How to Clean Velcro Hair

While Velcro's hooks and loops make fastening easy, they can easily catch hair and lint, making it difficult for the Velcro to close securely. Fortunately, several methods are available to help clean Velcro hair and restore it to its original condition.

There are two sides to Velcro: the soft side and the prickly side, known as loops and hooks. Over time, lint and hair can get caught in the hooks and ultimately affect the Velcro's fastening ability. However, you can easily clean Velcro hair with a few household items you are likely to have on hand.

One of the more effective ways to remove lint from Velcro is by brushing it with a toothbrush. Lay the Velcro flat and brush the surface with short, hard strokes. This brushing will loosen the lint, which you can then pick off with your fingers. If you don't have a spare toothbrush at your disposal, you can use the sharp cutting edge on a tape dispenser instead.

A fine-tooth comb is also adept at removing hair from Velcro hooks. Use the comb to loosen the hair with short strokes and then pull out what you can with your fingers. For deeply embedded lint, use a pair of tweezers.

When you're about to wash Velcro, it is essential that you first consult the care label on the garment or item to which it is attached to ensure no damage is caused to the item. Remove lint and hair from the Velcro using your preferred method and then pretreat the Velcro with a small amount of laundry detergent or an enzyme-based stain remover. Place a small dab of the detergent on the Velcro and work it in with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Let the garment rest about 10 minutes before washing it.

If necessary, you can soak the Velcro in a mixture of water and oxygen-based bleach before washing to remove any stains and whiten the Velcro if it has started to look dingy. Then, fasten the Velcro together to stop more lint from getting caught in the hooks and wash normally. Avoid washing Velcro items with lint-producing clothes, such as sweaters, or you will increase the chances of lint getting stuck in the Velcro. Once washed, dry the Velcro in the drier on low heat or leave it out to air dry.

The dirtier the Velcro, the more difficult or time-consuming it may be to clean. However, by taking preventive measures with a few simple care tips as part of a regular maintenance routine, you can save yourself a significant amount of time later by keeping Velcro clean and in working condition.

The easiest way to ensure hair, lint and other unwanted fibers do not get stuck in the Velcro is to keep both Velcro sides fastened together when not in use. The same principle applies to Velcro that is attached to clothing. Before washing the garment or placing it in a hamper, be sure to close the Velcro fasteners so the hooks and loops do not pick up lint and hair from other clothes.

Lastly, it is important to brush out any lint or hair from the Velcro when you notice it instead of waiting for it to build up. While it is impossible to completely prevent lint and hair from getting caught in the Velcro, regular brushing when needed will save you more time in the long run.