death cleaning

[ deth klee-ning ]

/ ˈdɛθ ˌkli nɪŋ /

noun

the process of cleaning and decluttering one’s home so as to spare others, especially family members, from the chore of it after one’s death: While I’m still strong and healthy, I’m going to commit to some serious death cleaning.

Nearby words

death care, death cell, death certificate, death chair, death chamber, death cleaning, death cup, death duty, death futures, death grant, death house

Origin of death cleaning

First recorded around 2017; a translation of Swedish döstädning, literally, “death cleaning,” equivalent to dö “to die” + städning, verbal noun from städa “to tidy, clean, clean up, clean out”

Also called Swed·ish death clean·ing.