How to Restore Velcro Grip by Cleaning It
By TaVare · updated 2026-09-23
When Velcro loses its grip, the good news is that the problem is almost always lint, hair and fibres trapped in the hooks – not that the fastening is worn out. Clear out what is clogging it and the grip usually comes right back. Here is the method step by step, and the signs that tell you when the velcro actually needs replacing.
Why Velcro stops sticking
Velcro has two sides that do different jobs: a stiff side with thousands of tiny hooks, and a soft side with loops. The hooks grab the loops – that is what makes it stick. When the grip fails, it is almost always because the hook side is packed with lint, hair and textile fibres filling the gaps, so the hooks can no longer catch the loops. Less often, the hooks themselves are bent flat or the loop side has matted together. As long as it is only debris clogging it, you can bring most of the grip back with a little patient cleaning.
How to clean the Velcro and bring the grip back
Cleaning is about getting lint and hair out of the hook side, not about washing it clean. Work in good light, and go along the length of the hooks so you pull the fibres out rather than pressing them deeper.
- Find which side is clogged. It is nearly always the stiff hook side that fills with lint; the soft loop side rarely needs more than a brush.
- Pick out the coarse stuff by hand. Use your fingers, tweezers or the point of a needle, and pull hairs and threads out lengthwise.
- Brush the rest loose with a stiff brush or an old toothbrush. Brush in one direction, against the way the hooks point, so the lint lifts instead of wedging in.
- Run a fine-toothed comb through the hooks to lift lint that sits deep.
- Use Velcro against Velcro: rub a loose piece of the hook side over the clogged side. The hooks pluck fibres free from one another.
- Lift the last fibres with tape. Press a strip of tape into the hook side and pull it off – the lint comes with it. Repeat until the hooks look clean again.
Wash it right and stop it clogging again
Much of the lint comes from the wash. An open Velcro tab vacuums up hair and fibres from everything else in the drum – and snags delicate knits and linings. A few simple habits keep the grip longer:
- Always close the Velcro before you wash the garment.
- Put small items with Velcro in a wash bag.
- Skip fabric softener – it leaves a film that makes both hooks and loops go limp.
- Store the garment with the Velcro closed, so the hook side does not collect dust.
- Give it a quick brush now and then instead of waiting until the grip is gone.
When the Velcro needs replacing – and when we do it
Cleaning only helps when the problem is lint. If the hooks are worn flat, the loop side has matted into a smooth surface, or the Velcro has partly come away from the garment, the grip will not return no matter how much you brush – the Velcro then needs replacing. That is a sewing job, and on jackets, outdoor gear and kids' clothes the new Velcro has to be stitched down evenly and durably, ideally at the same seam width as the original. If you are unsure, or you want it done properly, you can send the garment to us anywhere in Norway. You order online, and you see the price before you order.
You see the price before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't my Velcro stick anymore?+
Usually because the stiff hook side is packed with lint, hair and fibres filling the gaps, so the hooks cannot catch the loops. The Velcro is rarely worn out – it is just clogged, and can be cleaned.
How can I clean Velcro at home?+
Pick out the coarse debris with tweezers or a needle, brush the hook side with a stiff toothbrush, run a fine comb through, and lift the last fibres with tape. A loose piece of Velcro rubbed against the clogged side also plucks lint free.
Can Velcro go in the washing machine?+
Yes, but close it first. Open Velcro collects hair and lint from the rest of the wash and snags other clothes. Skip fabric softener, which makes both hooks and loops go limp.
When can't Velcro be saved?+
When the hooks are worn flat, the loop side has matted into a smooth surface, or the Velcro has come away from the garment. Cleaning will not help then – the Velcro needs replacing and stitching back on.
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