What's the Swedish Secret to a Stress-Free Holiday Home?

5 Ways to Implement Swedish Death Cleaning in Your Home 

Have you heard of Swedish Death Cleaning? It’s the new decluttering trend that everyone is talking about. It is a more mindful way to handle your clutter than many other methods. There’s a book by Margareta Magnusson, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, that explains it further. The word in Swedish is, Döstädning. It’s a tradition in Sweden for the elderly to get their affairs in order before their loved ones have to handle it after their passing. But it’s something we could all benefit from, regardless of age! 

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This method for handling our items doesn’t have to be depressing or morbid. In fact, many of us can benefit from implementing some of these techniques at younger ages. In fact, the holiday season is a great time to use some of these techniques! 

The holidays can mean an influx of new things. These things can bring on an overwhelming sense of stress. Before the presents start to filter in, try some of the techniques in this post to take control of your clutter and bring some extra peace during the holidays. 

Many advocates of Swedish Death Cleaning say that it is a permanent way to handle clutter. The approach has a long-term outlook and does a great job of considering the future implications of an item when deciding its fate. Now is a great time to begin thinking about your stuff and the long-term implications. 

Smart small by putting a few of the tenants of this method into place and see how it affects your organization and cleanliness. Ask yourself these five questions to fully implement the method. 

1. Ask Yourself Who Will Handle This Item? A great place to start is by asking yourself who will dispose of or deal with an item when you’re gone. If the item is no longer serving you and will be a burden to those after you, pass it along. Donate the item or throw it away. There’s no need to hold on to it any longer. 

2. Will My Family Want This? This method is not a solo affair. It involves chatting with loved ones to see if they have any attachment to an item or might want you to hold on to it for them in the future. The holidays are a time where we’re spending more time with our families. It makes now a great time to have discussions about heirlooms and other sentimental items. 

3. Will I Improve Someone’s Life If I Save This? Asking yourself if this item will add or subtract to your loved ones’ lives. It is possible that your high school year books may just be a burden to your children. If they’re no longer serving you, it might be a good idea to let them go. Asking about the future implications of an item can help us to know if it’s useful or not. 

4. What Items Have the Least Sentimental Attachment? Once you answer this question, you’ll  be able to find a starting point. Magnuusson suggests that memorabilia is not a great place to begin. Instead, maybe start in the kitchen to declutter unused baking supplies or start with your shoes to get rid of a few that no longer work. 

5. Can I Make Someone’s Life Better With This Item? This turns your decluttering work into something for others and not just for yourself. This brings you joy by bringing joy to others. If there’s a piece of furniture that is no longer needed or used, giving it to someone who is just starting out could be a huge boost to your own mood. Thinking about items with a giving spirit can help us to declutter and also get excited about doing the hard work of cleaning. 

Have you tried Swedish Death Cleaning? What tips would you share with others? 

Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels