The Proper Way to Store Leather Belts

Belts are one of those items that many people disregard, but they shouldn’t for three reasons. First, your belt also has emotions. Second, it holds your pants up, and third, it adds a finishing touch to your look. If belts are significant enough to warrant such justifications, you should take better care of them.

If you’ve seen that your belts don’t retain their natural form or don’t last as long as you’d want, you may be keeping them improperly. Not to worry, we have you covered! The guide below explains how to correctly store your belt.

Black leather belts

Hang Your Belts

The most effective approach to store belts is to hang them freely. Some individuals choose to drape their belts over a conventional hanger, however this can alter the belt’s curvature over time.

Instead, you should hang your belts from the buckle, since this will increase the belt’s durability and maintain its shape. There are a variety of options for belt hangers, including over-the-door hooks and flat wall mounts. The issue is that many individuals lack space on their closet walls for hanging items. However, you might get a belt hanger for your closet rod so that you can continue to hang your belts while preserving closet space.

Now that you know how to correctly store your belts, you’re probably contemplating how many old belts you need to replace. No one should use belts with holes since they are unsightly and never fit properly.

How are belts hung?

Hanging belts prevents damage (such as creasing or cracking), making it a preferred option for storing pricey leather belts. Use the following:

1. Belt Rack

A belt rack for hanging is an ideal storage solution. Belt racks typically consist of a set of hooks on a wooden or metallic bar. The hanging of belts by their buckles reduces harm to leather tails. Place the belt rack on the back of a closet door or inside the closet to protect your belts from direct sunlight.

2. Extendable Belt Rack

Pull-out or sliding belt racks are often mounted on the wall or panel of a closet. This strategy decreases the amount of room necessary to store your belts and facilitates easy access. There are numerous sizes and styles of sliding belt racks, but we recommend purchasing a metal rack over a plastic one. (A plastic belt rack may not be able to sustain your collection of belts.)

Belts hanging in a rack

3. Hanging Belt Organizer

A belt organizer is an alternative method of hanging belts. Typically, these hang from a closet rod and contain holes to store multiple belts or ties. Consider that hanging belt organizers may not be the ideal choice for a tiny closet. They typically occupy the same amount of space as numerous shirts. A belt ring hanger attaches to a closet rod and typically accommodates many belts.

Roll Your Belt

Rolling your belts is an alternative method of storage, as it allows you to store multiple belts in a compact place.

Beginning at the buckle end, roll the belt towards the tail. Be cautious to maintain a tight and even roll as you progress. Rolling the belt from the buckle end avoids the roll from being overly tight, which could cause damage or deformation to the belt.

It is worth noting that certain belts should not be rolled. In particular, leather belts are subject to cracking during storage and unrolling. Even with the most casual utility-style belt, cracks indicate the belt’s imminent demise.

If you must roll your leather belts, make sure to clean and condition them regularly. This will aid in their longevity and patina development.

If a perfectly wrapped belt with a loose tail really irritates you, you can delicately wrap your belt with wool thread and tie it in its rolled state.

Once you’ve rolled your belts, you’ll need a convenient way to store them. You should look for a solution that protects belts from damaging circumstances such as humidity and sunshine. Additionally, it should be straightforward to locate a specific belt.

How to roll a belt and store it?

1. Drawer

A drawer will ensure that they are well organized. Sandwiched together, it is doubtful that they will unravel. If they are stored in a single layer, they are simple to count and sort during the morning rush.

If you can only fill half a drawer, you may need to stack your belts in order to store them all. At least twice as many belts can be stored in the same area.

This method of storing belts has a significant drawback as you will likely forget which belts you placed on the bottom. Additionally, you are likely to muddle the other belts if the desired belt is buried beneath multiple nicely coiled belts.

Additionally, it is crucial to note that placing a leather belt with a heavy dye close to a raw leather belt can have unintended consequences. The dye can transfer to the untreated belt and stain and discolor both of them.

2. Try employing a draw organizer.

Utilizing a draw organization kit is a superior solution for drawer storage. These kits include tension-based dividers that are adjustable and held in place by tension. They construct discrete compartments or pockets for each belt, preserving their safety, cleanliness, and organization.

For optimal performance, set up your organizer to keep your wrapped belts vertically, as opposed to laying them flat.

Leather rolled belt in drawer of walk-in closet

3. Use a belt storage container.

Belt storage boxes are an elegant alternative to a sock drawer for keeping your belts organized. They are also an attractive addition to a gentleman’s bedroom.

Similar to a drawer organizer, belt storage boxes provide separate compartments for storing rolled-up belts. Similar to a watch display box, many belt boxes include glass covers that allow you to exhibit your belt collection on a stylish shelf or dresser.

These storage containers should be kept away of direct sunlight. A glass top can intensify the sun’s effect on leather belts, but it can as quickly discolor cloth belts.

How are belts organized?

Now that you understand how to store belts, let’s discuss how to organize them. To organize belts, whether in a closet or a drawer with dividers, you must determine the most effective manner to categorize them. 

You can organize your belts by color first. This is the most common method of belt organization. It is also the most convenient way to examine all of your morning attire selections. You know exactly which color belt you’ll need based on the suit or attire you’re wearing on any given day.

The second method for organizing your belts is by material. This is useful if you own a large quantity of belts manufactured from various materials, such as leather, cotton, weaved, etc. Additionally, you can classify by material and then by color within each material classification.

Obviously, there are other different ways to arrange and store belts, but these are the two methods I would recommend most. People typically have multiple belts, but not 20 to 30 belts, so sorting by color or material will work best.

To sum it up

Keep in mind that storing and organizing belts should make your life easier throughout this procedure. Find a location and a system that will provide you with quick access to your belts so that you can find the belt you’re searching for when you’re scrambling in the morning and need to leave in 10 minutes.