Cleaning kids room question.....

[RCT]

do you all think that it would be terrible to toss some stuff out when they aren't home...we have toys they don't even know are at the bottom of the toy boxes...and ds had cars that are missing more than one wheel...would I be an awful mother if I just tossed these things when they were at school? I am not going to it today as I am still sick...but I have been mulling this over for weeks now....I could get rid of so much junk in there rooms...but would I be being unfair? HELP Advice? anyone tossed something and then had to deal with an aftermath? :\

[angie r]

For eight weeks before Christmas I gathered a bag a week of broken/unplayed with toys. Some went to Goodwill and most went in the trash. They haven't missed anything yet ;)
If I did it when they were awake I'd never be able to get rid of anything!

If you are afraid they'll miss something, store it in a bag where they can't find it. If they end up missing it, you still have it, if not...kiss it goodbye!

[KarlaB]

Ditto what Angie said!! :)

[Marla]

We just cleaned up all the unused toys, puzzles etc. The kids and I did it together...had a pile for the garbage, had a pile for the garage sale (great motivator because they want to have their own display of stuff to sell), and stuff for goodwill.

[Diane]

I've cleaned out their rooms and thrown things out for years... and in all that time not one of the kids ever noticed that anything was missing or asked where anything was. LOL I use to try to do it while they were home and they just wouldn't allow me to get rid of ANYTHING... suddenly it was their "favorite" toy, and they refused to give it up. LOL :rolleyes: I say go for it and don't feel guilty doing it. If I hadn't my house would be a mess full of there old stuff. LOL Happy cleaning!!! :) (make sure you throw it all someplace where it won't be found... LOL)

Diane... :wave:

[angie r]

Originally posted by Diane P.
(make sure you throw it all someplace where it won't be found... LOL)

Diane... :wave:

That is why I did it once a week, straight to the curb for garbage pick up the next morning. :D

[Diane]

Originally posted by angie r


That is why I did it once a week, straight to the curb for garbage pick up the next morning. :D

:D Good idea! LOL

Diane... :wave:

[RCT]

Oh thank you for your input...I talked with ds yesterday while we were waiting at the doctors office about broken and unused toys....he agreed that someone else could use those things we don't (as in giving them to goodwill) and that things that are broken just take up space....he was cool with it...especially since all he can think about is his birthday in August.....and maybe he will get another truck that isn't broken....so this afternoon....I am ripping into the toy box...if I feel up to it....:)

I like the keep it hidden until your sure idea :idea: I can definetly do that....:) thanks again

[kat]

I've done it all. I've just gone in and tossed. They never miss it. what they really liked was always out in the way. :lol: We've gone through toys before Christmas together and gathered things good enough to be given to toys for tots and chunked the rest. And we've done the yard sale route. This was always a winner, because the money made from their stuff was theirs to keep.

Happy cleaning.

[kacee]

I personally like cleaning out when they are not around. DD did her own drawers a couple of weeks ago. She really did a bad job. I look forward to next week when I have time to go through it.

Happy clearing!!

[darlene]

I prefer to clean thru toyboxes when the kids aren't home....easier to get rid of stuff that way! :lol:

We are planning a yard sale this spring, so the kids have agreed to pick out toys they no longer play with and have their own table at the sale. I told them the money earned can go towards camp this summer.

:)

[MaryL]

Is there any other way???? LOL ;) That's how I "clean up" my dh's closet/drawers/shelves too! If they are around they suddenly "NEED" everything! :rolleyes:

[Lynda-WA]

I usually do it with them there. Either I see something that hasn't been played with for awhile and suggest getting rid of it. Or I get upset because they aren't keeping there rooms clean and tell them that obviously that means they have way to many toys. When that happens we keep getting rid of things until the room is clean. They are usually very good about getting rid of things.

I almost have a bigger problem with the neighbor kids! They love to root around in the Goodwill pile!

Broken stuff they haul to the trash whenever I see it.