the tips with water and only nuke them for 30 seconds or so. They get VERY hot in that time. The tips are hotter than the water around them.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your microwave. Bummer!
I too do this everytime I have dirty tips. I put them in a bowl with a bit of Dawn soap. Then I make sure that all the tips are COVERED with water. Then I microwave for 2 minutes. I haven't had any problems.
Vicki0052
I throw my tips and couplers in a small saucepan with hot (brought to a boil and turned off) water and soap and they did great. I pour them into a colander and rinsed with water under the facet. They were so clean and shiny!
Sorry to hear about the passing of your microwave. I just haven't been able to bring myself to try that. I guess your water must have evaporated being in there too long.
I just rinse mine out with a little brush and then put them in the dishwasher and wash them that way. I don't think you're supposed to put metal of any kind in the microwave. I even put a stick of butter in one time just to soften, and the wrapper was silver and it made sparks. It was only in there about 10 seconds.
I've used all methods mentioned above and I find that the microwave method is no great shakes. Boiling water works best for me as far as the tips go and the dishwasher for the couplers (after using the cleaning brush)...... I guess it all depends on the preference of the decorater.
Too bad about the microwave though. I hear convection ovens are nice.........
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