Magnusson’s 2017 bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning turned the Scandinavian decluttering practice into a global phenomenon
Swedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson, whose book on “death cleaning” became a global phenomenon, has died aged 92.
Magnusson’s 2017 book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, introduced international readers to the concept of döstädning – the practice of sorting through and giving away possessions in later life so that family members are not left with the burden of doing so after one’s death.
Published when Magnusson was in her 80s, it was her debut and became an international bestseller. It was eventually published in more than 30 countries, and its success helped turn “death cleaning” into a widely recognised term.
“My motto for cleaning is simply: If you don’t love it, lose it. If you don’t use it, lose it,” she said in an interview with Swedish publication The Local. “My death cleaning has brought back wonderful memories. I wish for other people to have the same experience.”
