What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

It sounds creepy, but Swedish Death Cleaning is a home organizing trend that might actually have some staying power. (It’s already a common practice in Sweden.) This method of decluttering keeps one simple concept in mind: Your stuff is going to become someone else’s problem after you die. If you’ve ever had to go through someone’s stuff after they’ve died, you know how tedious and heartbreaking it can be, not to mention stressful. Even if death isn’t exactly on your radar, taking a minute to think about it might give you a whole new way of looking at the things you own (and make you think twice about the things you bring into your home in the first place).

The concept gained worldwide popularity after the 2018 release of Margareta Magnusson’s The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. While she suggests that people 65 and over take this approach to lessen the burden they might leave their families, people of all ages have started participating in it.

In the book, Magnusson says that there are three reasons we have any clutter at all, and those reasons are: our hoarding instinct, our clutter instinct, and our fear of death. To dive deeper into these, check out her book from your local library. Once you understand why you have so much stuff, it will be easier to let go and to prevent material belongings from piling up again.

When it’s time to get down to business, follow these tips:

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Going through a lifetime of stuff is going to take some time. Rushing the process might lead to getting rid of too much, too soon, and a whole lot of regret. The whole reason you’re starting now, is to start early and anything you do now is making the task easier for your loved ones in the future.

Start with the big stuff and things that are hidden away. The small, sentimental items are going to take time and mental energy to go through. If you begin with furniture or items stored away out of sight that have likely already been forgotten, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment early on. Basements, attics, garages, and storage facilities are great places to start.

Know when it’s time to let it go. Magnusson says we should pay particular attention to things we have in excess, things that don’t mean anything to us anymore, and things we would like others to have. Maybe we should give those items to them now. If it really matters to you and to them that they have this item after you die, why wait? 

Donate, sell, recycle, and gift your items. When you can’t bear to get rid of an item and would much rather see it go to a family member, for example, be mindful of the burden you might be placing on them. Does the item fit their lifestyle? Do they actually want it? Will they feel guilty if they ever try to get rid of it themselves? 

Ask for help. Simply talking about what we’re doing keeps us accountable, but it also gives others an opportunity to speak up before we get rid of something that really mattered to them. This also opens the door to start having those often-avoided conversations about our end-of-life wishes. If you enlist a friend or family member to help you with research, listing items for sale online, or heavy lifting, be mindful of their time. In some cases, it may be better to hire help. Call a company like All In One Moving and Storage. Moving companies aren’t just for when you’re changing your address. They move stuff wherever you want it to go. All In One can help with long-distance moving, auto transport, packing supplies and even storing and moving units. They can set you up with a personal relocation consultant to determine what you need the most help with. And they have options for every budget, without hidden fees.

It’s OK to keep things that only matter to you. One key component of Swedish Death Cleaning is the “throw away” box, although I would highly suggest adding “after I die” to that label or someone might toss it before you’re ready. Inside, you’ll keep nostalgia that no one else will find value in, but that you are still enjoying while you’re alive. This signals to others that they can get rid of of the box without feeling bad about it, even though you chose to keep it for many years.

Swedish Death Cleaning isn’t only for your loved ones’ benefit. Downsizing in this way will also make you happier, more productive, and better able to cope with your own mortality. Just remember when you finish sorting through a room, don’t go shopping! Treat yourself to an experience instead.