Zippers on our clothesare somewhat capricious elements that like making trouble. They get jammed, broken, stuck, or simply stubborn for no apparent reason, putting you at risk of losing the entire garment.
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But keep in mind that in most cases the problem can be remedied at home. Here is how.
Jammed zipper
If the slider of your zipper is stuck and won’t move, the most common reason is fabric or thread caught up or wedged in the teeth.
Turn the item inside out and follow along the zipper lines to see if there is anything you can remove by tugging it away. A pair of tweezers comes in handy if there’s a piece of fabric you’re not able to get a good hold on in the process.
Colour the zipper teeth with a graphite pencil. Run the lead all over its front and back, a few inches above and below the slider. This lubricates the teeth and should help the unsticking.
Household items that work as lubricants include baby powder, lip balm, vaseline, bar soap, glass cleaner and even wax paper.
Apply the lubricant of your choice all along the zipper teeth in the same fashion you applied the graphite pencil. Give the slider a tug and you should be good to go.
Consider the fabric your item is made from when choosing a lubricant as you don’t want to stain it.
The zipper’s teeth keep popping open
A popped zipper doesn’t necessarily mean doomsday for your garment.
Check the teeth. Stretch the zipper out, giving it a gentle tug and pull. Smooth everything out so it properly aligns, then try tuning the slider along the teeth.
Run a lubricant such as graphite pencil, zipper glide, bar soap, lip balm, or baby powder along the teeth. If it still won’t stay closed, take a closer look at the teeth, there may be a few that need straightening out individually with needle nose pliers.
Once you’ve got the teeth back in place, lubricate, and try the slider again.
Make a zipper slide easier
If you find yourself at the losing end of a stuck zipper, reach for a bar of soap.
Rub the stuff over the teeth of the zipper, and gently tug to make it give way. If that doesn’t work, move on to other types of lubricant, like pencil lead, glass cleaner, or petroleum jelly.
Sources used:
- Apartment Therapy: 'How to Fix Every Broken, Stuck, and Stubborn Zipper Ever'
