I Tried Swedish Death Cleaning My Entire House *it took 6 months*

The narrator, self-identified as a pack rat, discusses their journey of decluttering inspired by the book 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning'. They contemplate the fate of their belongings after their death and decide to adopt a drastic approach to decluttering, questioning the worth of each item based on whether they would want others to deal with it posthumously. The process involves informing loved ones, gifting away possessions, and donating or selling the rest, all while considering the happiness of others in relation to the items. The narrator also touches on the difficulty of decluttering shared spaces and the struggle with the philosophy of buying more organizers to manage an excess of items.

The script continues with the narrator's experience of decluttering their home, focusing on the emotional challenge of parting with items that hold sentimental value or are shared with a partner who has different views on what should be kept. The narrator uses humor to describe the tension between their desire for a clean, organized space and their partner's tendency to hoard certain items, like boxes and games. They also share practical tips, such as setting aside items out of sight for a trial period to determine their necessity, and the satisfaction of decluttering a junk drawer, using repurposed organizers to maintain order.

In this paragraph, the narrator delves into the psychological aspects of decluttering, discussing the relief and empowerment that comes from reducing possessions and the strategy of imagining items finding new homes through donation. They recount the process of evaluating each item's necessity, using the Swedish death clean question as a guide. The narrator also shares their personal revelations about their own hoarding tendencies, such as the accumulation of empty boxes and the emotional difficulty of parting with certain items, like perfumes. They emphasize the importance of tackling cluttered areas bit by bit and the sense of accomplishment that follows.

The narrator concludes their decluttering journey by reflecting on the transformative effect it has had on their home and mental state. They recount specific areas of the house that were daunting to tackle, such as the furnace room and storage room, and the satisfaction of finally confronting these spaces. The process has not only resulted in a more organized living environment but also in rediscovering items thought lost. The narrator acknowledges their maximalist nature and the ongoing challenge of maintaining order, but they express a newfound sense of control and clarity. They encourage others to take on similar decluttering projects, emphasizing the personal benefits and the potential for items to find new purpose through donation.