1KHO 811: What Really Matters in the End | Jane Magnusson, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Summary

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast Episode: 1KHO 811: What Really Matters in the End | Jane Magnusson, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Host: Ginny Yurich | Guest: Jane Magnusson Date: May 29, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores the profound, practical, and unexpectedly humorous concept of “Swedish Death Cleaning,” as popularized by Margareta Magnusson’s bestselling book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Host Ginny Yurich speaks with Jane Magnusson, Margareta’s daughter, about the origins and meaning of death cleaning (döstädning), how it serves as an act of love for one’s family, and why this Swedish tradition has taken the world by storm. Jane shares intimate stories of her mother’s writing journey, family impact, cultural context, and the lessons we can all draw—regardless of age or country—about clearing clutter, preparing for death, and making life lighter for ourselves and loved ones.

---

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Origins and Meaning of Swedish Death Cleaning

• Death Cleaning Defined (Döstädning)

  • In Sweden, döstädning ("death cleaning") refers to decluttering one's possessions before death to spare loved ones the burden ([04:09]).
  • Not about morbidity—rather, it’s a practical, thoughtful process that gently bridges life and death discussions.

• Jane’s Role in the Book’s Creation

  • Jane explains how the idea for Margareta’s book was sparked in conversation with a friend frustrated by a parent's clutter. A publisher saw its potential, and Margareta wrote with ease and minimal anxiety. Jane helped refine and expand the manuscript ([01:54]).

“She just wrote it. And then it came, and I helped her a little bit to make it more understandable and a little bit thicker than it was—a pamphlet. But it was her work and we had a really good time doing it.” — Jane Magnusson, [02:50]

2. Universal Relevance and Cultural Differences

• Unexpected Global Appeal
  • Both Jane and Ginny note surprise at the book’s resonance in countries like the United States, where discussions of death are often avoided ([05:40]).
  • In Sweden, it was “just something old women did,” but the book gave it a name and international platform.

“Nobody talks about death. ... But we can talk about it.” — Jane Magnusson, [05:40]

3. Why Start Early?

• Reducing the Burden on Loved Ones
  • It's unfair to leave families with mountains of stuff—especially while they’re grieving ([10:42]).

“Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish or be able to schedule time off and take care of what you didn't bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don’t leave this burden to them.” — Margareta Magnusson, quoted by Ginny Yurich, [10:42]

• Start Sooner, Not Later
  • Even those in their 40s or 50s should consider beginning, as physical decline may eventually make sorting impossible ([09:30]).

“You have to start right away. If you’re at least thinking about it, then why not start? Doesn't matter how old you are, but it matters if you are too old and you can't clean, and that's a problem.” — Jane Magnusson, [09:30]

4. Practical Approach to Decluttering

• Where to Begin

  • Work from large to small (furniture, clothing, books); save sentimental items for last ([10:42]).
  • Give away books, kitchenwares—don’t be afraid to let go of things with your notes or recipes.

• Preparing for the Unexpected

  • Death cleaning can serve as a gentle entry point for family conversations about mortality, purpose, and legacy, especially in cultures that avoid these topics ([07:35]).

• Handling Sentimental Items and Valuables

  • Address items that might cause family disputes by proactively distributing or selling them ([22:51]).
  • Margareta even sold her prized diamond bracelet to prevent future sibling conflict.

“She sold it, put the money in the bank. ... It’s easy for us children. ... We don’t have to do the work. She did it all.” — Jane Magnusson, [22:51]

5. Humorous & Memorable Stories

• Unexpected TV Fame and Amy Poehler
  • The book’s global popularity led to a TV series on NBC Peacock, with Amy Poehler as narrator. Sweden’s reaction was muted; Americans found it revelatory ([15:26]).

“How is this taking the world by storm? Our strange mother is now a TV series and books and whatever!” — Jane Magnusson, [15:26]

• Burning Her Own Paintings
  • Margareta burned some of her own artwork to spare her children the responsibility of discarding it later. Jane finds this understandable and not regretful, as she and her siblings received plenty of art while Margareta was alive ([28:21]).

“If I don’t burn it, they will have to… She just didn’t want us, the five of us, to have to deal with her stuff.” — Jane Magnusson, [29:37]

• Scandinavian Childhood Innocence
  • Jane and Ginny discuss Jane’s experience starting school at age seven, reflecting Sweden’s child-centered, slow-paced early years—naked runs to the lake included ([34:40]).

