This organization technique helps you streamline your belongings while lightening the burden for loved ones.

What Is Swedish Death Cleaning?

Swedish death cleaning is not a quick fix but an often complicated and time-consuming process.

A donation box on a bed with clothes around it

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Throughout the book, her storytelling has a consistent takeaway: it’s not sad to death clean.

The following death cleaning advice is also practical for yourhome decluttering needs.

Know When to Begin

Magnusson says that 65 is a great age to start death cleaning.

Organized closet space

Credit: Lincoln Barbour

You want to be still physically able to tackle the work but also have time to invest in it.

She also references some signs that it might be timefor you to begin decluttering.

Instead, tackling things already forgotten orin storage, for example, sets you up for an easy win.

Magnusson typically starts with clothing because you almost always own more than you need.

And in the case of death cleaning for someone else,it’s easy to give away.

Recognize What to Discard

The most crucial objective of Swedish death cleaning is toget rid of stuff.

To evaluate what should stay or go, use the following guidelines:

4.

Magnusson strongly advocates being conscious of others' time when asking for help.

Magnusson mentions there are often a lot of questions about donating, so check that todo your researchfirst.

Magnusson’s mother-in-law bestowed things to the family over time.

But Magnusson cautions against offering items that don’t fitsomeone’s lifestyleor personality.

Save What Matters Most

A box labeled “throw away” is a key to successful Swedish death cleaning.

When asking yourself, “Will someone be happier if I keep this?”

remember that someone can be you.