I Tried Swedish Death Cleaning to Declutter My Home—Here’s What Happened

I was unaware that people follow a specific method to declutter their homes until I came across Margareta Magnusson’s book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. My method used to be pretty straightforward: I got rid of things that would bother me without thinking much about them.

That’s what I did last time. I wanted to get rid of a few cookbooks that I hadn’t touched in years. They were taking up space, and I knew I wouldn’t open them again. So, I gave them away, thinking I was being considerate by passing them on to someone who might enjoy them. But later, I discovered that my aunt, who was a huge fan of cookbooks, had been searching for just those exact titles! She had to go out and buy them again at full price, and it felt like such a waste. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret—what could have been a thoughtful gift for her had turned into a missed opportunity. 

With all these mishaps and no proper way to declutter the house, I was eager to try this method—Swedish Death Cleaning—a try. Before we go ahead, I will explain what this is—the phrasing might sound grotesque, but trust me, there is nothing disturbing. 

What Is Swedish Death Cleaning?

The idea is simple and was initially intended for those later in life. Margareta Magnusson suggests that we should declutter our homes, get rid of unnecessary items, and only keep things that are truly important. By doing this, we not only create a tidier living space, but we also make it easier for our loved ones after we have passed away, sparing them the burden of sorting through things that no longer serve a purpose.

Though the idea is no doubt for people who are later in life but we can still use it to tidy our spaces and declutter our homes. Here’s how I tried “Swedish Death Cleaning”.

I Started With Things That Are Hard To Be Seen

Margareta suggests that we should start with things that are bigger and leave sentimental things for the last part but I started with what was hidden, unseen. Sometimes, mess is around us, hidden somewhere, in our garage or store room that we fail to notice.Things that have not been touched for years and yet occupy our spaces. If removed, we could have enough room to store things that are really important. 

I started with my storeroom and was completely shocked by what I had been hoarding—an old, broken bicycle, a computer monitor I hadn’t used in ages, and in one corner, worn-out boxes of things I couldn’t even remember acquiring. It felt like a jumbled collection of forgotten clutter that had silently taken over the space. As I began sorting through it, I realized how much of it was simply taking up space for no reason at all. Since things that we seldom see are less likely to be sentimental, so getting rid of them was easy. In Margareta’s words, “An easy category is one with many items to choose from and without too much sentimental connection.”

I Got Rid of Bigger Items with No Use

This part was a bit tricky, both in terms of moving out heavier things and figuring out what to do with them afterward. There were a number of things to get rid of, including worn-out furniture, old electronics that hadn’t worked in years, and various appliances that were no longer useful. When I started decluttering these things, I separated out those that my relative might need. I took pictures of the items and sent them to my family and friends. To my surprise, there were more people than I thought who really needed those things. 

When I had gotten rid of the bigger things, it was much easier to focus on stuff that had been cluttering smaller spaces—things like old books, random kitchen gadgets, and miscellaneous papers that seemed to pile up without notice. With the larger items out of the way, I could see the smaller clutter more clearly, and it felt less overwhelming to tackle. 

How I Dealt With Sentimental Things 

Lastly, I turned to the things that were close to my heart but at the same time took up most of the space in my home: my books. Being a passionate reader, I had accumulated quite a load over the years. My son is also an avid reader, and together we had books stacked everywhere—on shelves, in boxes, and even on the floor. 

It was clear that, while many of these books were meaningful to us, there was simply no more room to store them. But giving them away was also very difficult as they were the “sentimental” things in the word of Margareta. As she says, “Books are generally hard to sell. I suggest that you let family and friends browse among the books you can live without and take what they want. Sometimes books have notes in the margins, written by people you know. These books can be difficult to get rid of for sentimental reasons”. 

It was time to make some tough decisions about which ones to keep and which to let go. But I couldn’t help but wonder—how do you part with something that has been such a big part of your life?

In the end, I decided to donate the majority of them to the local library. I found that it gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing those books would be appreciated by new readers, and in turn, they’d continue to serve their purpose. The decision made me happy in a way I didn’t expect—seeing them find a new life rather than collecting dust on a shelf. A few of the more special books, of course, I kept for myself.

Thoughts After Trying Swedish Death Cleaning

After trying Swedish Death Cleaning, I realized it actually made me feel happier. The more I let go of unnecessary things, the more I understood that true happiness doesn’t come from accumulating possessions, but from the people in our lives and the experiences we share. By decluttering my space, I was able to focus more on what really matters—the relationships and activities that bring me joy. It became clear that removing the excess helped me prioritize the things that truly add value to my life.

It also became clear how much simpler and more peaceful life could feel when there’s less to manage. In a world that often feels rushed and chaotic, having fewer things to worry about gave me a sense of clarity and control. The process helped clear my mind as much as my space, making daily life feel less overwhelming.

That said, I do wonder if this approach works for everyone. While it was incredibly freeing for me, the idea of simplifying and letting go may not be for everyone. But for those who feel overwhelmed by clutter or the weight of excess possessions, Swedish Death Cleaning offers a way to regain balance and create space for what truly matters.