diff --git a/rbx_dom_weak/src/instance.rs b/rbx_dom_weak/src/instance.rs
index 3a1cfad4f..9b225f77c 100644
--- a/rbx_dom_weak/src/instance.rs
+++ b/rbx_dom_weak/src/instance.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 use rbx_types::{Ref, Variant};
 use ustr::{Ustr, UstrMap};
 
+use crate::UstrMapExt;
+
 /**
 Represents an instance that can be turned into a new
 [`WeakDom`][crate::WeakDom], or inserted into an existing one.
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ impl InstanceBuilder {
             referent: Ref::new(),
             name,
             class,
-            properties: UstrMap::default(),
+            properties: UstrMap::new(),
             children: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ impl InstanceBuilder {
             referent: Ref::new(),
             name: String::new(),
             class: Ustr::default(),
-            properties: UstrMap::default(),
+            properties: UstrMap::new(),
             children: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
diff --git a/rbx_dom_weak/src/lib.rs b/rbx_dom_weak/src/lib.rs
index 55d8c87a4..8c261b864 100644
--- a/rbx_dom_weak/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rbx_dom_weak/src/lib.rs
@@ -54,3 +54,23 @@ pub use crate::{
     instance::{Instance, InstanceBuilder},
     viewer::{DomViewer, ViewedInstance},
 };
+
+/// Helper trait that provides convenience methods for `UstrMap`.
+pub trait UstrMapExt {
+    /// Creates an empty `UstrMap` using the default value for its hasher.
+    fn new() -> Self;
+
+    /// Creates an empty `UstrMap` with at least the specified capacity using
+    /// the default value for its hasher.
+    fn with_capacity(capacity: usize) -> Self;
+}
+
+impl<V> UstrMapExt for UstrMap<V> {
+    fn new() -> Self {
+        UstrMap::default()
+    }
+
+    fn with_capacity(capacity: usize) -> Self {
+        UstrMap::with_capacity_and_hasher(capacity, Default::default())
+    }
+}