Margareta Magnusson discusses death cleaning.
A clean house is a happy house, and the latest way to achieve this is Swedish Death Cleaning. The term is derived from a kind of decluttering from Sweden called döstädning, literally meaning “death cleaning.”
In the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter, Swedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson instructs readers to embrace minimalism to the core. You can do it at any age, though she suggests focusing on the task around the age of 65. The principles are simple enough: If you don’t need it while in the realm of the living, you surely won’t need it in the realm of the dead. And if you don’t need it in death, your family certainly won’t need it either.
The process is rather easy to abide by. In the book Magnusson tells readers which possessions you can easily get rid of, including unworn clothes or unwanted presents—even plates are thrown into the mix. Whatever you don’t use on a daily basis can be thrown away, or if the item is nice enough, re-gifted to someone.
Make sure to keep a book of passwords for your family to have and never start your cleaning mission with your photos. If you start with your photos, you won’t be able to get anything done because you’ll reminisce and want to keep everything.
While advocating for a simplistic lifestyle, Magnusson also recommends holding onto special memories such as cherished photos, meaningful letters or children’s keepsakes. She says to keep a box of things that only matter to you as well, which is later thrown away upon your passing.
While Swedish Death Cleaning might seem daunting, Magnusson aims to put a little fun into it. In the video above, she said it’s “more like a relief" and has benefits that are enjoyable for any age bracket.
"You are never ready with your death cleaning because you don't know when you are going to die," Magnusson said. The task is an ongoing process that only ends when you pass away.