6. Philosophical Reflections

• Death Cleaning as Empowerment
  • Beyond practicality, it’s a path to be braver, more decisive, and less burdened in one’s own life ([31:14]).
  • Mess is an “unnecessary source of irritation,” and a smaller, uncluttered life is freeing.

“The more I have focused on my cleaning, the braver I have become ... living smaller is a relief.” — Margareta Magnusson, quoted by Ginny Yurich, [31:14]

• Giving Permission and Purpose
  • Jane emphasizes that death cleaning is an act of love, not only to ease pain for survivors but to enrich one’s own remaining years.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Death as Life’s Only Certainty:

  “The only thing we know for sure is that we will die one day.” — Margareta Magnusson, quoted by Ginny Yurich, [04:40]

• Empowering Listeners:

  “It’s never too late to change careers…She was 87 when she started writing.” — Jane Magnusson, [18:37]

• On Childhood Freedom:

  “Run around naked, run down to the lake, you got the garden and you just get to play.” — Ginny Yurich, [36:56]

• Family Memories:

  “It was in Singapore. Driving around, my mother had a little white convertible MG…she looked fabulous. That was a good memory—the tropics and convertible.” — Jane Magnusson, [38:45]

• The Core Message:

  “You clean out your crap so others don’t have to do it when you’re gone. And it helps your life in the here and now as well.” — Ginny Yurich, [37:10]

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Podcast Introduction & Margareta’s Story: [00:00 – 03:56]
• What is Swedish Death Cleaning? [04:09 – 05:40]
• Cultural Differences Around Death: [05:40 – 07:35]
• Why Start Early (For Younger Audiences)? [07:35 – 10:42]
• Steps to Begin Death Cleaning: [10:42 – 15:26]
• TV Adaptation & Cultural Reception: [15:26 – 18:37]
• Moving, Minimalism, and Family Dynamics: [20:00 – 24:00]
• Embarrassing Discoveries & Cleaning Out Vices: [26:35 – 27:44]
• Art, Sentimental Items, & Legacy: [28:21 – 32:05]
• Generational Preparedness (Jane’s Grandmother): [32:05 – 33:53]
• School, Play, and Preserving Childhood: [33:54 – 36:56]
• Jane’s Favorite Outdoor Memory: [38:45 – 39:24]
• Forthcoming Book “The Last of the Latest”: [39:33 – 40:55]
• Closing Thoughts & Appreciation: [41:10 – 41:36]

---

Takeaways

• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning offers not morbid reflections but practical wisdom, humanity, and humor about life’s only certainty.
• The tradition, now global, encourages open talk about aging and death, freeing families from both clutter and conflict.
• Listeners are urged to “start now,” regardless of age, and to view the act as one of the greatest final gifts to loved ones—a relief for both giver and receiver.

---

Books Mentioned:

• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
• The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly
• Forthcoming: The Last of the Latest

TV Show:

• Swedish Death Cleaning (NBC Peacock)

---

Summary by [Your Podcast Summarizer]. For more information and resources, visit the 1000 Hours Outside podcast website.

Transcript

[A]

Summer gets busy fast. One minute you're easing into warmer weather, and the next you're juggling sports schedules, swim days, camping trips, road trips, late nights around the fire, and trying to keep the house from completely falling apart in the middle of all of it. And if you're a cat family, too, there's still the everyday stuff waiting for you at home, including the litter box. That's why Whiskers Litter Robot is such a game changer during busy seasons, it automatically cycles after every use, so you're not constantly scooping or dealing with litter cleanup every single day. It just handles the dirty work for you. And the Whisker app notifies you about your unit, like when a clean cycle is complete, when drawer levels are getting full, or if the unit needs attention. You can always track things like your cat's weight and bathroom usage over time, which makes it easy to stay aware of changes without having to constantly check in. Honestly, during a packed summer, having one last daily chore to think about makes a huge difference. Maintain your cat's litter while focusing on your growing family. Learn more about Whisker Litter robot models and starter kits today to get set up before the summer craziness arrives. Take an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000 when you shop whisker.com 1000hours that's an additional $50 off bundles with Code [e-mail] 1000hours welcome to the 1000hours Outside podcast. I'm My name is Jenny Eric. I'm the founder of 1000 Hours Outside and this is a huge honor today. There is this incredible book out really a a set of books, but the one we're going to be talking about today is called the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. And this is a thin book, but a funny book that will change your life, how to free yourself and your family from a lifetime of clutter and the author's daughter Jane is here today to talk about it. I would love Jane if you would tell us about your mom. She credits you in the acknowledgments of this book. You know, she says that if it wasn't for you and for your husband, this book wouldn't exist. Can you talk about your role in helping take this message out into the world?

