Giving Away Stuff for Free - What Do You Think?

I'd clean it thoroughly with a bleach solution, twice, knowing me. Mouse feces can spread deadly viruses which can be breathed in. I'd want to know that it was totally contagion-free before passing it along, just in case some other parents aren't as informed. I'd hate to be the person who dropped the ball on that and have kids get terribly sick.

Then, I'd probably tell the truth: that it was exposed to mouse droppings and what I'd done to clean it. Just because someone gets something for free doesn't mean they want to be kept ignorant of a potential hazard.

No, you don't need to disclose it was in the garage with mice. Once you've cleaned it out the bike carrier is safe to use. There is no reason that you couldn't actually sell it.

I would make sure it is in usable condition before I gave it or sold it. It does not make any difference to me.

It is sort of condescending too, to think that since it's not good enough to sell it only good enough for someone who can't afford to buy it outright. I know your heart is in the right place but it is not good enough to sell it is not good enough to donate to a poor person.

Please just clean it really well, good enough to use by anyone whether buying it or it being gifted to them.

I'd sell it without a second thought. I'd probably ask $40 at our next garage sale, and not mention anything about a mouse.

Do you think there's never been a rodent in a warehouse or manufactuing facility? Do you think the stuff you buy at Target or Walmart is guaranteed to have never touched a rodent? I've worked in manufactuing and warehousing enough to know that that's not the case.

I think you should have a don't ask don't tell policy.

Also, I don't know how things are around you, but I found that it was more effective to give stuff away for $5 than to say free. People are really noncommittal about coming to get stuff that is "free." After wasting an afternoon in which I'd lined up 5 people to pick up various free baby gear cast offs, I learned that a small price is more effective.

If your time and space are important to you, another option is to post a "curb alert" and say that you will be putting this out for the first taker who wants it for free, or for trash collection on X day.

Good luck to you and yours.

Could you wipe it down with a bleach solution or dunk it and large container of bleach solution? Dry and wipe away any marks and call it good. Someone would be thrilled with a clean, ready-to-use gift.

I think, if you clean it well (probably with a bleach solution), you would get rid of any worry in your mind as well as the fact I think that erases the "need" to tell others about it's past:)

ETA: who ISN'T calm here? "You ALL"... I'm calm as a 1 mph breeze over beautiful field of slightly swaying long grasses in the sunrise...

what do you mean we need to calm down? Most of us are just saying to clean it well, and that way no worries! This is quite a not big deal and I assure you, we are calm... except maybe 3boys under3 sounds a bit un-calm, possibly... but that's it. lol.

I think it is absolutely horrible for you to consider not telling people that it was once a home for rodents!!! Clean it as throughly as you would if you were going to put YOUR OWN KIDS into it and tell people that it had mice in it and what/how you had cleaned it with. To not tell people is just rude and mean. How would you feel if you found out something given to you had housed rodents for a time and you had no idea before you put your own kids in there??? think about it! and it is also rude and condescending to say that it is good enough to give away but not to sell.

Clean it and sell it. Anything I've ever bought used I clean myself when I get home.

It's been through at least 3 owners, and was home to a mouse - personally, in the name of good karma, I'd probably just junk it.

I think that if anyone gets something for free that is preowned (or even purchases used for that matter), it is their obligation to clean it....no matter where it is from. I LOVE second hand shops but my son knows that he's not allowed to play with toys or wear clothes until they've been thouroughly disinfected. ANY secondhand item someone gets could have ANY matter of germs on it. It's the responsibility of the purchaser (of gift-ee) to take charge of cleaning it.

Go ahead a sell it! Personally, I do not pay money for anything that has not already been cleaned for me. Freecycle.com is for things you don't want to take the time to clean up for the receiver. I'm going to clean it again when I get it home, but I won't buy anything that is obviously dirty.

No Mice only a mouse---big deal. Clean it and give it as most recipient will reclean it anyhoo if they are smart!
Also do not hesitate to gift to another your old toys, clothes or whatnot as one day the gift shall come back to you 2-fold!

I would never turn down anything free, regardless of a little mouse tracks. If people only knew how many times rodents and insects climbed over all their stuff. Give it away or sell it, all you need to say is that it was stored in the garage, a normal person would probably assume it MIGHT have been in the same area as a "gasp" rodent.

I would either A. Donate it as is or B. Thoroughly clean it and sell it. You could probably hose it down and use a scrub brush or something to shine it up. I would not mention a mouse or anything else, unless there is wear and tear relevant to the 'unusual' activity.

What about having a mouse in the garage makes a bike trailer worthless? How is it contaminated? I don't understand.

If you had to chuck everything in a room just because a mouse entered it, we'd be in big trouble. My mom used to live up in the woods, and once found a dead mouse sitting on her couch one morning. She didn't throw away the couch or replace the carpet and drapes and tv because she had proof a mouse had been in that room!

I say clean it up yourself and sell it for $30.

I can't picture it, is it canvas or hard plastic? Hard plastic HECK yeah sell it, Canvas can be iffer, just as much because of the prior owners than the mouse.

hubby needs to find something else to worry about.

The fact that the carrier was in the same garage as a mouse should not impact the carrier if (a) it hasn't been chewed, and (b) there are no mouse feces or urine on it. You established that (a) has not happened. You can ensure that (b) is not a problem by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the carrier before you dispose of it. Then happily dispose of it the way you want.