Q&A for How to Make Velcro Stick Again

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

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.

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.

If you keep your Velcro clean and protected from dirt and debris, it can last for a really long time. However, over time your Velcro can stop being sticky because the hooks get damaged. If that happens, cleaning will only do so much and you may have to replace the Velcro if you cannot restore its grabbing power. Luckily, cleaning Velcro is super simple. Pick out large pieces of debris with your fingers and a pair of tweezers. Then, rake a fine toothed comb over the Velcro to pull out smaller pieces. Once you're finished, use a dry toothbrush to brush in 1 direction parallel to the rows of hooks to get out any remaining pieces of lint and stuff that may be stuck in there.