This approach differs from Marie Kondo’s decluttering methods of keeping things that bring you joy.
Dostadning is a Swedish cultural tradition that involves decluttering and organizing your life before passing away.
While Swedish death cleaning may sound a little morbid, it’s a thoughtful, practicalapproach to decluttering.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
What Is Swedish Death Cleaning?
Usually, older people or those battling a terminal illnesspartake in Swedish death cleaning.
Want more cleaning and organizing tips?
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
The Spruce / Yurle Villegas
Do Clothing First
Not sure where to begin?
This way you’ve got the option to pare down your closet a bit at a time.
Go Through Furniture and Other Items
Declutter furniture, decor, and mementos by size.
The Spruce / Yurle Villegas
Start with items that take up the most space.
Simply take a clear-eyed look at the many items clogging up yourkitchenand decide how many you use daily.
Address Digital Clutter
Our loved ones will need to go through our digital clutter, too.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Common Misconceptions
Theres no right or wrong way to do Swedish death cleaning.
When starting your Swedish death cleaning project, it’s best to start with your closets.
The red dot system helps you track your decisions, making the process easy and more efficient.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