[B]

Well, my mother this is a long story, but my mother moved to Stockholm where I live, and moved in across the street from me and my husband 20 years ago and we've had Sunday dinners and all Christmases and everything together. But then I met a friend of mine, my Best friend from my time at university in the US and we had lunch together and he was moaning and groaning about his father having so much clutter and crap in his home. And I said, well, I don't have that problem. And he asked why? And I said, well, my mother is death cleaning. And he said, what? And I explained to him what it was. And then he just looked up in the ceiling and it was this beautifully decorated Indian ceiling. And he said, I think. I think there's a book in that. He was working at Penguin at the time and he was. Yeah, so the, the book publisher. And. And he asked, can she write? And I said, oh, I don't know. I'll go back to Stockholm and ask her. And she was like, yes, I'll write about that. I'll write about my death cleaning. And she did it. And three months without any angst, no anxiety about writing or author pains or whatever. She just wrote it. And then it came and I helped her a little bit to make it more understandable and a little bit thicker than it was a pamphlet. But it was her work and we had a really good time doing it. But we were all in kind of a shock that it sold to over 30 countries.

[A]

Yes. It's a New York Times best seller, Swedish Death Cleaning. And I mean, it's something I'd never heard of, but there is a word for it. Can you say the word for it in Sweden?

[B]

D Standing. But there is also another word which is dead standing, which is what you do when someone has died. D Standing without the middle. D as in David is something you do when you're alive.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To make sure that nobody has to come and dead stand for you. That is come and clean up your crap when you've gone.

[A]

Yeah. Yes. It's a life changing read. And it. You can get through it quick. And it's funny, the opening line is, the only thing we know for sure is that we will die one day. And so this is the thought. And. And because I hadn't heard of the concept until I read your mom's book and she had another book that came out after, which is fantastic. The Swedish Art of Aging. Exuberantly. That one came out in 2022 and then there's a third on the horizon and you can tell people about that, but it's called the Last of the Latest. But. But she. I mean, it's really the. It's thoughtful. Jane. You're thinking, who wants to take care of all your junk when you pass away? She wrote, there's already Enough chaos. When someone dies, we can plan advance to lessen the changes of these unhappy moments. Can you talk about why? I mean, nobody, at least I feel like in the United States, because I hadn't heard of death cleaning. Nobody seems to really think about the fact that someone else is going to have to deal with it later.

[B]

Well, we were all of us kind of surprised that the book became such a hit in the US because having lived a lot of my life in the US Nobody talks about death. And it's not like all Swedish people sit around and talk about death all the time, although everyone else thinks we do, but we, we can talk about it. And the thoughtfulness of her book and the idea of death cleaning, it was just something that old women did. And we have a lot of widows in Sweden. And in the rest of the world, men usually don't clean up after themselves or before them. But what older women do, nobody cares about. Nobody's written about it. And when I said to my friends, well, my mother is death cleaning. Everyone's like, oh, my mom is doing that too. But there wasn't a word for it. This, these are Swedish friends, because this is what old women do in Sweden. They get rid of their junk because they don't want to be in the way, which is also a problem that there's that old women are so scared of being a burden when they've taken care of you all your life, but they don't want to be a burden. And so they all death clean and they throw out crap. I have to start anyway. So when. When I said that to my friend that she's death cleaning, and he asked, can she write a book about it? Then when she did, death cleaning became a concept, the word. Nobody had a word for it either before.

