diff --git a/core/modules/widgets/widget.js b/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
index 09b5364e0..b838f53ac 100755
--- a/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
+++ b/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
@@ -787,9 +787,9 @@ Widget.prototype.findNextSiblingDomNode = function(startIndex) {
 	// Refer to this widget by its index within its parents children
 	var parent = this.parentWidget,
 		index = startIndex !== undefined ? startIndex : parent.children.indexOf(this);
-if(index === -1) {
-	throw "node not found in parents children";
-}
+	if(index === -1) {
+		throw "node not found in parents children";
+	}
 	// Look for a DOM node in the later siblings
 	while(++index < parent.children.length) {
 		var domNode = parent.children[index].findFirstDomNode();
@@ -827,21 +827,60 @@ Widget.prototype.findFirstDomNode = function() {
 };
 
 /*
-Remove any DOM nodes created by this widget or its children
+Entry into destroy procedure
+options include:
+	removeDOMNodes: boolean (default true)
+*/
+Widget.prototype.destroyChildren = function(options) {
+	$tw.utils.each(this.children,function(childWidget) {
+		childWidget.destroy(options);
+	});
+};
+
+/*
+Legacy entry into destroy procedure
 */
 Widget.prototype.removeChildDomNodes = function() {
-	// If this widget has directly created DOM nodes, delete them and exit. This assumes that any child widgets are contained within the created DOM nodes, which would normally be the case
-	if(this.domNodes.length > 0) {
-		$tw.utils.each(this.domNodes,function(domNode) {
-			domNode.parentNode.removeChild(domNode);
-		});
-		this.domNodes = [];
-	} else {
-		// Otherwise, ask the child widgets to delete their DOM nodes
-		$tw.utils.each(this.children,function(childWidget) {
-			childWidget.removeChildDomNodes();
-		});
+	this.destroy({removeDOMNodes: true});
+};
+
+/*
+Default destroy
+options include:
+- removeDOMNodes: boolean (default true)
+*/
+Widget.prototype.destroy = function(options) {
+	const { removeDOMNodes = true } = options || {};
+	let removeChildDOMNodes = removeDOMNodes;
+	if(removeDOMNodes && this.domNodes.length > 0) {
+		// If this widget will remove its own DOM nodes, children should not remove theirs
+		removeChildDOMNodes = false;
 	}
+	// Destroy children first
+	this.destroyChildren({removeDOMNodes: removeChildDOMNodes});
+	this.children = [];
+	
+	// Call custom cleanup method if implemented
+	if(typeof this.onDestroy === "function") {
+		this.onDestroy();
+	}
+	
+	// Remove our DOM nodes if needed
+	if(removeDOMNodes) {
+		this.removeLocalDomNodes();	
+	}
+};
+
+/*
+Remove any DOM nodes created by this widget 
+*/
+Widget.prototype.removeLocalDomNodes = function() {
+	for(const domNode of this.domNodes) {
+		if(domNode.parentNode) {
+			domNode.parentNode.removeChild(domNode);
+		}
+	}
+	this.domNodes = [];
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/editions/tw5.com/tiddlers/releasenotes/5.4.0/#9097.tid b/editions/tw5.com/tiddlers/releasenotes/5.4.0/#9097.tid
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8fe8db405
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editions/tw5.com/tiddlers/releasenotes/5.4.0/#9097.tid
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+change-category: internal
+change-type: enhancement
+created: 20260120153052332
+description: Adds a destroy method for widgets allowing for clean up of resources when a widget is removed.
+github-contributors: saqimtiaz
+github-links: https://github.com/TiddlyWiki/TiddlyWiki5/pull/9097
+modified: 20260125212701672
+release: 5.4.0
+tags: $:/tags/ChangeNote
+title: $:/changenotes/5.4.0/#9097
+type: text/vnd.tiddlywiki
+
+Adds a destroy method for widgets allowing for clean up of resources when a widget is removed.
\ No newline at end of file