Here are some tips and hints that can help you with clean up while you are making your stepping stones. Some of these tips may have been said already, but they are worth repeating:



Cover your work surface well... My first choices would be an old vinyl tablecloth or shower curtain.



Never wash cement leftovers of any sort down the drain!



This cannot be said enough, concrete can burn! Always wear protective gear (glasses, gloves, etc) and immediately wash anything that comes in contact with it. If you want to make a hand print or footprint, make the print and then was the skin right away.



From a Reader: "I used a layer of sand on the bottom of the (cake) pan. When the mold was hard it pops right out, just brush the sand off the bottom and its ready."



From a Reader: "If you are doing hand prints, footprints, or even paw prints, try coating the skin with Vaseline to protect it from the cement."



From Maurinea: "If you rinse out your bucket right after pouring the Quikrete in your mold, it cleans up very easy and gives your stepping stone a chance to set up before decorating it."



From Maurinea: "To clean the glass stones up after settling, I found cheap Qtips worked better than a toothbrush."



I hope these tips help you and you have fun making your own stepping stones. Remember, if you have a helpful hint or tip about making stepping stones, please take a moment to post them for all to read.