[A]

Oh, so interesting. It makes a lot of sense. And she says, it's not a sad book and it's not a sad book, but nobody eventually does die. I mean, this is something important to talk about. And she also said, and I thought this was really wise, is that this is actually, especially if you live in a culture like in the United States, where people don't talk about death too much. This is actually a great tool. The phrase the book is a great tool to start to have these conversations with your loved ones. So I want to read what she wrote. Many adult children do not want to talk about death with their parents. They should not be afraid. We must all talk about death. If it's too hard to address, then death cleaning can be a way to start the conversation. You could say something like, what are you going to do with all your things when you don't have the strength or the interest in taking care of them anymore? So could you talk about that piece of. I thought that was an interesting piece too. Nobody talks about death. But also, I don't think people talk too much about aging and the, you know, the sort of decade increments. Because one of the things that your mom said was, I wish I would have started this when I was 65. She says, Aging is not for weaklings. My husband and I should have started tackling this together at 65, or maybe even earlier when we were stronger and our health was better. But everyone thinks they will live forever. And then suddenly he had passed away, so she had to do it on her own. If you start early at say 65, it won't seem like such a huge task when you like me. And at this point she says are between 80 and 100. That's what she always said in the book. I'm between 80 and 100. So can you talk to the person who's younger than that age, maybe they're in their 40s or their 50s, that they should start thinking about this because they're a little more maybe able bodied and robust. But also this is going to make their life better in the interim.

[B]

Okay, making your life better before death. It's nice to be uncluttered and it's nice to have a clean home. And so start. I'm in my little office, home, office now. I'm just looking at my books and talking to you. And I was like, I could get rid of that and I could get rid of that. And I'm not 65. My husband is, but he runs around like a boy. He plays soccer. And I'm 58 and I have to start. You have to start right away. If you're at least thinking about it, then why not start? Doesn't matter how old you are, but it matters if you are too old and you can't clean and that's, that's a problem.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So start. Start when you can. If you're able bodied and you don't have to be Superman, but you can carry out a box.

[A]

Yeah, you can start. And, and in the book your mom goes through in order that she did it, you know, she doesn't start with the sentimental things. She doesn't start with the photographs. She says, work large to small. You know, look at your furniture, look at your clothing, look at your books. Don't be afraid of giving away books. That have notes in them. You know, your kitchen and your cookbooks and things like that. But she wrote this, and I thought this was very perceptive. She wrote the pace today is very fast, which is so true. Many young families have to schedule their lives down to the smallest increment to have time to do what they consider most important. Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish or be able to schedule time off and take care of what you didn't bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don't leave this burden to them. So she's very direct about, in my opinion, a topic that I'd never heard of. And I thought, goodness, I'm glad. You know, you want someone to say, hey, think about the fact that other people are going to be really busy and they're going to be grieving and they're not going to want to come and sort through all of your things. So this became such a popular thing, Jane, that there was actually a TV show that came out based off of it. Lately I've been more intentional about what I wear day to day and being drawn into pieces that feel effortless, comfortable and still put together. It makes getting dressed so much simpler and honestly, Quince has been my go to the fabrics feel elevated, the fits are flattering, and everything just works without overthinking it. Quince makes it really easy to refresh your everyday this spring with pieces that feel as good as they look. They use premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim so everything feels high quality right from the start. They're lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at just $30 and they're breathable, easy to wear and perfect for repeating throughout the week without getting tired of them. And I have to say, the everyday fleece joggers have been such a win for me, especially on those cooler spring mornings. They're soft, they fit really well and they still look put together enough to wear out of the house, which I love. Everything at quints is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. So you're paying for quality and craftsmanship and not brand markup. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com outside for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q U-I-N-C-E.com outside for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com outside as we move towards summer, everything starts to look a little different. The schedule loosens up, there's more time outside, more travel, more life happening. And that's a really good thing. We but it can make consistency a little harder to maintain. Having something flexible that supports learning through those changing rhythms can make a big difference. And that's where IXL fits in so well. IXL is an award winning online learning platform offering interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. It adapts to each child's level, keeps them engaged, and gives parents clear visibility into progress. What I really appreciate is how simple and organized it is. Everything is laid out by grade and subject so you can quickly find what your child needs, whether that's staying sharp over the summer or getting a head start for the next year. And because it's personalized, kids can move at their own pace, which helps keep momentum going in a natural way make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and 1000 Hours Outside listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com 1000hours Visit ixl.com 1000hours to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Can I just say, there was a time when I felt like the family calendar was living in six different places. Some things were in my phone, some things were in Josh's head, some things were written down somewhere and a lot of it was just missed. And that constant feeling of what am I forgetting? Is exhausting. That is why I love the Skylight calendar. It brings everything together in one place. Appointments, activities, even grocery lists. And it syncs seamlessly with Google, Apple, Outlook, all of it. So wherever something gets added, it shows up. But the feature that really surprised me is a task for section for kids. It turns everyday responsibilities like chores or getting ready for the day into something visual and trackable. It helps build independence without me having to constantly remind everyone. And because each person has their own color, there is no confusion. No more. I didn't know. It's all right there. Skylight Calendar is designed to help families work together, which means less stress and more margin for what actually matters. And if you're not completely thrilled, Skylight offers a full refund within three months, no questions asked. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendar. When you go to myskylight.com, 1000 hours. That's M-Y-S-K-Y-L-I-G-H T.com 1000 hours for $30 off

