This administration technique help you streamline your belongings while lightening the burden for bang ones .
Although its name might call down imagination of the afterlife , Swedish expiry cleaning has more to do withdeclutteringthan anything spooky . Thehome organizationmethod comes from the Swedish conceptdöstädning , a compounding of the words dying ( dö ) and clean ( städning ) . And while the idea is undoubtedly related to one ’s passing , it ’s just as much about making life a bit prosperous for you and those you get it on .
What Is Swedish Death Cleaning?
InThe Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning : How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter(Barnes & Noble),Margareta Magnussonintroduces the world to the Swedish concept of death cleaning . She explains this as a process to " remove unneeded things and make your home gracious and neat when you think the meter is coming closer for you to lead the planet . " It ’s about taking time , while you have it , to appreciate your poppycock — and then get rid of it .
The ultimate end of Swedish dying cleansing is to reduce the time andeffort spent declutteringby the people you impart behind . Having less clobber still the gist for screw ones who , already grieve , must also deal with your thing . Swedish death cleaning is not a fast fix but an often complicated and time - take process .
Somewhere " between eighty and one hundred , " the generator was in the midst of her own death cleaning as she wrote the book . Her coming is both instructional and inspirational , humorous and hardheaded , covering topic such as address home furnishing , heirloom , and personalmementos , as well as dealing with confidential vice , pets , and " the riskiness of man caves . " Throughout the Bible , her storytelling has a consistent takeout food : it ’s not sad to end clean . Instead , it ’s rewarding to spend time with thethings you haveand to reflect on how an physical object came into your spirit .
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While death cleaning , at its effect , is about preparing for death , it does n’t exclusively apply to those nearing the final stage of their lives . Magnusson quickly identifies that Swedish destruction cleaning can occur many meter throughout one ’s animation , including at the ending of a relationship , whendownsizing , or when taking care of what remains after a sept penis ’s death .
Decluttering Strategies from Swedish Death Cleaning
Swedish decease cleaning is also about deciding what you do n’t want anymore . While rooted in preparing for the inevitable future , Magnusson channelise out that death cleaning can — and should!—be about create biography easier and more efficient in the now . The following end cleansing advice is also practical for yourhome decluttering pauperism .
1. Know When to Begin
Magnusson tell that 65 is a neat geezerhood to start death cleaning . You want to be still physically capable to tackle the work but also have sentence to indue in it . She also references some sign that it might be timefor you to begin decluttering . When you ca n’t close down a drawer , fit another detail in your closet , or you ’re grateful someone canceled architectural plan because you did n’t have it in you to make your place presentable , it ’s meter tostart decluttering .
2. Start with Simple Tasks
Quick succeeder can be motivational , so make your first maraud into the process of Swedish death clean relatively easy . Magnusson rede starting with large and impersonal things , likefurniture , and end up with small , nostalgic item like photographs . A lifetime ofpersonal correspondenceis harder and more prison term - have to assess , and you do n’t want to be immediately overpower by sentiment or the sheer book of item . Instead , tackling thing already forgotten orin storage , for example , sets you up for an well-off profits .
Magnusson typically starts with clothing because you almost always own more than you involve . And in the case of death cleanse for someone else , it ’s soft to give away .
3. Recognize What to Discard
The most crucial objective of Swedish death cleanup is toget free of stuff . To valuate what should stay or go , use the following guidelines :
4. Ask for Help
Simply telling masses you ’re in the cognitive process of Swedish end cleaning ( or downsize ) may not only help with accountability , but it ’s also a great way to allow others to offer help orask for thing they ’re interested in . Magnusson powerfully advocates being conscious of others ' time when take for help . Whether you ’re try physical travail , ask a nephew if he desire some tools , or get an appraisal of a solicitation , be prepared with specific questions and simulacrum of the items .
5. Get Rid of Your Things
Donating , selling , and switch away are common method fordisposing of itemsafter Swedish death cleansing . Magnusson mention there are often a peck of question about donating , so ensure todo your researchfirst .
Gifting is an option to keeping schmaltzy items you do n’t need but ca n’t gestate to see go to a donation bin . Magnusson ’s female parent - in - law bestowed things to the family over time . She was not only capable to plug into with loved ones through meaningful gift while she was alive , but it also mean that when she moved into a small place , she had already cleaned out many thing . But Magnusson cautions against offering items that do n’t fitsomeone ’s lifestyleor personality . Be considerate of the other somebody in your gift - gift , and do n’t take offense if someone says no or does not keep an item .
6. Save What Matters Most
A box labeled " throw out " 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 . This is the position you may put personal thing that have value to you alone and that you need to keep , but at the same time signaling to others ( or future you ) that they can be donate without guilt or waver .
How to Store Your Prized Possessions
When you ’ve settle what to keep , you ’ll want to lay in everything safely so it ’s preserved for the future . If you have a garage , use extra place to install a qualitystorage unitfor more oversized items and boxescontaining paperworkor photographs . Basementsare also good spots for stashing things you do n’t need every Clarence Day , though if yours is prone to moistness , keep documents somewhere else . If you have vintage clothing , heirloom quilts , or blankets , usevacuum storage bagsto keep them good and slenderize the space needed to store them . Label loge and bags so it ’s well-off to identify what ’s inside when the time get along to distribute your ownership .
Credit: Lincoln Barbour
