Urge to purge? Get help

Indian clutter hits different. So, Insta hacks aren't enough to clear it out. See how local experts make room for the stuff you need

- Christalle Fernandes

For as long as we've had things, we've had to organise them. Harappan pots? Stacked neatly, by the hearth. The end of Medieval winter? Cue spring cleaning in every town home. Messy modern life? The Association of Professional Organizers has been around since 1983. Marie Kondo didn't invent tidying up. Those fridge restock Reels, the mason-jar pantry and the 5/5/5 decluttering rule – it's just a new chapter to an old story.

But it's a chapter that's overwhelming us enough that we're willing to pay for help. Even Indian homes, where house help do the cleaning, are now hiring professional organisers. It's more than Keep This — Chuck That. Getting people to say goodbye to their prized possessions is an art. See how they get people to reassess their buying habits, and urge them to make room for the things they really need.

Hoard mentality

Professional organisers don't just barge in and start dumping everything on the floor. They step back and try to work out what caused the pileup. Kruti Shah and Bijal Thakkar founded Methodize Organise in Mumbai in 2021. One of their clients had given up on the gym because she couldn't find her athletic wear. Another had multiple sets of kurtas and leggings, because she'd order a fresh set when she couldn't find them in her closet.