death cleaning

American  

[deth klee-ning] / ˈdɛθ ˌkli nɪŋ /

noun

1. 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.

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Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

Blöm: With death cleaning, we’re not interested in the amount of items you have.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2023

Döstädning, also known as Swedish death cleaning, comes at organizing from the dark side.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2022

The fact of living longer doesn’t just give us time to think about death, but also plunges us into chaos, sickness and confusion, and death cleaning seems a valiant attempt to counter this.

From The Guardian • Jan. 12, 2018

This is perhaps a gentle reminder that, as you are death cleaning, you may want to write your own cleansing obit.

From New York Times • Dec. 25, 2017

Magnusson, who has moved 17 times, says women often end up doing the death cleaning.

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2017