Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
When washing clothes with hook and loop (Velcro), the most important rule is to close the tape before washing. This way the hooks do not snag other garments or collect lint. Wash at a moderate temperature, ideally in a mesh bag, dry in the air or at a low temperature and do not iron directly on the tape. Self-adhesive hook and loop is not designed for washing.
Why washing damages hook and loop
Hook and loop tape consists of a rigid part with small hooks and a soft part with loops, usually made of polyamide or polyester. In the washing machine, the open hook side acts like a brush:
- it catches fine materials, knitwear and tights and pulls out loops;
- it collects lint and hair that clog the hooks;
- it rubs against the drum and other garments, which wears the hooks.
The soft side, in turn, can become matted and lose the volume of its loops. Over time this reduces the holding strength.
That is why, with clothes with hook and loop, washing mistakes accumulate slowly and unnoticed. The tape does not fail all at once – it simply starts to come undone by itself after a few months, and sweaters washed with it develop pulled loops. A few simple habits prevent both problems.
Rules for washing clothes with hook and loop
- Close the tape. Fasten all hook and loop closures, making sure the two parts are aligned. If a strap is loose, fasten it to its own soft part, if it has one.
- Use a mesh laundry bag for small and delicate items.
- Turn the garment inside out if the tape is on the outside.
- Wash separately from delicate materials – wool, silk, lace, knitwear.
- Follow the care label. Most tapes tolerate normal washing, but the symbols on the garment apply to the whole item.
- Avoid bleach on coloured tapes, as it can change the colour and weaken the fibres.
Washing and drying temperature
Polyamide and polyester hook and loop tapes withstand normal washing programmes. The problem is rather the high temperature during drying and ironing – the synthetic hooks soften and deform, and afterwards they do not straighten. Therefore:
| Operation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Washing | According to the garment label, usually 30–40 °C |
| Tumble dryer | Low temperature or air drying |
| Ironing | Do not iron directly on the tape |
| Dry cleaning | According to the product label |
| Bleach | Avoid on coloured tapes |
Ironing clothes with hook and loop
If the garment needs ironing, go around the tape or place a cotton cloth on top and iron at a low temperature. Direct contact of the hot iron with the hook side melts or flattens the hooks and the grip is lost. Steam directly on the tape is also undesirable.
How to clean lint from hook and loop
If the tape is already clogged, cleaning restores much of its grip:
- use a fine-toothed comb, a toothbrush or a special brush and brush the tape in the direction of the rows;
- remove longer hairs and threads with tweezers;
- a lint roller helps with surface lint, but does not reach the base of the hooks;
- do not use a needle or knife – you will easily cut off hooks.
What to put on the care label
For manufacturers, it is important that the care instructions take the hook and loop into account. The care symbols according to ISO 3758 apply to the whole product, so they must correspond to the most sensitive component. If the hook and loop does not tolerate high temperatures, this also limits the drying and ironing of the garment. Good practice is to add the text “Close the hook and loop before washing” to the care label or the hang tag.
Self-adhesive hook and loop and washing
Self-adhesive tape is not for items that are washed. Water, heat and detergents break down the adhesive, and the tape comes off within the first few washes. If the item will be washed, choose sew-on tape and sew it on with a strong polyester sewing thread.
Washing different products with hook and loop
Children’s clothing and shoes
Children’s clothes are washed often and at higher temperatures. Always close the tape and wash shoes with hook and loop in a bag or pillowcase so that they do not knock against the drum. Dry them in the air, not on a radiator, because heat deforms the hooks and the adhesives in the shoe.
Workwear and uniforms
In industrial laundering, temperatures and mechanical stress are higher. If the clothing will be washed in a professional laundry, choose a tape designed for such conditions and state this when ordering.
Medical and orthopaedic products
Braces and orthoses are usually washed by hand or on a delicate programme according to the product manufacturer’s instructions. Close the tapes, rinse well so that no detergent remains in the loops, and dry in the air.
Jackets and outdoor clothing
For jackets with a membrane, follow the instructions for the membrane. Close the cuffs and flaps, and cover free panels for patches with a suitable soft part, if possible.
Common mistakes
- Washing with the tape open together with knitwear.
- Tumble drying at a high temperature.
- Ironing directly on the hook side.
- Cleaning with a needle or knife.
- A care label that does not take the hook and loop into account.
Choosing a tape with washing in mind
If the product is washed often – children’s clothing, workwear, medical products – choose a tape with a suitable base and a colour that does not fade. Browse the widths and colours in the hook and loop category.
Hook and loop from Polkom
Polkom is a Sofia-based manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags, with over 30 years of experience. We supply sew-on hook and loop tape in various widths and colours, as well as woven and printed care labels. Describe the product and the washing conditions via the inquiry form and we will suggest the right tape.
