They brought us ABBA, IKEA and Swedish meatballs, and now they have given us Swedish death cleaning. It sounds ghastly, but the actuality of it is rather practical and something that I think is beneficial for our aging population.
Swedish death cleaning, also known as "döstädning" in Swedish, is a concept introduced by Margareta Magnusson in her book titled "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter."
The book was published in 2017 and gained popularity for its unique approach to decluttering and organizing one's possessions.
The idea behind Swedish death cleaning is to declutter and simplify your life, particularly as you age, to make it easier for your loved ones to deal with your belongings after your death. The term "death cleaning" might sound morbid, but it's actually a practical and thoughtful approach. It's about taking responsibility for your possessions and recognizing that someone will have to handle your belongings eventually, so it's better to do it yourself while you can.
The process involves going through your belongings, one category at a time, and deciding what to keep, what to give away, and what to discard. You consider the emotional and practical value of each item and aim to reduce clutter and unnecessary possessions. The focus is on keeping items that hold sentimental value or are truly meaningful while letting go of things that are no longer necessary or valuable to you.
By engaging in Swedish death cleaning, individuals aim to simplify their lives, reduce the burden on their loved ones, and leave behind a more organized and meaningful legacy. It's not about getting rid of everything but rather about being intentional with what you keep and ensuring that the items you pass on to others are cherished and useful.
When you are working with Professional Organisers from Sort My House, we use many of the same principles that Margareta outlined in her book, especially if you are doing a full declutter of your home.
Let us know if we can help,
Angela and the Sort My House team.