What It Means
Swedish death cleaning, döstädning in Swedish, is the practice of going through your belongings and clearing out what you don't need, so the people who come after you aren't left to do it. The name joins dö, death, and städning, cleaning. Artist Margareta Magnusson brought it to a wide audience with her book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning", which her publisher describes as something to do at any age or stage of life, and sooner rather than later.
Try It: Start a Swedish Death Cleaning List
Tick the jobs that would be easier for your family if you sorted them now. The list is Buhata's own starting point.
Tick the ones that apply to you.
Start with the easiest one you ticked and save photos and letters for later, when the easier decisions are behind you.
How It Sounds at Home
- "I'm doing a bit of Swedish death cleaning."
- "I don't want the kids stuck sorting all this."
- "Take the good china now, while I can see you enjoy it."
The Breakdown
A rhythm that keeps it going (Buhata's suggestion)
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| A first pass | One category at a time: clothes, then storage boxes, then the kitchen |
| Every year | A short review of each category, and of where important papers are kept |
| After a big life change | A fresh pass after a move, a retirement or a loss in the family |
| Whenever it comes up | Give things away now to people who'll use them |
Magnusson's publisher describes the practice as fitting any age or life stage, so the table is a way to keep it small and regular instead of a rule from the book.
Make it last between passes. Try to bring fewer things in than you send out, and keep one clear place for important papers so the people who need them can find them.
Where It Comes From
Döstädning is a Swedish tradition. Margareta Magnusson, an artist who trained at Beckmans College of Design, introduced it to a wide audience through "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning", published by Simon & Schuster, and later wrote "The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly".
Good to Know
Her publisher says the process helps families broach sensitive conversations, so talk to the people who'll inherit your things before you give away anything they may have hoped to keep. Before throwing out papers, check how long official records must be kept; the IRS, for example, sets periods for tax records. A will, powers of attorney and beneficiary forms are legal matters, so ask an estate attorney about those.
FAQ
What is Swedish death cleaning?
It's döstädning, the Swedish practice of clearing out unnecessary belongings so others don't have to do it after you're gone. Margareta Magnusson's book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" made it widely known.
At what age should you start Swedish death cleaning?
Magnusson's publisher describes it as something to do at any age or life stage, and sooner rather than later. There's no set starting age.
Is Swedish death cleaning sad?
It deals with death, but the publisher describes Magnusson's approach as practical, unsentimental and uplifting instead of overwhelming.
Do It in Buhata
Vault, Tasks with a repeat
Record where your important papers and valuables are in Buhata's Vault (Plus), and add a yearly repeating task in Tasks to go through one category.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Decluttering
Clearing out what a home no longer needs by sorting belongings into what to keep and what leaves the house, one small area at a time.
- Sentimental clutter
Things kept mainly for the memories or feelings attached to them, such as heirlooms, cards, photos and souvenirs, once they crowd a home.
- Paper clutter
Piles of mail, bills, statements, receipts and forms that build up at home, with no system for what to keep, where, and for how long.
- Life admin
The everyday paperwork and planning that keeps a life and a household running, such as bills, taxes, forms, renewals and appointments.
Sources
Simon & Schuster, "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson (official publisher page); Simon & Schuster, "Margareta Magnusson" (author page); Simon & Schuster, "The Swedish Art of Living & Dying Series"; IRS, "How long should I keep records?"
- www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gentle-Art-of-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/Margareta-Magnusson/The-Swedish-Art-of-Living-Dying-Series/9781501173240
- www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Margareta-Magnusson/2136434905
- www.simonandschuster.com/series/The-Swedish-Art-of-Living-Dying-Series
- www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records
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