The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter (The Swedish Art of Living & Dying Series)
The original, official, bestselling guide to Swedish death cleaning—a charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.
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Community Reviews
Interesting concept of cleaning up your mess, before your kids need to do it. Basically downsizing, give away things you no longer need, use or want. The author (a woman between the age of 80 and 100..LOL) explains, she is longer skiing. She once skied in a bikini. So her thought now, throw out the ski boots, but keep the bikini. She isn't skiing anymore (at age 80-100) but she can still sit around or swim in bikini. Sell, or give away things you no longer need so when you leave this world, someone doesn't have to do it for you.
We are currently downsizing. My daughters all left home, but they forgot to take their STUFF with them. So we are death cleaning. This quick read, and it gave me permission to let go of those things I thought I had to hold on to forever.
After moving my father, from his home to a smaller home, I now see the importance of death cleaner. He is still very much alive, but to go through so many things he is no longer using, this was a huge burden to us.
Hopefully, my girls will appreciate my time and energy on death cleaning NOW, so they don't have to deal with it when I am actually gone.
We are currently downsizing. My daughters all left home, but they forgot to take their STUFF with them. So we are death cleaning. This quick read, and it gave me permission to let go of those things I thought I had to hold on to forever.
After moving my father, from his home to a smaller home, I now see the importance of death cleaner. He is still very much alive, but to go through so many things he is no longer using, this was a huge burden to us.
Hopefully, my girls will appreciate my time and energy on death cleaning NOW, so they don't have to deal with it when I am actually gone.
that was really soothing and calming. a bit like meditation. that wise old lady also has a wicked sense of humor-)
little dated but overall good advice. fav quote:
“you really can’t take everything with you so maybe it is better to try not to own it all”
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