Swedish death cleaning

Swedish death cleaning (döstädning) is a decluttering method historically practised in Sweden. It is a simple living practice, encouraging people to get rid of belongings before death to spare loved ones from having to manage them.[1] As the practice has become more popular in the United States, it has been praised as practical and gratifying but also criticized as morbid.[2][3] The term was popularised in the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, by the Swedish author Margareta Magnusson.[4][5][6] Magnussen, who died on March 12, 2026, described this practice of tidying up as something to do "when you think the time is coming closer for you to leave the planet".[6]

The tradition inspired a 2023 TV show on Peacock streaming[6], The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, produced by Amy Poehler.[7] In the show, three Swedish people help Americans declutter and detach from their belongings.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Degges-White, Suzanne. "Death Cleaning: Embracing the Art of Döstädning". Psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ^ DiGiulio, Sarah (2 November 2017). "'Swedish death cleaning' is the newest decluttering trend". NBC News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  3. ^ Schmidt, Mackenzie (24 October 2017). "What Is Swedish Death Cleaning: Döstädning Trend Book". People.com. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  4. ^ DiGiulio, Sarah (2 November 2017). "'Swedish death cleaning' is the newest decluttering trend". NBC News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  5. ^ Magnusson, Margareta (3 January 2018). "'Death Cleaning' Is the New Marie Kondo. Should You Try It?". TIME. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Kornelis, Chris (2026-03-13). "Margareta Magnusson, 91, Dies; Wrote of Cleaning Up Before Dying". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  7. ^ Bell, BreAnna (8 April 2022). "Amy Poehler and Peacock Are Bringing The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning to Life". People.com. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  8. ^ Golby, Joel (6 July 2024). "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: a rare TV show that will change your life for the better". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
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