April 8, 2024

Preparing to Declutter for Good? Check Out the Latest Craze

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

First, it was Marie Kondo and her “does this spark joy?” concept to guide tidying. Then, it was all about minimalism. Now, people are buzzing about “Swedish Death Cleaning”. But what is this latest craze of decluttering? And should you be doing it? Here’s what to know.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

Known as "döstädning" in Swedish, Swedish Death Cleaning is a concept that was made popular after Margareta Magnusson wrote the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. While it may sound scary, it’s actually a very intentional way of looking at organizing your personal space and taking inventory of your belongings.

Kelly Brask, a certified professional organizer who lived in Sweden for 20 years, helps to break it down for us here:

The word "Cleaning" refers to a downsizing process, not traditional cleaning like mopping and dusting. Magnusson's cleaning is more of a clearing out process, slowly and steadily getting rid of possessions. People have been downsizing like this for ages for various reasons, but Magnusson [in her book] describes a special niche. As for "Swedish,” while the concept is really more universal than Nordic, Magnusson's book is in Swedish, thus this adjective in the translation.

Swedish Death Cleaning vs. other organizing concepts

Swedish Death Cleaning is different from other decluttering systems because it is focused primarily on helping older adults pare down their decades of possessions. “It specifically motivates people to declutter by referencing people’s concerns about mortality and being burdensome to family after their passing,” says Aaron Christensen, a resident cleaning expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow. “However, anyone can use this system to achieve a more minimalistic existence no matter their age or current life circumstances.”

This practice, adds Christensen, tends to take a more practical approach to decluttering, encouraging people to focus on practical aspects of their home like excess clothing, kitchenware, furniture and digital accounts/passwords. “It is recommended to leave sentimental items for last in the process, and even establish which family members will receive which items in advance,” he says. The process is designed to be a forward-thinking approach that ultimately clears your home of useless clutter in the present. And depending on your circumstances, Swedish Death Cleaning can be accomplished in a whirlwind of a few days or over many months.

“The major advantage of Swedish Death Cleaning is that it provides a framework for decluttering an entire household that aims to provide lasting results for years to come. It also has a unique emphasis on digital housekeeping and password management which is often overlooked in other cleaning methods,” explains Christensen.

“Swedish Death Cleaning is primarily the routine of slowly and steadily getting rid of your possessions, by whatever methods suit you, in preparation for your own eventual departure from this world,” adds Brask. Magnusson, in her book, suggests looking around your home and noticing how much of what you have has probably been yours for so long that you no longer see, use or value it. “Swedish Death Cleaning is removing these items you no longer need or want from your home while you can, to spare someone else the task of dealing with them when you're gone,” says Brask. It is also the mindset of taking responsibility for what you choose to keep (or not) by making wise decisions.

Brask says to look at it like this: Whatever you leave behind is going to have to be dealt with by someone, so ask yourself what and how much do you actually want to leave behind? In her book, Magnusson discusses reframing your relationship to what you own and embracing a minimalist mentality over time. And by focusing less on tangible goods, she says, this will often free up time otherwise spent tending to your stuff to enjoy relationships and activities instead. “Plus, you know, it's probably a good idea to dispose of your secret stash of old love letters you wouldn't want your kids to see,” jokes Brask.

Some pros of the practice

By giving your belongings a little Swedish Death Cleaning touch, Brask says you may experience these benefits:

It can be a cozy way to spend an afternoon, recalling fond memories before tossing old trinkets that you're done with. Who do you think would most enjoy one last look at your possessions, you or your loved ones? You will enjoy this trip down memory lane, your relatives likely will not.

You’ll likely feel good getting rid of things that someone else would have to get rid of down the line, saving them the time and energy spent digging through things you have accumulated over the years.

Minimizing your things can sometimes free you up for more personal fun and freedom. Owning less stuff is less to clean, organize and maintain.

A less cluttered home is easier to keep clean.

The practice can teach you about your habits. Do you notice you overbuy shoes? Have too many saltshakers? Buy extras of things you never use? You may learn some things about yourself and be able to make some adjustments after going through the exercise – i.e. you probably only need to own one saltshaker.

The practice is, of course, not for everyone, but any amount of decluttering can often work wonders on your mental health. You’ll feel less stress and more organized – always knowing where the things you need are instead of trying to rush around and dig for your keys when you’re running late, and your home is cluttered.