Replacing Worn Velcro – Revive or Swap?

Two sides that wear differently

Hook-and-loop is made of two tapes that each do a different job. The hook side is stiff and covered in tiny hooks; the loop side is soft and fuzzy, with thousands of loops for the hooks to catch. They do not wear at the same rate: the loop side mats down and fills with lint, hair and textile fibres until it no longer grips, while the hooks can flatten or clog. So it is often only one side – most often the soft loop side – that needs replacing, not both.

Try to revive it first

Before you replace anything, it is worth trying to clean the tape. Much of the 'wear' is really lint and hair caught in the loops, stopping the hooks from reaching the bottom.

1. Look over the loop side in good light – if it is full of lint, hair and fibres, it is just clogged, not worn out.
2. Pick out what is stuck with a stiff brush, a fine comb, a needle or tweezers. Work in the direction of the fibres so you do not tear the loops loose.
3. Brush the hook side clear of threads and lint that has caught in it too.
4. Test the grip. If the tape holds again, you avoid replacing it at all.

When the velcro must be replaced

Sometimes the tape is spent, and cleaning will not help. Replace hook-and-loop when:

• The hooks are broken or lie flat and no longer spring back up.
• The loop side is permanently crushed and smooth, even after cleaning.
• The tape itself has come away from the garment or is fraying at the edges.
• It is a self-adhesive type on a garment that gets washed – the glue cannot take laundering and always lets go in the end.

How velcro is replaced

Replacing hook-and-loop is mostly about setting the new tape exactly where the old one sat, and sewing it down so it does not peel under load. Use sew-on tape (not self-adhesive) on anything that will be washed.

1. Unpick the old tape, and note the stitch line so the new one lands in the same place and the same way round (hook to loop).
2. Cut new sew-on tape to the same width and length as the original. Round the corners so they do not snag and lift.
3. Hold the tape with pins or a little fabric glue while you sew, so it does not shift.
4. Stitch all the way around the edge, ideally with an extra row across the ends, so the tape does not peel when you pull it open.

How to make velcro last longer

A little care makes hook-and-loop last far longer:

• Always close the fastening before washing. Left open, it collects lint and hair – and abrades other garments in the machine.
• Brush the loop side clean now and then, before it clogs completely.
• Keep it away from heavy fibre-shedders like wool, fleece and blankets.

Have the velcro replaced by us

If the hook-and-loop is on technical outdoor gear, children's clothes or a garment where it has to take hard pulling, it can be worth having it replaced properly. We unpick the old tape and sew on new in the right width, so the grip is as it should be. We work across Norway, you order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions