Like a drug intervention, a closet reorganization can force a pack rat to confront long-term bad habits, such as hanging on to jeans that haven't fit in years or clothes that went out of style with the powder-blue tuxedo.

If you suffer from pack-ratitis, it's time for a cold-turkey closet cleanup. And by cleanup, I mean clean it out.

First step: Empty it. No kidding. Take everything out of your closet: clothes, shoes, belts, ties, Christmas gifts that have been hiding there since 1982. Remove shelves, shoe racks and furniture. Take a look at your empty closet — perhaps for the first time since you moved into your home.

Now the work really starts. Here is the rest of my 12-step program for letting go of your closet clutter:

• Divide your closet contents into three piles: haven't worn in two years or never liked, seriously out of style and love more than chocolate.

• Root through the first two piles for items that are in good shape and might be useful to someone else. It's true that one person's trash is another's treasure.

• Throw away anything that is worn out. One person's trash also can be another's trash.

• Find local charities that accept gently used clothing and household items, and pack up your usable items. Take the time for this step; more people than ever need help through this recession.

• That leaves you with one pile of clothes, shoes and accessories you want to keep. Look at each item. Once you re-acquaint yourself with what's in your closet, you may find that you need to buy fewer new clothes thanks to the good things you'd forgotten.

• Scrub the closet from baseboards to ceiling with TSP — trisodium phosphate, a powdery cleaner that removes grime, stains and mildew. Don't use TSP on your wood floor, as it can stain. Clean your floor with a cleaner designed for your wood, carpet or tile.

• Paint an area you've ignored because you didn't want to empty your closet. Use a semi-gloss enamel that's easy to clean and can hold its own against scuffs from shoes and scrapes from hangers. If you prefer a paneled look, install a cedar closet liner. It's a simple job because of its tongue-and-groove design. Line the walls and the ceiling.

• Once the liner is in, install new shelves. Use a solid material such as a three-quarter-inch MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which is more durable than wire racks and less abrasive than plywood. Support your shelves with a sturdy wall cleat anchored to studs every 3 or 4 feet, and finish it with a bullnose edge so it won't have corners to catch on your clothes.

• Replace your wooden closet pole with a sturdy chrome rod that won't bend or damage as easily.

• Return your "must keep" clothes and accessories to their rightful place. Group similar pieces: jeans, slacks, skirts, shirts, jackets, suits. That will make everything easier to locate next time you're getting dressed.

• Make your way through the house and do the same for every closet. Don't forget the kitchen pantry, linen closet, vanity cabinet and under-the-sink cupboards that we all use as catch-alls.