- An indoor scavenger hunt with clues turns the house into a trail: each riddle points to a room or object where the next clue is hidden.
- Below are 30 ready-made clues sorted by room — kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway and garden — with answers.
- Use 6–10 clues for most children, and hide them on or next to things — never inside appliances or near sockets.
- Download the free printable clue cards (24 cards) and you can set the whole thing up in 15 minutes.
Short on time? Our Indoor & Outdoor Treasure Hunt gives you 50 illustrated rhyming clue cards ready to print — for £4.99.
How an Indoor Scavenger Hunt with Clues Works
A plain scavenger hunt is a list of things to find. Add clues and it becomes a trail: the children solve the first riddle, run to the answer, and find the next clue waiting there. The last clue leads to the treasure. It’s the easiest way to turn a wet Saturday into an adventure, and it works in a small flat as well as a big house — you only need six to ten hiding spots.
The trick is to work backwards. Decide where the treasure goes, then hide the last clue somewhere that points to it, and so on back to the first clue, which you hand over to start. For more on the planning side, see the full scavenger hunt ideas for kids guide.
30 Indoor Scavenger Hunt Clues (by Room, with Answers)
Kitchen clues
- “I hum all day and keep the milk cold — look on my door if you’re brave and bold.” — Answer: The fridge door
- “I click when I’m ready to make a cup of tea — look underneath, your next clue’s near me.” — Answer: The kettle
- “Pop! Up I jump with something brown — your breakfast bread comes up, not down.” — Answer: The toaster
- “Apples and bananas rest in me — I’m round and I’m full, what can I be?” — Answer: The fruit bowl
- “When plates are wet, I dry them for you — I hang by the sink, folded in two.” — Answer: The tea towel
Living room clues
- “You sit on me to watch TV — look under my cushions and you’ll find me!” — Answer: The sofa
- “I’ve lots of buttons but I’m not a coat; I change the channel — I’m the…” — Answer: The TV remote
- “I’m full of stories but I can’t read — look between my books for the clue that you need.” — Answer: The bookshelf
- “I have hands but I can’t clap, and a face but I never nap.” — Answer: The clock
- “I drink water but never eat; I sit by the window and soak up the heat.” — Answer: A house plant
Bedroom clues
- “You sleep on me every single night — look under the pillow, tucked out of sight.” — Answer: The bed / pillow
- “I keep your clothes on hangers tall — open my doors, I stand by the wall.” — Answer: The wardrobe
- “We come in pairs and keep toes warm — find our drawer and look in the swarm.” — Answer: The sock drawer
- “I’m furry and cuddly and sleep in your bed — give me a squeeze, then look by my head.” — Answer: A teddy
- “We’re soft and fluffy and come in a pair; your feet slip in us at the bottom of the stair.” — Answer: Slippers
Bathroom clues
- “The wetter I get, the more I dry.” — Answer: A towel
- “Look at me and I’ll look back; I copy every move you make.” — Answer: The mirror
- “I get smaller every time you use me — slippery and bubbly, what can I be?” — Answer: The soap
- “Bristles on a stick, I scrub every day — morning and night I wash germs away.” — Answer: The toothbrush pot
- “I fill up with bubbles and water galore; you splash about in me — don’t flood the floor!” — Answer: The bath
Hallway clues
- “I have a tongue but I can’t talk; you wear me when you go for a walk.” — Answer: A shoe
- “Letters come in through my mouth each day, but I never read a word they say.” — Answer: The letterbox
- “I go up and down but I never move.” — Answer: The stairs
- “I keep you warm and dry when it rains — hang me back up when you’re home again.” — Answer: A coat
- “I open up when the rain comes down, and fold up small when the sun’s around.” — Answer: An umbrella
Garden and doorstep clues
- “Wipe your muddy feet on me before you come inside.” — Answer: The doormat
- “Clothes hang on me to dry in the sun; pegs hold them tight till the drying is done.” — Answer: The washing line
- “I have a long neck and a sprinkly head; I give flowers a drink in their flower bed.” — Answer: The watering can
- “Rakes and spades and the lawnmower too — I keep them dry. Look by my door for you!” — Answer: The shed
- “Flowers grow in me, I’m round and I’m brown — lift me up gently and look underneath!” — Answer: A plant pot
Free Printable Clue Cards
24 of the clues above — kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and hallway — on cut-out cards, with the answer in small print on each card so you know where it goes. Print on A4, cut along the dotted lines and you’re ready.
Download the free clue cards (PDF)
Indoor Scavenger Hunt Clues by Age
| Age | Clue style | Number of clues | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | Picture clues (a drawing of the sofa) or one-word clues read aloud | 4–6 | Stay with them; hide clues in plain sight |
| 6–8 | Short rhyming clues like the ones above | 6–10 | Let them read the clue aloud first |
| 9–12 | Riddles without the rhyme, simple codes, an anagram for the last clue | 8–12 | Add a timer or race two teams |
Older children love a code: try writing the last clue in a secret code, or use our treasure hunt riddles instead of rhymes.
Safe Hiding Spots (and Ones to Avoid)
Hide clues on, under or next to things — taped to the fridge door, under a sofa cushion, between two books. Never inside the washing machine, the oven or the fridge itself, never near plug sockets or the cooker, and nowhere a child would have to climb. Our guide to treasure hunt hiding spots has 40 more ideas and a full list of places to avoid.
- Two clues with the same answer: Two “sofa” clues send everyone in circles. Fix: one clue per hiding spot.
- Clues hidden too well: Frustration sets in fast. Fix: leave a corner of the card poking out.
- Forgetting the order: Fix: number the backs of the cards in pencil.
- Hiding inside appliances: Fix: tape clues on the outside, never inside.
Ideas to Make It Special
- Add a story: “The pirates have hidden their gold somewhere in this house…” makes even a simple trail feel epic.
- A proper treasure: a decorated shoebox with chocolate coins, stickers or party bags.
- A team race: two colours of clue cards, two trails, one finish line.
- Seasonal versions: an Easter egg hunt with clues or a Christmas scavenger hunt round the house.
Indoor & Outdoor Treasure Hunt50 rhyming clue cards for the house, the garden or both. Ages 4–9.View the hunt · £4.29 →
Pirate Treasure HuntClues, a treasure map and a proper pirate story — set up while the kettle boils.View the hunt · £12.99 →
Detective Treasure HuntCrack the case of the stolen Emerald Crown — suspects, fingerprints and codes. Ages 6–12.View the hunt · £12.99 →
Frequently asked questions
What are good indoor scavenger hunt clues?
How many clues do you need for an indoor scavenger hunt?
How do you set up a scavenger hunt with clues around the house?
Where should you not hide clues indoors?
How long does an indoor scavenger hunt take?
Are the clue cards free?
Back to the full scavenger hunt ideas for kids guide, or try our treasure hunt clues for kids.
Written and play-tested by Hannah — a Yorkshire mum of two and former primary-school teaching assistant. Last reviewed October 2026.
Hannah is the mum behind Riddlelicious — a former primary-school teaching assistant who tests every printable hunt on her own two before it reaches the shop.
