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It doesn't have to be this way. Synopsis of "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson. In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering calle

It doesn't have to be this way. Synopsis of "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson. In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gentle-Art-of-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/Margareta-Magnusson/9781501173240 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gentle-Art-of-Swe...

shakezula 4y ago
This feels like the anti-hero to Kondoesque sparks-joy cleaning.
- astrange 4y ago
  Btw, “sparks joy” was invented for the English translation. The Japanese was IIRC “tokimeki”, so I’d say that is a clever localization but is too specific about the kind of emotion sparked. Kondo’s Japanese books also have a lot more specific advice about trash disposal in Japan, which can be difficult, leading to hoarding because you don’t want to figure out how to do it. Japan has some high productivity systems for sure, but in things like trash and childcare they’ve instead chosen to have very complicated processes you have to get just right, and instead of improving them they just have all of society shame you if you ever get any of it wrong.
  - SenHeng 4y ago
    I've often seen that when old houses get torn down, everything inside gets dumped into a skip that later goes to a magical place that does magical things with it. I'm quite sure similar services can also be used by the average person. You simply google for these magical words '産廃業者 $CITY'. Most* things can and will be handled by your local 'industrial waste' disposal person. Industrial here stands for non-consumer, not stuff-in-factories. * Except hazardous materials like asbestos, used paint and assorted chemicals which require another kind of disposal service that the city council can point one to.
- cbhl 4y ago
  Even if you follow Kondo's methodology, your late parents' things are almost certainly "sentimental items", which Kondo explicitly states to leave for last.
  - lupire 4y ago
    But that "last" is almost all of it, after "bulk/hazardous that I can't just toss to the curb". The rest was already gone.
- kzrdude 4y ago
  Yeah, "death cleaning" sounds very off-putting (also in the original language).
brabel 4y ago
Swedish garages are never used for cars. Their only purpose is to hold a whole lot of trash that "you may need some day". I've visited lots of houses when I was on the market, nearly all of them had a garage or basement completely full of what to me looks like trash (as the article says, to the owners, it's old stuff that has some sentimental value, of course).
- unwind 4y ago
  You forgot the semi-official extra storage that many houses come with, especially I guess in the northern half: the sauna. :) Apologies to any sensitive readers from Finland. In my case, no sauna and previous owners redid the garage into hall/utility (laundry) room/big bathroom and a small unheated workshop. Guess where the clutter lives, heh. :/
  - niemenmaa 4y ago
    Saunas filled with stuff like warehouses arouse unpleasant feelings in me, and sometimes actually offend :D I guess I'm a sensitive Finn :)
- theandrewbailey 4y ago
  > Swedish garages are never used for cars. A bunch of American garages are the same way. There are lots of 2 car garages in suburbs that only have enough empty space for 1 car, if any at all. I suspect that this may be more of a widespread phenomenon than I had realized. Growing up, I'd hear of all of these big tech companies that got started in some guy's parent's garage. I considered my parent's 1 car garage: mom complained when she couldn't put the car in it, and the rest was filled with tools and the lawnmower. No way a company other than a car shop could get started there.
  - brewdad 4y ago
    I think a part of the issue lies with the fact that most homes built in large suburban developments of the 21st century don't have basements. My dad kept his tools and camping gear and other less used stuff in the basement. I have to sacrifice a parking spot and still usually need to move a bunch of "stuff" in order to use my table saw or work on anything larger than a bench top.

shakezula 4y ago

This feels like the anti-hero to Kondoesque sparks-joy cleaning.

astrange 4y ago
Btw, “sparks joy” was invented for the English translation. The Japanese was IIRC “tokimeki”, so I’d say that is a clever localization but is too specific about the kind of emotion sparked. Kondo’s Japanese books also have a lot more specific advice about trash disposal in Japan, which can be difficult, leading to hoarding because you don’t want to figure out how to do it. Japan has some high productivity systems for sure, but in things like trash and childcare they’ve instead chosen to have very complicated processes you have to get just right, and instead of improving them they just have all of society shame you if you ever get any of it wrong.
- SenHeng 4y ago
  I've often seen that when old houses get torn down, everything inside gets dumped into a skip that later goes to a magical place that does magical things with it. I'm quite sure similar services can also be used by the average person. You simply google for these magical words '産廃業者 $CITY'. Most* things can and will be handled by your local 'industrial waste' disposal person. Industrial here stands for non-consumer, not stuff-in-factories. * Except hazardous materials like asbestos, used paint and assorted chemicals which require another kind of disposal service that the city council can point one to.
cbhl 4y ago
Even if you follow Kondo's methodology, your late parents' things are almost certainly "sentimental items", which Kondo explicitly states to leave for last.
- lupire 4y ago
  But that "last" is almost all of it, after "bulk/hazardous that I can't just toss to the curb". The rest was already gone.
kzrdude 4y ago
Yeah, "death cleaning" sounds very off-putting (also in the original language).

brabel 4y ago

Swedish garages are never used for cars. Their only purpose is to hold a whole lot of trash that "you may need some day". I've visited lots of houses when I was on the market, nearly all of them had a garage or basement completely full of what to me looks like trash (as the article says, to the owners, it's old stuff that has some sentimental value, of course).

unwind 4y ago
You forgot the semi-official extra storage that many houses come with, especially I guess in the northern half: the sauna. :) Apologies to any sensitive readers from Finland. In my case, no sauna and previous owners redid the garage into hall/utility (laundry) room/big bathroom and a small unheated workshop. Guess where the clutter lives, heh. :/
- niemenmaa 4y ago
  Saunas filled with stuff like warehouses arouse unpleasant feelings in me, and sometimes actually offend :D I guess I'm a sensitive Finn :)
theandrewbailey 4y ago
> Swedish garages are never used for cars. A bunch of American garages are the same way. There are lots of 2 car garages in suburbs that only have enough empty space for 1 car, if any at all. I suspect that this may be more of a widespread phenomenon than I had realized. Growing up, I'd hear of all of these big tech companies that got started in some guy's parent's garage. I considered my parent's 1 car garage: mom complained when she couldn't put the car in it, and the rest was filled with tools and the lawnmower. No way a company other than a car shop could get started there.
- brewdad 4y ago
  I think a part of the issue lies with the fact that most homes built in large suburban developments of the 21st century don't have basements. My dad kept his tools and camping gear and other less used stuff in the basement. I have to sacrifice a parking spot and still usually need to move a bunch of "stuff" in order to use my table saw or work on anything larger than a bench top.