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For Beth Swartz, a reading teacher in Raleigh who just went through the cleaning-out process after having gastric bypass surgery, cleaning out her closet was a private job. "I needed to do it by myself," she said. "I needed to make the choices myself."

She dragged a garbage bag into the closet and got to work, weeding out clothes that she hopes will never fit again. "I'm scared to get rid of some of the things in case I gain weight again," she said.

But Gustafson said keeping clothes that don't fit is a waste of space.

"I tell my clients 'When you do lose the weight, we'll go and buy more clothes. For now, let's put it out of your closet,' " she said.

Gustafson has a plan for sentimental stuff, too. Instead of tormenting yourself over tossing it out, create a sentimental box and put it under the bed or in corner of the closet.

"Make your closet a working closet with things that fit," she said. "Get all the other things out of there."

Crocker suggests looking at your closet like it's real estate. That old prom dress? "It's not clothing anymore," Crocker said. "So don't let it take up prime real estate in your closet."

In fact, for clients who have trouble seeing the value of a spacious, clutter-free closets, Crocker asks them to calculate the square footage their crammed closets are taking up in their house. Then figure out how much of their rent or mortgage payment is going toward that space.

"What they're paying for is a massive storage space," she said.

Gustafson said once the piles have been made, put back what you're keeping, but make sure everything in the closet is as visible as possible.

* Hang the scarves and belts so you can see them.

* Buy clear plastic boxes for other accessories.

* Get shoe cubbies and dividers for shelves to seperate sweaters.

Keep that closet clutter-free by taking the time to identify your personal style. And when you do go shopping, buy only clothes that fit that certain style.

Or adopt the "one-in, one-out" system:

* Buy something only if you promise to give away something when you get home, Crocker said.

"It may be a little depressing at first," Gustafson said. "But you will feel exhilarated when you are done."

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