VHS tapes were engineered for a 20-year lifespan — most are now well past 30. The magnetic oxide particles that hold your recordings are bonded to a polyester base with a polyurethane binder. Over time, this binder absorbs moisture from the air through a process called hydrolysis, causing the oxide layer to become sticky and unstable.
The result is "sticky shed syndrome" — the tape literally sticks to the playback heads, shedding brown oxide residue and producing a characteristic squealing sound. Even before this critical stage, signal degradation is continuous: tracking errors multiply, colour saturation fades, luminance drops, and audio develops increasing levels of dropout and distortion.
Tapes stored in attics, garages, or anywhere with temperature fluctuation deteriorate fastest. Mould growth is common in humid environments and can permanently damage the tape surface within a single season. And the equipment to play them — VCR machines — is no longer manufactured. The last mass-production line closed in 2016.