Move over, Marie and Martha. There’s a new tidying up expert in town – Margareta Magnusson – the bestselling author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. Although the title may sound a bit morbid, the advice the book dispatches on decluttering is anything but. In a nutshell, the Swedish method asks us to put ourselves in the shoes of family and friends who are tasked with the unpleasant work of cleaning out all the belongings we have left behind at our death. The method is a way to organize and declutter so that you reap the benefits of an organized home here and now. In other words, you will only hold on to the things you consider essential.
Where to start?
Begin with your closets. Take everything out of the closet to make sorting easier. Think about donating, discarding or reselling. It’s a good place to decide what no longer fits and what is no longer in style. Sentimental items are difficult to part with. Ask yourself if it has served its purpose. Isn’t it time to let go of those out-of-style special occasion clothes? Even if your clothes still have price tags on them, they are candidates for the donation box. If you haven’t worn them by now, chances are you never will. While you are deciding what to discard, think about how you will reorganize your closet. One way is to have all your regularly worn items upfront and all the seasonal apparel in the back or up top on a shelf.
Next declutter by size, asking yourself what is taking up most of the space in your house. Start with the largest number of items such as books and work your way down to the smaller, hard-to- part-with items like family photos and keepsakes. Take a hard look at the number of duplicated items you own. How many potato peelers do you need?
Another often overlooked area is our digital clutter. Make sure to have important login passwords for online banking and brokerage passwords accounts available to those you trust. Plan to spend some time decluttering your hard drive and desktop as well. Keep a designated place for important papers such as an up-to-date will and deeds. Make sure your family knows where they are.
Magnusson advises not to wait until later in life to start practicing this cleaning method. The idea is to make this a lifelong habit that allows you to see what things really matter in your life. Instead of surrounding yourself with clutter, embrace the things that are the most meaningful for you.
The Swedish Death Cleaning process has been adopted by millions of people around the world. Shouldn’t you also consider the benefits of this system? Contact us for more ideas on how to enjoy a happier, uncluttered life.
Claudine Steinfurth
REALTOR®
(216) 409-4039
csteinfurt@aol.com
RE/MAX Above & Beyond
7570 Chippewa Road
Brecksville, OH 44141
