How to Clean Velcro

Photo by malcolm garret

Velcro is an organizer’s most multifunctional tool. I couldn’t live without it. Velcro or ‘hook-and-loop fastener’ comes in a variety of styles and colors making it adaptable to any occasion, clothing malfunction or organizing task.  Velcro can be cleaned to give it a fresh new lease on life and allow it to function like it did when it was new.

Maybe I’m waxing a little too romantically about this product. I have a roll in my car, desk drawer and at home.

Car - It came in handy when the sun visor in my car began to droop midway through our family vacation.

Office - I always need a few inches to tame the forest of wires behind my computer desk. The last time I needed to plug in a new printer cable I had to spend 20 minutes trying find the old one – Velcro is a cheap and effective way to get things organized.

Home – My family room curtains have never quite closed completely even though I got professionals to install the railings. Late one night while I was looking moodily at the drapes rather than Desperate Housewives I got out the Velcro tape. Fixed.

So Velcro really is friend, mother, organizing buddy – ok now I really am going overboard. I just wanted to illustrate how useful having a roll lying around the house can be.

How can I tell my Velcro is dirty?
When Velcro is “dirty” you’ll notice it has stopped working, the hooks-and-loops in the fabric are clogged up with fuzz, lint, pet hair and stray threads. This then prevents the hooks and loops from sticking.

Removing lint from the soft loop side –
Much in the same way you would use a lint roller on fabric, use the sticky side of some duct tape to lift the lint from the fabric.

Removing lint from the bristly hook side –
Using a fine toothed comb, gently comb the clogged fibers of lint or hair from the fabric. If possible comb out the lint while the fabric is submerged in water to make this task easier.

Saving favorite old handbags and shoes -

If all of the above steps have failed you can take these items along to a seamstress or shoe repair booth to have the Velcro replaced.

Caution:
Always test an inconspicuous area first.