Anyone who has ever had to clear out the house of their parents or grandparents knows how much time and energy it takes. The “Swedish Death Cleaning” method is supposed to solve the problem. And keep things neatly organized long before death.
Why declutter before you die?
Swede Margareta Magnusson has risen to fame with her book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter”. And has made the very catching term “Swedish Death Cleaning” a popular expression.
Margareta Magnusson herself has experienced the stress of having to declutter the apartment of deceased family members several times. The overwhelm when you have to sort and get rid of things that have accumulated over decades. While still grieving at the same time.
That’s why she recommends decluttering your own household long before you die. This way, you take responsibility for your own clutter. And make it easier for relatives after your death. But also to free yourself from superfluous things at an early stage and enjoy a tidy apartment. “By reducing the size of the possessions during one’s lifetime, one saves oneself and other people valuable time,” says Margareta Magnusson. You could start doing this already at the age of 30.
The difference to normal decluttering: You allow yourself a lot of time to take a close look at all the things in your life. To value them. And then deciding whether to keep them or give them away. And you consciously decide where to gift or donate things you no longer need.
The best tips for decluttering with “Swedish Death Cleaning”
- Start in the attic or basement: This is where things are often stored that you haven’t needed for a long time and whose disposal you have been putting off. There are few emotions attached to these objects and giving them away is easy. This strengthens your motivation!
- Start with big things like furniture, TVs, strollers and then take on the smaller things.
- It’s better to sort photos and letters at the end, as they evoke a lot of feelings and take a lot of time.
- A memory box that is also a “disposable box”. This is where you collect very personal, sentimental objects (postcards, souvenirs…) that you keep only for yourself. When you die, this box can be thrown away by your children or grandchildren without a guilty conscience.
- Margareta Magnusson says: “I don’t want to have anything I don’t like to look at.” Quality over quantity and surrounding yourself with beautiful things in a tidy apartment – that’s also on of my principles for Professional Organizing.
- If you have cleared out generously, you will save a lot of time, stress and money during the next move.
- Speaking of generosity: How nice is the thought that other people will enjoy the things you give away, donate or sell. It is also more sustainable if other people use them than if the things continue to gather dust in the attic or on the shelf.
- According to Margareta Magnusson, the greatest motivation is the liberating feeling after decluttering: “Look forward to a much simpler and quieter life – you will like it.”
You need support with decluttering your home?
Are you facing an estate cleanout and would like a helping hand? Are you planning to downsize yourself? Or do you want to save your children from having to dispose of your junk later?
Then learn more about Professional Organizing now.
Christin Köppen
Professional Organizer in Berlin