Whether you’re wearing a hat to support your team, show off at a Kentucky Derby party or complement an everyday outfit, it’s important to store the hat properly after you take it off.
While your clothes and shoes may hold up to some pretty harsh treatment, hats often require a higher level of care. To learn the best way to store your hats and keep them in great condition, follow this expert advice.
Protect the Shape
“Hats need to be stored so that nothing crushes the brim or the crow,” said M. Anne Ballard, president of marketing, training and developmental services for Universal Storage Group and author of The Hat Lady Speaks.
Ballard, who owns an impressive collection of nearly 200 hats, primarily stores her hats on Styrofoam heads. If heads aren’t available (or if they creep you out) she also recommended maintaining the shape by filling the crowns of your hats with scarves or other soft materials.
Self-storage executive Anne Ballard shows off just a few of her 200 hats.
Save Space by Nesting
If you have a large hat collection, a smart way to save space and support the crowns is to nest several hats in one stack. Ballard uses this approach when storing hats on foam heads, on shelves and when packing them away. Simply start with the largest hats and nest increasingly smaller ones inside.
Keep Them Out of Direct Sunlight
One of the most basic functions of a hat is to protect your head from sunlight. But even though hats can hold up for an afternoon or even an entire day in the sun, long-term sun exposure can cause the fabric to fade.
So unless they’re fully covered, your hats should always be stored away from windows. Ballard learned this lesson the hard way when one of her hats from France was damaged from exposure to a skylight.
Use Boxes for Your Best
If you own a hat fit for the next royal wedding or one that carries sentimental value, your best bet is to store it in a hat box.
And while hat boxes add a touch of sophistication and elegance to your closet (or your storage unit), simpler options work just as well.
“Any plastic bin that is large enough to hold the hat will do,” said Seana Turner, a professional organizer based in Darien, CT. As a bonus, a clear plastic container makes it easier to pick out the specific hat you want.
Just make sure there’s sufficient air flow around the hat and that it’s covered to prevent dust build up, added Ballard.
Pro tip: Add a silica gel packet to any bins you put hats in to keep out unwanted moisture.
Store your hats in boxes or plastic bins to keep them in top shape.
Storing Hats Around the House
When it comes to storing hats for everyday wear, there are various space-saving solutions out there. Here are a few options for organizing and creating hat storage for the lids you wear the most:
- Hooks or Pegs: This is a great method if you want to display your hats proudly as part of your decor. Places hooks or pegs on a wall and simply a hat on each one. This method works best for fedoras or cowboy hats. Just remember to avoid direct sun wherever you hang them, and remember to shake off the dust now and then. Consider placing these by your entryway so you can grab a hat of your choice whenever you head out the door.
- Hat hangers: A hat hanger in your closet is a good way to store hats, especially baseball caps. One hanger like this from Boxy Concepts can hold 10 caps in your closet, and probably more if you nest your caps inside each other.
- Over door rack: An over the door hat rack is a great way to store baseball hats as well. This one from Perfect Curve holds 18 of your favorite hats.
- DIY storage: There is plenty of ways to create your own DIY hat storage solution. One method is to stretch twine or wire between two push pins along a wall. Simply attach your hats to the twine with clothespins and you’ll be on your way to creating some extra space in your closet.
- Shoe boxes: Some shoeboxes may be big enough to hold several baseball caps nested together. Plastic shoeboxes with drop fronts may be even better, as cardboard is known to attract pests and moisture. Fill them with your favorite casual hats and place on a closet shelf.
Storing Hats Long Term
For long term storage that involves stacking boxes, let your hats be the last items you add to avoid placing anything on top of them.
“You’ll crush a hat or ruin it in no time by putting something heavy on it,” said Ballard.
For long-term hat storage at a self-storage facility, you should consider picking a climate-controlled unit. Climate control provides the best protection as it regulates the temperature and humidity. Uncontrolled humidity can damage delicate materials such as felt hats or wool hats over time. Straw hats might grow brittle if exposed to extreme heat or cold.
To keep your hats in top shape, keep them in a climate-controlled environment at all times.
