Discover what is Swedish Death Cleaning and the benefits of doing it.
Recently, two of my favorite YouTubers posted videos about their experience with Swedish Death Cleaning. I decided to look into it further and see what it’s really all about.
So, what is Swedish Death Cleaning?
While the name might sound pretty morbid, it’s really supposed to be a practical process. Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping your home. It’s when you take the time to purge and organize your stuff so you don’t leave a ton of things behind after you’re no longer on this earth.
It’s meant to be done when you’re middle aged or older but I think the sooner the better.
Decluttering isn’t just emotionally taxing, it’s physcially challenging. Can you imagine packing up boxes of junk at the age of 90? I wouldn’t want to do it.
I know, I know… No-one really wants to think about their mortality but who do you think is going to have to deal with all those things?
Yep, your loved ones will have to suffer through grieving and then still have to deal with your belongings. That’s a very difficult process and many people don’t like the idea of burdening their close relatives with this task.
Even though the point is really to relieve some of the stress on your loved ones after you’re gone, Swedish Death Cleaning has several other benefits. That’s what I want to dive into today.
5 Benefits of Swedish Death Cleaning
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1. Less Stuff Equals Less Clutter
Getting rid of junk means there’s less stuff in your home cluttering up the place. There’s less to clean and maintaining your house is easier.
This is one of the greatest benefits to purging early on in life. You get to enjoy a better quality of life just by living with less.
Moving things around is not a regular part of cleaning. For example, if you have to clear your kitchen counters of mail, tools, mugs, food and all sorts of other random items before you can begin cleaning, something isn’t right.
Purge and you’ll probably find you have way more storage for items you need to keep.
2. You’ll Appreciate What’s Really Important
So often, we’re surrounded by more stuff than we need. When you take the time to declutter and only keep items that are important, you’ll have a better appreciation for your belongings.
This can lead to you feeling happier and more satisfied. You know you have just what you need and you’re not craving more stuff.
See the top reasons for clutter and discover how to let it go for good.
3. More Flexibility
Life happens and sometimes, you need to do a 180 turn very quickly e.g. if you need to move on short notice.
Having less stuff allows you to be more nimble. You don’t have to worry about what you’re going to do with massive amounts of clutter. You just need to pack up the essentials and go.
4. Takes The Burden Off Your Loved Ones
As I mentioned before, the whole point of Swedish Death Cleaning is to avoid leaving your loved ones to take care of your mess.
Start with items you have hidden away in storage areas like the basement.
This is your opportunity to get rid of things that might be hurtful or embarrassing for your family to find.
If you know what you want to be done with your belongings after you die, now is the time to write a note or tell someone. Again, this takes that burden off of others who have to figure out what to do with your stuff.
Ask people if they would like you to leave specific items for them. That way, you know they’ll have good homes. Don’t just assume people want your stuff.
5. You Get To Enjoy Your Mementos
The most popular book on the topic is called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How To Free Yourself And Your Family From A Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson.
In that book, the author suggests leaving keepsakes for last because decluttering sentimental items can take you down a nostalgic rabbit hole. You may get so caught up reminiscing that you procrastinate doing actual tidying.
Create a “Throwaway box”. This is simply a box for all of the items that mean something to you but may not be important to anyone else e.g. love letters, photos.
Swedish Death Cleaning is something you can take your time and do slowly. You don’t need to get rid of all of your stuff — only items that you don’t use or care about.
Doing it, plus these other steps, alleviates the burden on your family when you’re gone. But, best of all, it improves your quality of life and gives you the chance to enjoy your possessions while you’re alive.
This process may not be for everyone simply because of the name and the ultimate goal but it’s really not much different from regular decluttering.