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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter
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Jun 04, 2019xkoqueen rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Swedish Death Cleaning is a somewhat morbid title, however, author Margareta Magnusson tastefully describes why you might want to clear out your house of unneeded/unwanted clutter instead of leaving it for your surviving family and friends. The author's approach is much more civilized than that of the more publicized decluttering books. Ms. Magnusson advises that a DIY "death cleaning" takes time. Pour over those old letters and cards, and then disposed of most if not all of them. Have a friend who admires a vase or a no-longer wanted/needed table? Tell them the story behind the item, and then gift it to them. You're moving to an apartment and no longer need a shed full of tools? Gift them to your children and their friends who are new homeowners. The proposed process is thoughtful, not rash. The author doesn't provide an exacting how-to declutter your house, but more of a thought-provoking suggestion that everyone tends to hold onto more than they need, people will be happier in a less cluttered environment, and {depending on one's stage of life} your family will be very grateful that they don't have to spend days combing through old tax returns and magazines to find the one meaningful family-history letter that is worth treasuring.