My results after one year of Swedish Death Cleaning. It's so much more than just a decluttered home!

0:15 It’s about valuing what matters in life, living simple, financial freedom, escaping the rat race, living life on your terms and doing what genuinely makes you happy

When my uncle decided to put me down as his next of kin to deal with his stuff after his death I asked him to read the book. He is now cleaning up his apartment and got all his paperwork done for me. I had read the book and got a good laugh and so did he. I’m clearing out a lot of stuff myself at 58. He’ll be 80 this year and still very actively living.

My mother did this in stages for over 10 years before she moved into long-term care. It did make life much easier for us. She was a very pragmatic and realistic person. Miss you Ma.

As an Aussie lady in her 40's, I did the Swedish death clean 3 years ago when I got fed up with the junk I owned. I now have an amazing home I am proud to walk into every day and it takes no time to clean. Everything in its spot, and everything has a purpose or use. Life changing, for real!

My parents sent a list of any "valuable" items in their home to all the children (8) when the were in their sixties (my mother) and seventies (my father.) They asked each of us to note what was most important to each of us and send it back to them. That list was kept and often, they would gift an item to one of us. When they were gone, I had to go through the house myself, and often found, attached to the back or base of an item, masking tape with a sibling's name on it. It made it so easy to disperse the items to those who my parents specified. There were pieces that had no names on them and my brother and I, as executors of the will, had to determine to whom the items would go. But we still had the list, and that made it so much easier.

Despite never having heard of Swedish death cleaning my mother has lived this way for the last 40 years. Yes it can make life simpler, but you need to be careful not to fall in the traps- you said it became a compulsion once you got to a certain stage, this is how it is with my mother-she is 86 years old but has nothing in her flat much over 2 years old. When I give her something or make her a garment, even if it is very useful it is a good bet by the time I go back to see her it has landed up in the charity shop. She finished up with many of my possessions when I went to university because she emigrated while I was away. When she came back from abroad she sent my stuff to the charity shop, because throwing things away or giving them away makes her feel good- not because they weren't useful or because I didn't want them back, she had already done this with most of her own possessions, so to get the buzz my stuff had to go. Often it is the act of getting rid of thigs that feels good-not the state they leave behind-so caution is indicated, because that is no more psychologically healthy than the clutter.

So grateful to find this. Autistic. Single. Sixty. Four grown kids. I really appreciate you. The video is so well edited and pleasing in every way. Very moving.

Our Children aren't going to be left with a whole bunch of stuff to get rid of, We don't want to leave them with that. But I notice, as a person ages, they want less things around, that are messy or hard to keep up with. I learned this years ago, and just keep working at it. It makes a person feel so GOOD.

"Give each other experiences, not gifts." Great concept. ❤

I was watching videos on organizing and I was actually browsing Amazon for containers and organizers etc, when it dawned on me that I was reshuffling the stuff that I hadn't worn or even remembered that I had. Once I started declutterring, I was left with a mountain of organizers, plastic totes, containers etc. I've got so much room in my house it's amazing!

Getting rid of 90% was best decision we ever made!

I was relieved to see you mention "after one year of Swedish Death Cleaning." It makes me a bit more relaxed to understand that this is a lengthy process. I started it a few monthjs ago. My greatest challenge is finding places for my items to go, since I don't want to be responsible for sending them to a dump.

I was born into a minimal home in 1948 way before other people discovered this lifestyle. I have always been a bit minimal except fory clothes. I always liked a big walk in closet until I retired and didn't need all that stuff anymore. I live in a very small apartment now and have a very small wardrobe and only a small amount of belongings. I don't have a family so I want all my stuff gone except for the essentials before I go. I am very happy with what I have because it is just what I need and enjoy having around me.

Husband came in with 10 pairs of gardening gloves on sale… I had him return them!!! Good sign!!!

I have a friend whom I share my house with, he is a hoarder, his mother was a hoarder. He is 73 years old, his whole families 'stuff' including over 150 years of dead relatives stuff. It does my head in! He is learning, by my example ( I tend to be a neat freak) to let go of things. If he brings stuff into the house, I say, "..and I suppose when you drop dead I am the one to figure out what to do with it?". We used to fight about it, but he is realising it isn't fair for someone else to deal with his stuff and actually goes through his own stuff and gets rid of it now! He buys multiples of things because they were cheap, I ask him now, "Will you live that long to use them up?" He replies, "Oh, probably not." and then returns them. I think it is paying off. Monkey see, monkey do. Great video.

I did a serious decluttering about 15 years ago (when we just called it "decluttering"). It helped me finish some projects too, like painting the baseboards and adding a shelf unit in the kitchen. It turned my dismal little house into a really delightful place.

The reality is we leave everything behind when we die

I am a new subscriber. I so needed to hear this I am 73 & started to declutter,but back sliding,holding back. You just gave me that boost to restart . During the height of covid I gave away 13 /33 gallon bags of dress clothes,some with tags still on them. I donated them to a Mission House for those that need clothing can come into the store & have free outfits, the director told me I will be clothing a lot of people, that to me was better than money. My other household items I donated to a community store & items sold & the money is put back into the community for the children for their trips, & craft making plus other things they need. I slacked off due to health issues. Now I am going to restart slowly due to health . Thank you so much Have a lovely day !

I'm 74, and a recovered shopoholic. Several years ago, I started making large monthly donations to the local Goodwill. At that time I hadnt heard of death cleaning, but was just sick of all the stuff around me, mainly clothes Id bought and never worn. This has been an interesting process, with imaginary "layers" of stuff, being donated each month without fail. Each layer could only be parted with after the last was gone, it seemed. My large house now has plenty of "negative space," which is pleasing to me, and the monthly donations continue, with a real sense of accomplishment. 🌺🌺🌺

The problem is that the people who NEED to do this the most are the ones who won’t part with anything and tend toward hoarding. I pity those families that have to deal with it all. Watching you from Oregon and love your calm, beautiful channel.