The Joys of Swedish Death Cleaning

A live discussion that explored the Swedish practice that involves organizing and decluttering your home to reduce the burden on loved ones of sifting through dozens (if not hundreds!) of objects to decide what is significant and what should be kept. 

Discussion led by Heather Nickerson Co-Founder & CEO of Artifcts

• Heather@Artifcts.com
• https://Artifcts.com use the code PROAGING for a 10% discount

Listen on your favorite podcast platform

Questions Asked

• There's a book called Swedish Death cleaning, which I read.
• If we put all this stuff in the dump, that is not good for our earth.  What options do you have instead of “throwing them away”?
• where did  the name Swedish Death Cleaning come from? Sweden?
• What happens if the person you want to give it to does NOT want it?? People have so little room for more stuff, or it doesn’t go with their space
• along with the previous question, if the person you leave somethng to doesn’t want it, arent’t you setting them up for guilt if they just get rid of it?
• Seems like the pathology here/ the elephant in the room is we need to stop consuming. It does not make us happy.
• What places will recycle?
• Goodwill is extremely picky these days.
• Where to research
• An approach I practice and recommend to clients… contact organizations like Vietnam Vets,  American Veterans, Boys and Girls Club   will do curb side pick up .  Easy to give 3-5 bags a month.
• Can she share those partners for recycle of clothes, vintage clothes, legos?
• What do you recommend for lots of silver serving pieces? chafing dishes, lots
• Hire online auction company. They take photos. No bidders come to the house. They take stuff to storage for pickup day
• When you work with an aging loved one to begin this process, as they identify the individuals they want to have their various items, does this need to be documented in a will or an estate plan?
• Where do you put all the stories? In a notebook?
• "Watch. “ The Story of Stuff”. by Annie Lillard. Great 20 min video explaining it all" "https://www.storyofstuff.org
• The Story of ""The Story Of Stuff"" From a Movie to a Movement Watch the film that started it all! Learn Tools To Change The Story Media. There are lots of ways to tell a story. That's why we have a podcast, a book, a blog, and multiple video series - all to inform and inspire you"
• How best to start:  go through one room at a time, or deal with all the same things at the same time (clothes, for example), or start with something you spot that you know you don't need to keep any more (so you can begin with easy stuff to get started)?
• Any suggestions for overcoming feelings of nostalgia/sentimentality?
• I always offer things to my house cleaner
• I'm trying the one drawer a day method.  One small drawer, 15 minutes and larger drawer, 30 minutes.  Disposition, only put back in the drawer what I'm going to use, rest is either donated or thrown out if actually broken, i.e. pens that are falling apart.
• Also communities have Freecycle.org - offer what you don't need to your neighbors and ask for things you need
• Some disease org's take donations ie Lupus Foundation is one
• As my kids were outgrowing their gently used clothes, I took them to consignment shops.  Unfortunately, there are fewer consignment shops today.
• I often donate to Greendrop which has several locations in the area. They take things (eg broken furniture) that other donation sites won't take.  Also, I kive in a multi-family building that will not allow things to be place outside for pick up which ruled out that for me.  Also, in researching life plan communitites, many have move managers on-site and have movers that they use or recommend.
• If you live in a house, you can put things at the curb with sign FREE.  I did that with some rusted lawn furniture at the curb and they were gone in minutes
• What to do about scrapbooks?
• What to do when your grandchildren are too young to acquire your treasures?

Chat Transcript

12:09:43     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : See the first discussion we had with Heather at What to do with your "Stuff"? Learn about a new technology for your Memories and "Stuff" https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/what-to-do-with-your-stuff-learn-about-a-new-technology-for-your-memories-and-stuff

12:10:10     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter (The Swedish Art of Living & Dying Series) https://a.co/d/jbtswms

12:25:49     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : YOUR DONATIONS HELP SOMEONE FIND A JOB, STRENGTHEN YOUR COMMUNITY AND PRESERVE THE PLANET. https://www.goodwill.org/donors/donate-stuff/

12:33:15     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : How Artifcts Works

Each Artifct tells the story behind an object with any combination of images, audio, video, and text. https://artifcts.com/

12:41:45     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Dixcy Bosley 12:26 PM 

An approach I practice and recommend to clients… contact organizations like Vietnam Vets,  American Veterans, Boys and Girls Club   will do curb side pick up .  Easy to give 3-5 bags a month.

12:42:16     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. https://dressforsuccess.org/

12:43:21     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Habitat for Humanity®  https://secure.habitat.org/

12:45:04     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Moving & Downsizing Resources https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/resources/moving-downsizing

12:45:35     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Discussions on what to do with your stuff https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos?q=stuff

12:45:55     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Cedar Dvorin 12:44 PM 

Also communities have Freecycle.org - offer what you don't need to your neighbors and ask for things you need

12:46:06     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Carol Rieg 12:42 PM 

I'm trying the one drawer a day method.  One small drawer, 15 minutes and larger drawer, 30 minutes.  Disposition, only put back in the drawer what I'm going to use, rest is either donated or thrown out if actually broken, i.e. pens that are falling apart.