[B]

was crazy. We were five. Megan, my mother, Margarita. We're five children. And we were all just shaking our heads. How is this taking the world by storm? Our. Our Strange mother is now a TV series and books and whatever. But I think the TV series, which was on NBC peac actually quite fabulous. They. And I, since I myself work with television and had a lot to do with my mom because she wasn't really healthy anymore, I just asked the production company scout to. You just do it. I'll sign whatever. And they did such a wonderful job. And they scouted people in Sweden, the three death cleaners who go to different people who are actually dying in the US and clean up for them. They throw up the garden. It's not hoarders. It's just people with too many things.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they talk. They sit around and drink coffee and talk about Sweden and they were just really, really nice people who were perfect for the job. There was a psychologist, an organizer, and a decorator.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was a wonderful TV series. And it was actually also bought by so many countries in Sweden by that time. And death cleaning had become a concept that nobody really equated with my mother. But if you look in the Swedish encyclopedia, that's where it comes from. So in Sweden, people said it was such a good TV series, but we're used to this stuff, right. So it wasn't sensational. But the sensational thing was that NBC peacock made a TV series out of it.

[A]

Yeah. And Amy Poehler. With Amy. Yeah.

[B]

She's the voiceover, and her brother lives here in Stockholm, so I had dinner with him just to, you know, get a feeling for what's going on. He was so nice. Ah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And we had. We had a Skype conversation. Amy and the. Amy Poehler and the team

[A]

who.

[B]

Who made the TV series. And my mother was like, what is that Amy with a hat? No, no, this is after we hung up. No, that was a man.

[A]

What an experience. What a wild ride, Jane, that you just never know. You never know in this.

[B]

Exactly. It's never too late to change careers. She was 87 when she started writing. Oh, wow. It's. And she was an artist before that and a mother of five and an avid reader, which is why I think the. The books are so good, because the only way to get good at writing is to read things.

[A]

She changed careers at 87?

[B]

Yeah. How old are you?

[A]

I'm 45.

[B]

Okay. So we. We have a couple of more careers before we Change.

[A]

In the TV series, they talk about death cleaning, and this is in the book, too. But death cleaning is for life. It helps you to really understand what you want out of your life. So the designer, the decorator says, you know, when I'm done with this room, you're gonna want to entertain in here and let it be a reflection of you. And I mean, the fact that there's a psychologist. You're talking about what is important to you, and you can't save everything. So a lot of these concepts are in both. In both the book and in the TV series. Now, your mom, she had moved so many times. Is this part of your childhood too? Or was it more before you came along? Because she said she had moved 17 times within our own company and abroad.

[B]

Well, I think the first couple of moves were without me and her belly. But I'm the last of five children, and we. We were there and there. No, we were in the west coast of Sweden in Menlike, and we were in Gothenburg, and then we were in Annapolis, Maryland, where I have the Yankee accent from. And then we were in Singapore and in Hong Kong, and we were all over the place. But I think she really got tired of packing up all her stuff in boxes and sending them to the other side of the planet and then unpacking them for some reason. So I think stuff disappeared on the way. Some hoes. No, I think she just donated to Goodwill or whatever. I never felt anything lacking from her, but I could be like, oh, I wonder where that book is or that purse or that T shirt.

[A]

Yeah, but she would have learned over all those moves, you know, what is it that you really want to keep around?

[B]

Nothing. She didn't want anything around. No, I'm serious. And everyone who's come to. To visit her, and there have been journalists from all over. There was a team from Thailand who came, and there's been from Korea and whatever. But the Thai people thought they were going to walk into, like, a Zen apartment with nothing. But she had a cozy place, but she didn't have a garage full of things. An attic was completely empty. And her basement also, which is really nice. So the. I think also the entire angst that people feel when their parents die has to do with. With what's coming to them. I mean, I'm gonna have to clean this out. Da, da, da. She didn't do that. Blah, blah, blah. I have to. You know, it's a. It's tragedy when someone dies in itself, but the aftermath is also a tragedy.

