How to Make Velcro Stick Again

Co-authored by James Sears

Velcro loses its stickiness when it gets clogged up with lint and grime. Usually, you can make Velcro stick again by cleaning lint and debris out of it, but if your Velcro is old and worn-out, you'll have to replace it. To prolong the life of your Velcro, take preventative measures to keep it clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning Velcro

1
Pull out loose lint and other matter caught in the Velcro with your fingers. Pinch any large pieces of matter that are caught in the Velcro between your fingernails and pull them out. Think of how you would clean out hair from a hairbrush, and do the same for the lint, hair, and other things that are caught in the Velcro.
- Velcro tabs consist of two parts called a hook and loop fastener system. The rougher side is called the hook, and the softer side is called the loop. The hook is generally the part that collects the debris because this is the part of the Velcro that grabs and sticks.
- It is possible that over time your Velcro will stop being sticky because the hooks get damaged. In this case, cleaning will only do so much and you may have to replace the Velcro if you cannot restore its grabbing power.
2
Pick out lint and debris that you can’t reach with your fingers with tweezers. Hold the Velcro steady with a hand. Use a pair of tweezers with your other hand to pluck out pieces of matter that are caught further down in the hooks of the Velcro.
- Be careful not to grab and pull on the hooks with the tweezers. You might damage them and cause your Velcro to be less sticky.
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3
Use a pin or needle if you don’t have tweezers to pull out matter. Slide the pointy end between the rows of hooks and underneath debris, then gently lift up to pull out the matter. Work in the same direction as the rows of hooks are facing on the Velcro.
- You can use any small, thin, and needle-like object for this method. Just make sure that it is sturdy enough to pull out debris that might be really stuck in the Velcro without bending.
4
Scrape debris out of the Velcro with a fine-toothed comb instead of a needle. Hold the Velcro flat and securely in place. Slide a plastic, metal, or wooden comb along the rows of hooks to scrape out stubborn lint and other debris that you can’t pluck or lift out.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Make sure the teeth of the comb are not so fine and delicate that they could break as you scrape out debris.
5
Brush the Velcro with a dry toothbrush after you pull out as much as you can.^{[2]
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Expert Source

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.} Use an old toothbrush that you don’t need for your teeth anymore. Brush the Velcro in 1 direction parallel to the rows of hooks to get out any remaining pieces of lint and other matter.^{[3]
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Research source}
- A stiff-bristled toothbrush works best, or you can use another kind of stiff brush like a dish brush or a pet brush.
- Be careful not to scrub too hard or you might damage the hooks on the Velcro. This is why it’s important to work parallel to the hooks so that they keep their form as you brush out debris.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Preventing Velcro from Getting Dirty

1
Keep Velcro tabs closed as much as possible so they don’t collect debris. Close the hook and loop fasteners on Velcro whenever you are not using it. This will protect the hooks from picking up stray matter like lint, hair, and other debris.
- Velcro is designed to be sticky and will easily grab onto things like blankets or clothes from which it will pick up lint.
2
Close Velcro tabs on garments before washing them.^{[4]
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Expert Source

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.} When you wash Velcro it will pick up lint, hair, and anything else floating around in the washing machine. Keep the hook and loop fasteners closed when you wash Velcro to keep this from happening.
- Wash garments that contain Velcro separately from other items when possible.
3
Let Velcro air dry instead of putting it in the dryer. Washers and dryers are full of lint that Velcro attracts. Leave garments that contain Velcro to air dry so the Velcro doesn't pick up lint from other clothing and fabric items.
- If air drying isn't possible, then keep the Velcro tabs closed and dry the garments in the dryer separately from other items.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I revive Velcro?

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.

James Sears

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If there's debris caught in the Velcro strip, try cleaning it out with a toothbrush.
Question

How do you clean Velcro so it sticks again?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Cleaning Velcro is a super effective way to revive it and make it stick again. It's also pretty easy to do. Start by pulling out loose lint and other stuff that's caught in the Velcro with your fingers. Then, hold the Velcro steady and use a pair of tweezers to pull out pieces of debris and other junk that's caught further down in the hooks of the Velcro. But, be careful not to grab and pull on the hooks with the tweezers or you could damage them and cause your Velcro to be less sticky. Then, slide a plastic, metal, or wooden comb along the rows of hooks to scrape out stubborn lint and other debris that you can’t pluck or lift out. Finish up by brushing the Velcro in 1 direction parallel to the rows of hooks to get out any remaining pieces of lint and other matter.
Question

How do I keep Velcro clean?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

The best way to keep your Velcro sticking is to prevent it from collecting dirt and debris in the first place. Close the hook and loop fasteners on Velcro whenever you aren't using it to protect the hooks from picking up hair, lint, and other junk. Whenever you wash the Velcro, keep the hook and loop fasteners closed when you wash Velcro to keep them from picking up stuff floating around in the washing machine. If you can, let the Velcro air dry instead of using your dryer, which are full of lint that Velcro attracts. If you need to use a dryer, keep the tabs closed and try to dry the Velcro separately from other items.