Moving to a smaller home is much easier when the big job of sorting belongings is done ahead of time. Professional organizer @goldenwestorganizing shares a garage project that has stayed on her mind. Two sisters hired her to help clear out their elderly mother’s garage in advance of an eventual downsize, and her caption says they decluttered 99 percent of it.
She links the job to The Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a book and method she says has been on her mind ever since. Here is her story.
@goldenwestorganizing
A Garage Project With a Purpose
She makes clear that nobody had died. The client contacted her because her elderly mother was eventually going to need to downsize, and she needed to let go of much of what filled the garage. The contents, she says, were not clean, were not safe and no longer served her moving forward.
She observes that as many of us age, taking care of a large quantity of possessions gets much harder. She also acknowledges that viewers might think this garage looks better than many of the really cluttered spaces she works in. That is true, she says, but each client has different goals. In this case, the goals were to downsize for a move into a smaller place and to make the space safer for the senior.
How the Team Tackled It
Her process was methodical. As usual, the team pulled everything out and sorted it by type into categories. They rented a dumpster and hired a junk removal company to sort the items into trash, donation and electronic waste, so that things were removed as responsibly as possible.
Then came the human part. She helped the two sisters decide what stayed and what went. About 90 percent of the contents were going to leave, she says, but the hardest part was choosing what they wanted to keep as memories from their own childhood and things that belonged to their mom.
When Ordinary Items Carry Big Feelings
She points out that it is amazing what people get caught up in. Items you would not suspect of being meaningful can suddenly unleash a flood of emotions as you think back on the years of your childhood and your parents’ lives. The question that arises is what it means to no longer keep these things.
Many families discover this when they sort through a parent’s belongings. A tool, a holiday box or a faded piece of furniture can bring back a memory in an instant. That is why she suggests taking the process step by step and giving everyone time to decide.
What Swedish Death Cleaning Is Really About
She says she is reflecting on the method because it is not only about the moment of death or letting go when you are very old. Yes, it can be for that reason. But ultimately it is also about being mindful of how many possessions you have now, thinking about your life as it is today, living for the moment and choosing what is reasonable and what feels good for you.
It is also about easing the burden of having your children or grandchildren deal with all of your possessions after you are gone. She is quick to say she is oversimplifying a book she recommends reading. It helps keep things in perspective, she says, and it motivated her to do a lot of decluttering in her own home again.
On the drive home from the job, she found herself thinking about what she keeps and what the point of it all is. A member of her team, Natalie, pointed out during the project that we come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing. She is not saying you have to live with no belongings. She simply hopes that when the moment comes to clean out a space, either in your life or a family member’s, you will reflect on what you are keeping, what is weighing you down and how much simpler life could be with less.
Peace in the Before and After
She ends with a look at the before and after of the garage. It did not begin as the messiest space she has seen, but she notes how much peace and serenity the family feels now that the space is clear.
Planning Ahead for a Downsize
Whether you are the parent or the adult child, a project like this goes more smoothly with a plan. Here are some ideas inspired by her approach.
Start before there is a deadline
The best time to begin is long before a move. Working in short sessions, one area at a time, is far less stressful than a rush before a closing date.
Sort by category
Pull everything out and group similar items together. When you see all the paint cans, all the tools and all the holiday decorations, it is easier to decide how many you really need.
Pay attention to safety
Garages often hold old chemicals, paint, cleaning products and equipment that may not be safe to keep. Check with your local waste department about how to dispose of hazardous materials properly. Clear walkways also reduce the risk of falls.
Sort trash, donation and recycling
Separating into clear piles saves time. Donate usable items, recycle electronics where programs exist and use junk removal for what is left.
Save the memories, not everything
Choose a small number of keepsakes that matter most, and consider taking photos of the rest. Sharing the stories behind each item with family can be just as meaningful as keeping the object.
Be patient with feelings
Expect emotions to surface. Take breaks, talk it through and let everyone have a say in what stays.
The Takeaway
A garage cleanout may sound like a simple chore, but she shows it can be an act of care for a parent and a gift for the whole family. Starting early, working with kindness and keeping only what truly matters can make a downsize smoother and leave everyone with more peace.