[A]

Yeah, there's so Many decisions that you have to make. And then one of the things she talked about is, I mean, so you come with the family of its family of five children that in certain cases there can be a lot of. If they're siblings, there can be fighting. Yeah, there can be.

[B]

But she took care of that. She didn't have many valuables, but she, she had a diamond bracelet that her grandfather gave to her. She sold it, put the money in the bank. I mean, it's. It's easy for us children. It's always hard when your mother passes away. But we don't have to do the work. She did it all. And I think everyone should do that. Who's. And I should too.

[A]

We. And I. It was. I was actually surprised when I read that. And there was actually a picture. The book is great. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. And I guess wherever you're listening to this, around the world, you could probably get a copy because it's been turned into so many languages. But there's a picture of picture on the page where she talks about that she sold the bracelet. And it's like two hands pulling at the bracelet and it's like breaking, you know? Yeah. And. And it does it. You can avoid. And of course you want this as a mother. You can avoid future complications amongst your children by selling some of your valuables so that they don't have to feel like, oh, who's going to get that one bracelet?

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Five kids. Like, nobody wants to leave chaos behind for their, like in their relationships, in the sibling relationships. You're hoping that they're gonna come together. Your outdoor space should feel like you. And for the longest time, ours just didn't. We had those random plastic chairs that somehow followed us from house to house. A patio that felt more like a pass through than a place to gather. And a grill that we kept saying we'd replace someday. It just wasn't a space we were excited to use. And then I found Wayfair and everything kind of clicked. We added simple, comfortable seating, an outdoor rug that grounded the space, and a few pieces that actually matched the look I had in my head. Now it feels like an extension of our home. We eat outside more, the kids linger longer, and it's just easier to be out there. What I love is how simple Wayfair makes the process. You can filter by size, style, budget, read real reviews from real homes, and with Wayfair verified, you know, you're choosing from items that have already been vetted for quality and having everything in one place from Seating to lighting to decor made it feel manageable instead of overwhelming. Get prepped for patio season for way less head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's W-A-Y-F-A I R.com Wayfair every style every Home Lately I've been trying to simplify my closet, just choosing pieces that are comfortable, easy to wear, and still look put together without a lot of effort. That's really why I keep coming back to quints. The quality is there, the fit is right, and everything just makes sense. Quince makes it easy to refresh your everyday this spring with pieces that feel as good as they look. They use premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim so you're getting that elevated feel without overpaying. Their lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at $30 and they're the kind of pieces you can wear again and again because they're breathable, versatile and just work. One thing I've been wearing a ton lately is the everyday fleece joggers. They're perfect for those cool spring mornings. Really soft, super comfortable, but still structured enough that I don't feel like I'm just in loungewear all day. And that's the thing with Quince. Everything is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they go straight to ethical factories and skip the middlemen. So you're getting great quality without paying for the label. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com outside for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com outside for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com outside okay, one of the topics that she talks about is that another thing that could happen is if you have vices. So sometimes there's kids that listen in with their parents. So I'll be like a little brief about this and kind of a big

[B]

overview, but I know I would know what the question is.

[A]

You might find some shocking things when you deafen clean as well. So a more innocuous example would be, well, maybe you find out that they were a smoker and you didn't know that. I mean there could be different things you find in drawers. So one part about death cleaning is to avoid that. Avoid people stumbling across maybe what you didn't want them to see. But she also gives advice like just kind of let it be.

[B]

Yeah, well my mother's only vice was chocolate, which is a huge chapter in the next book. But she just wanted people to clean in time so that their children wouldn't discover whatever it was that was. That would embarrass them. And she did that. So now children can listen again.

[A]

Yeah, so that was a topic in the book and one I wouldn't have really considered at all. You know, like, oh, what if they come across. There's all sorts of things. So you could burn your diaries if you want to. I mean, there's different.

[B]

Yeah, but I think people keep diaries because they want to be remembered. They want to have them found when. When you die. And. And. And the diary can be. Do you keep a diary?

[A]

I don't. I. I did when I was a kid.

