Tips to Fix Stubborn, stuck, and Broken Zippers

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Don’t let that broken zipper make you throw away your favorite item because it is a whole lot easier to fix it yourself than you probably think. More often than not, a broken, stuck, or stubborn zipper can be easily remedied with the use of a pair of pliers, some household lubricants, and of course, a little bit of patience. Below are several of the most common zipper issues and the simple solutions to get them fixed.

Fixing a Jammed Zipper

If the zipper slider gets stuck and refuses to move, the number one common reason for this is because something, probably a thread or fabric was caught in the zipper slider or wedged in between the teeth. The good news is that this is also the easiest and simples zipper problem to solve.

  • Before trying to do so anything else, make sure you investigate first. Turn the bag or clothing inside out. Make sure to follow along the lines of the zipper to see if there is a piece of fabric that you can remove or tug away. You can use a pair of tweezers if ever there is a piece of fabric that you cannot grab or hold on to during the process.
  • Use a graphite pencil to color the zipper teeth. Apply the lead all throughout the zipper, both back and front and several inches below and above the slider. It will lubricate the teeth and can help in unsticking the zipper.
  • If the jam is pretty significant, you need to take your lubrication game to the next level. Household items you can use as lubricants for your stuck zippers may include talc powder, baby powder, glass cleaner, lip balm, bar soap, Vaseline, or even wax paper if you are really in a pinch. Just be sure that you consider the specific fabric the item is made from before you choose the lubricant to use because the last thing you want is to end up staining it. Apply the lubricant all along the zipper teeth just like how you applied the lead of the graphite pencil. Tug the slider and you will be good to go.

Fixing Zipper Teeth That Pop Open

If you are lucky, there are times when you can easily finagle the zipper back into its proper place on the fly. All you need to do is relieve whatever tension causes the teeth to burst open. You just have to make sure you proceed with caution to avoid further damage.

That popped zipper shouldn’t mark the end of your garment. There are several diagnostics that you can run prior to replacing the zipper of the item.

  • Inspect the teeth. Stretch out the zipper and give it a gentle pull and tug. Smooth out everything to align them properly and try to tune the slider along the zipper teeth.
  • Apply a lubricant on the teeth. It can be a zipper glide, graphite pencil, lip balm, bar soap, Zipper Glide, baby powder, or wax paper.
  • When the zipper refuses to stay closed, check the teeth since you might need to straighten out some individually using needle nose pliers. After the teeth are put back in place, lubricate then try the slider once again.

Don’t worry if these solutions work. A reliable supplier of zippers such as ZipperShipper.com can offer you a selection of high quality zippers.

 

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