12:46:42     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Joy Loverde 12:30 PM 

Hire online auction company. They take photos. No bidders come to the house. They take stuff to storage for pickup day

12:48:38     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Dixcy Bosley 12:38 PM 

Watch. “ The Story of Stuff”. by Annie Lillard. 

Great 20 min video explaining it all  https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-stuff/

12:49:08     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Cedar Dvorin 12:39 PM 

https://www.storyofstuff.org

 Story of Stuff

The Story of "The Story Of Stuff" From a Movie to a Movement Watch the film that started it all! Learn Tools To Change The Story Media. There are lots of ways to tell a story. That's why we have a podcast, a book, a blog, and multiple video series - all to inform and inspire you

12:49:49     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Arlene Polangin 12:46 PM 

As my kids were outgrowing their gently used clothes, I took them to consignment shops.  Unfortunately, there are fewer consignment shops today.

12:50:00     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Theresa Meehan 12:46 PM 

Some disease org's take donations ie Lupus Foundation is one

12:52:31     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Each Artifct tells the story behind an object with any combination of images, audio, video, and text. https://artifcts.com/

12:55:30     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : this recording will be at this link shortly after the discussion! https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos?q=stuff

12:55:50     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : JoAnn Lynn 12:50 PM 

Chat seems to be disabled?  I often donate to Greendrop which has several locations in the area. They take things (eg broken furniture) that other donation sites won't take.  Also, I kive in a multi-family building that will not allow things to be place outside for pick up which ruled out that for me.  Also, in researching life plan communitites, many have move managers on-site and have movers that they use or recommend.

12:55:58     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : I enabled chat sorry!!!

12:56:58     From  Pam Windsor : yes I use my silver and china every day.  I use my baby cup as a flower container for a single blossom, for example.

12:57:46     From  Heather Nickerson : https://artifcts.com/media/EarthDayGuide_Artifcts.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3E709ZSAPbfx_bqNaf4dVqmOyKcLaR1ZBXCyyS7JwYbd4oLYSFdcRTBcw

12:57:59     From  Cedar Dvorin : Thanks for this! I have read the book but need to be prodded.  Off to my 1:00 zoom.

12:59:01     From  Heather Nickerson : https://youtu.be/lp_A_5g7haU

12:59:24     From  Deborah Zuckerman   to   Hosts and panelists : Any suggestions for overcoming feelings of nostalgia/sentimentality?

12:59:33     From  Heather Nickerson : Https://artifcts.com

13:00:23     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : I had a large silver-plated bowl and silver-plated pitcher from the 1970s.  When I brought them into a local thrift shop, they took a look at the bottom and, seeing silver-plated, immediately pasted on a price of $12.99.

13:00:43     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Some discussions with Matt Paxton https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/discussion-with-tv-show-host-matt-paxton-hoarders-and-legacy-list

13:01:10     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Matt Paxton Speaking at Kaiser Permanente Thriving After 60 University https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/matt-paxton-speaking-at-kaiser-permanente-thriving-after-60-university-2702

13:02:09     From  Laurie Hawley : I just found Fordays.com which will take any textile that is torn. stained etc such as old tshirts, worn sneakers etc and recycle it.  cost $20 for Takebackbag with free shipping and then get $20 credit to buy on site items you may want.

13:02:42     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Our discussions on what to do with your stuff https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos?q=stuff

13:03:00     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Carol Rieg 12:42 PM 

I'm trying the one drawer a day method.  One small drawer, 15 minutes and larger drawer, 30 minutes.  Disposition, only put back in the drawer what I'm going to use, rest is either donated or thrown out if actually broken, i.e. pens that are falling apart.

13:03:49     From  Soye Kim   to   Hosts and panelists : For some reason I can’t copy and paste these links into a document.  How can I get a list of useful resources later?

13:04:18     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Cedar Dvorin 12:44 PM 

Also communities have Freecycle.org - offer what you don't need to your neighbors and ask for things you need

13:05:00     From  Deborah Zuckerman : Friends of the Library in Wheaton & Rockville for books, posters, CDs, etc

13:06:44     From  Deborah Zuckerman : Important to research "charities" -- https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles/planet-aid39s-recycling-program-debunked

13:07:43     From  Deborah Zuckerman : Community Forklift -- furniture, building materials, toilets, appliances, etc

13:08:35     From  Arlene Polangin : I need to leave now.  Thanks so  much ;)

13:08:40     From  Theresa Meehan : Thanks, need to sign off - but really helpful, will look out for the notes and links to these great ideas !

13:09:35     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : What To Do With All Those Photos? https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/what-to-do-with-all-those-photos

13:09:46     From  Heather Nickerson : https://artifcts.com/articles/post/what-should-you-do-with-old-scrapbooks

13:12:27     From  Vivian Sheliga : Outstanding seminar and discussion.  Great resources.

13:13:29     From  Patricia Maley : Brandywine RIver Museum has a full story seasonal display (Christmas) of trains - Chadds Ford, PA - call them - they may be in acquisition mode...

13:14:51     From  Heather Nickerson : How To Artifct Collections: https://artifcts.com/articles/post/how-to-artifct-that-collection

13:16:06     From  Judy Zimmerman Herr : There's also a train museum at Strasburg, PA that may welcome trains