[B]

Yeah, I did, too. Since I met my husband, I don't keep one any longer. But diaries are one thing. I don't think she would ever have burned a diary, but she never kept a diary.

[A]

Ah, so there wasn't one to be found.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

She did burn some of her paintings, which I was. You know, that's one of the things I thought was really interesting because, well, she talked about, like, gardening and hobbies and all of that winding down and having to, I guess, participate in hobbies in a different way and adjusting to that and coming to terms with that, like, I'm going to be part of a community garden instead. And. And she did actually burn some of her paintings, which. Which, like, photographs, you think would be some of your most beloved possessions. So she goes from. It really helps you. The book helps you. It goes from some of the more, I guess. I guess less sentimental things, unless you maybe had a seamstress or you sewed the clothes yourself, which isn't as common anymore, but from. From those types of things that are less meaningful to the things that are more meaningful, and you just get this sense of permission that. I mean, she says you can enjoy things without owning them. And in the end, she did get rid of her actual artwork. Is that. Do you. Is there any part of you that regrets that? Do you wish you had some of it, or are you fine with it?

[B]

No, I. I have a lot of it.

[A]

You still have a lot.

[B]

Yeah. The thing was with my mother, she would just give you stuff every time you came over, and we were there every Sunday, and I was like, oh, I've. You know, I like that cushion. I like that. And that. My husband and I decided, stay nothing, don't like anything, because it would end up in our bag when we went out. So I Have a lot of her artwork. And I think she was just thinking, well, if I don't burn it, they will have to. Because she became more famous as an author than artist who. And she just didn't want us, the five of us, to have to deal with her stuff. Then. I really like her art, but it's mostly flowers and the west coast of Sweden and cliffs and sailing boats and whatever. But it's not something I really want to hang on my walls. If she had given me more than I have now because we have so much artwork at home from bunch of different artists, then they would go up in the attic, and then I would have to clean it out next year. So she just did that. And I don't. My siblings are not unhappy about it either. And they all have her artwork. She was quite prolific in that. And so. Hold on.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't know which one she burned because I never saw them. And now they're ashes.

[A]

Right. Right. I thought I was really kind of a brave thing. And she wrote that the more I have focused on my cleaning, the braver I have become. And that this is really. Obviously, this is a gift that you give to your loved ones after you, you know, once you pass away. But also it helps your life in the here and now. She wrote, mess is an unnecessary source of irritation, and living smaller is a relief. And life will become more pleasant and comfortable if we get rid of some of the abundance. So you talk about how, you know, if you're over there, she would maybe give things that you think are beautiful. And you even. Like you said, you had to watch what you said. But her mother had done something similar, but she had pinned little messages to things. So when her. Her mom had passed away, people kind of knew what direction to go. Yeah.

[B]

And I think maybe it starts with my grandmother, because she made it. She died from breast cancer before I ever met her. And I've seen pictures of her, and she seems to be a wonderful woman, but she had really prepared my mother, Maria Rieta, for her passing. She had cleaned everything out. But there were certain valuables, like a riding costume from, I don't know, some earl or something, or duke. And she pinned that to the costume. Do this with this. And that was even for Google, I don't know how she managed. I guess she just called around and because the telephone was invented by that time, I think that's kind of where it started, the idea of not leaving everything for the younger ones.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

And her name was Corinne Linkvist, and she. I want that Too. Yeah, I want you to include it because she started all of this.

[A]

Ah, yeah. Just being thoughtful toward those who are coming behind you.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

And we can, we can save them precious time and you know, we can alleviate quarreling. And she wrote, a loved one would like to inherit nice things from you, but not all things from you. Okay, I want to hit one more topic.

[B]

Oh, fine.

[A]

That was just. It kind of in passing in the book. But she talked about how she didn't start school until age 7. And you know, we're talking about trying to get kids outside and really preserving childhood and having strong family bonds. And I thought, oh, that was a really interesting thing if age 5 and age 6 you got to kind of play and you didn't have any formal schooling. Do you have any insight on that? Is it still like that?

[B]

Yeah, you start school at 7, but I don't know, they might have changed the laws on schooling in Sweden now. I don't know. But I, I started school at seven.

[A]

You did too. So do you. Can you remember like those early years, it was just what, playing and reading and.

