Swedish Death Cleaning?

Have you heard about Swedish Death Cleaning?

Swedish Death Cleaning is actually a method of decluttering and cleaning.  You get rid of things that you currently no longer want or need, while you are here, so that other people will not have to after you die. Read “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” (January 2018, Scribner), Margareta Magnusson.

Personally, I think it is a combination of many different methods of dealing with everyday household items.  You do it so that family or loved ones do not have the task of dealing with your stuff after you die.  It also makes sense that you do it before you reach a point in your life that you need to downsize or possibly move into the care of a family member, assisted living, or nursing home.  You need to do it while you are mentally capable of making decisions and can do the work yourself.

I remember when both of my husband’s parents went into a nursing home.  As the closest son, he had to deal with all their accumulated household items, property, and legal stuff---a nightmare.  His parents really did not have the time, energy, or capability of dealing with many of the necessary decisions during this stage in their lives.  Hubby used open communication with his father, a joint written will, joint power-of-attorney, a health care power-of- attorney, physical work, and volunteered family help to deal with the challenge.

After all this happened, unknowingly, I started doing the Swedish Death Cleaning Method in my own home.  It is an ongoing process.  Polly Wilson’s Method (my mom’s method) has always been my way of decluttering/cleaning.  Now, 60 years later, I am finding the famous Konmarie Method mirrors my mom’s method with certain aspects of Swedish Death Cleaning being included.  The best takeaway that I have from the Peter Walsh Method is this; only buy something for which you have a need and a space (home) for within your home.

Over the years, I have enjoyed the many DIY decluttering programs on television and all the makeovers.  I have now developed my own Adaptive Organization Method including a One Minute Maintenance Challenge.  It is a combination of personally employed methods in my life. 

The best thing is this, no matter which method(s) you choose, “getting up off that thing” and “getting it done” makes life so much simpler for you, your family, your loved ones, and your friends.  In closing, pick what organizational/decluttering method works for you best.  Enjoy your family and friends.  Play!  Live!  Enjoy!