Amanda Sainsbury-Salis brought a bag of rags and household cleaning supplies to a child’s birthday party, rather than a conventional present for the child. The Perth mother called it her “secret present”; the idea drew contrasting reactions during a discussion on Sunrise.
What was in the “secret present”?
In a TikTok clip relayed by 7NEWS on 20 June 2025, Sainsbury-Salis described bringing “a bag of rags” to children’s birthday parties. The report also named cling wrap, dishwashing detergent, a cleaning product and tea towels among the supplies.
She explained the thinking behind it: “You know when you’re at a kid’s birthday party and everyone wants to help, but nobody knows how to help because they don’t know where any of the cleaning stuff is?” Her contribution was meant to make it easier for guests to help tidy up. PerthNow also reported her objection to conventional gifts she believed would end up in landfill. Those are her stated reasons, not independently established claims about how much gift waste occurs.
7NEWS’s account and PerthNow’s report describe the example; the original TikTok was not independently reviewed for this article.
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Why did the gift prompt disagreement?
The supplies could be read as practical help for the household, but they were not a child-focused birthday present. On Sunrise, journalist Susie O’Brien argued for the conventional option: “I think you’re probably wiser sticking to Lego. Just give a kid a present.” Another panelist joked that a host might welcome the help.
That exchange captures the tension without settling it: a useful contribution to the host may not feel like a gift for the birthday child. The panelists’ comments are reactions from a television discussion, not evidence of what parents generally think.
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Is cleaning gear an appropriate party gift?
It depends on who the gift is for and what the host would welcome. If the aim is to celebrate the child, a present chosen for them is the clearest fit. If the family has said they would prefer help or practical household items, supplies could make sense—but it is safer to ask first than to assume they will be appreciated.
The story offers no universal etiquette rule. It shows how the same bag can seem thoughtful to someone focused on making cleanup easier and misplaced to someone who expects a birthday present for the child.
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