[B]

Well, you know, we lived quite a blessed life. My mother inherited a house from her parents. Corinne, who we talked about just for editing sake. My mother inherited a house from her parents which had a huge garden, went down to the lake. So being at home and running around naked, which all Swedish children did at the time in the 70s, I didn't wear clothes for many years. Sorry, it's a tangent. No, I didn't miss school, but I, I thought it was fun to go to school. But then I, I only went there in Sweden for two years before we moved to the US which I also liked, and then to Singapore and to Hong Kong and blah, blah, blah. But no, I think Swedish children enjoy that time. Yeah, but in America I understand that people are so progress oriented, they, they want their children to get into the best schools at age 5 and like, the kids don't even understand that.

[A]

It is interesting to think about the differences because the norm, it's very common for young children in kindergarten or first grade. So here. What, that's five and six year olds to, to hardly have any recess. Maybe they get 20 minutes to go play and they get their lunch. And so it's interesting to think that in some cultures they don't start any schooling at all until seven and that those years are really precious. You run around naked, you run down to the lake, you got the garden and you just get to play. And here your mother ends up becoming a New York Times Best selling author with a TV show that comes out of it and a book. Books that are translated to all these languages and it didn't really matter. No.

[B]

I want to tell everyone to run around naked.

[A]

It's interesting though that just how other cultures do it and that that preserves that early childhood. So the book is called the Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. How to free yourself and your family from a lifetime of clutter. You can watch the TV series on Peacock.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's just called Swedish Death Cleaning. And you'll see that, you know, you clean out your crap so others don't have to do it when you're gone. And it helps your life in the here and now as well. And so this is a just a heartwarming book and it helps you to remember that today is important and that there are different ways that we can care for those we love. Besides just in the moment, we can think long term about that. And then there's another book, the Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly. And it's funny, there's actually in the book I have the death cleaning book, there's like a couple chapters that you can read ahead of time. And so she talks about how someone says she's skinny. It's such a funny story, the nurse. And she says perhaps youthful vanity never really dies. So at first I was pleased when this nurse pointed out that I looked skinny until she went on to say that she thought elderly skinny people look very gray and very lonely. She could have been a bit nicer, that nurse. So the books are like just there's this humor woven in throughout. They're just enjoyable reads. And Jane, what a gift. Thank you so much for saying yes to come on and talk about this. And I also think it's really special how you've been a part of this and helped to get this concept out into the whole world, globally. So it was an honor to get a chance to talk with you. We always end our show with the same question, question. And you kind of have touched on it a little bit. But the question is, what is a favorite memory from your childhood? That was outside.

[B]

It was in Singapore. Driving around, my mother had a little white convertible mg and she wore the. The scarf on her hairdo and sunglasses. And she always smoked a cigar and it was kind of stuck in her lipstick. And sitting next to her and everyone staring, wondering, what is that Greta Garbo? And she looked fabulous. That was a good memory. The tropics and convertible. Yeah, that was a good memory.

[A]

I love it. Jane. Thanks so much for being here. Can you tell people what they can look. Look for in this book? The last of the latest.

[B]

Well, my mother knew it wasn't going to last forever, and I went to see her and I. I could tell, too, it's going to be over soon. And it's kind of. I'm sorry I'm laughing, but it's kind of death cleaning from beyond the grave. Some things you guys need to think about. You who are still living and I am dead, but you're reading this, so you're probably alive. And it's the wisdom that didn't fit in in the other books because they had very clear topics. So this is kind of. This is what she was writing when. When. When the end was near and then the end came and. And it's sad that she's dead, but we've talked so much about death, her and I, so we're fine.

[A]

Yeah. So the book isn't out yet?

[B]

No, it's been bought. It's been bought. But I. I have to. I have to finish the epilogue.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And do some editing, and then it'll be out.

[A]

Okay. Well, people can look forward to that. The last of the latest. Jane, thank you so much for saying yes. This was delightful. And the book has really helped me it that, you know, it gives you different perspective. And I never heard of it before. Swedish death Cleaning. So thank you so much for your time.

[B]

Thank you for your. I just want to say you're like the first journalist I've talked to in all these years who have actually read the book, so I'm very thankful. And I've talked to New York Times and Wall Street Journal and the BBC and whatever, but you are fantastic, I must say.

[A]

Well, thank you for that. I so appreciate that. That means a lot to me, and I was thrilled to get a chance to talk with you. So thanks for saying yes.