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How to Fix a Zipper on a Backpack

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If you've ever had to battle a stuck zipper, then you know how frustrating it can be. A broken zipper can keep you from getting into (or sometimes out of) your favorite clothes and accessories, and with too much rough tampering you run the risk of permanently ruining them. Luckily, it's usually pretty easy to get those tiny parts moving again using only common household items. The next time you find yourself struggling with a stubborn zipper, simply reach for a pair of tweezers, a lead pencil or a makeshift lubricant.

  1. 1

    Look for fabric stuck in the zipper. Sometimes, zippers may stop working because a bit of the surrounding fabric gets caught in the teeth. Inspect the garment or accessory closely for snags, folds, tangles and other signs of a hangup. These tend to be fairly easy to correct.[1]

    • Snags are usually to blame when a zipper completely refuses to budge.
    • If there are no visible obstructions in the zipper teeth, you may need to try lubricating the teeth instead.

  2. 2

    Pull the fabric away from the zipper. Once you've located the snag responsible for blocking the zipper, take hold of the fabric around the obstruction and give it a gentle tug. If the snag is especially small, using a pair of tweezers may help you get a better grip. Pull the fabric in the direction opposite the way the zipper runs and hold it.[2]

    • You can also try dislodging the fabric from inside the teeth with the point of a safety pin.[3]
    • Be careful not to wrench on the fabric too hard, or you may tear it.

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  3. 3

    Work the zipper up and down. Keeping your hold on the snagged fabric, begin gently pulling the zipper tab. Try sliding it in both directions to see if the fabric releases. In most cases, constant tension, small movements and a little patience will be enough to clear the zipper teeth.

    • If you don't have any luck freeing the fabric from the zipper, your only option will be to take it to a tailor.

  4. 4

    Prevent further obstructions. After successfully dealing with a troublesome zipper, take a few precautionary steps to make sure the problem doesn't happen again. Stitch up ragged holes, smooth out wrinkles and use a razor to cut away loose threads. When you're done, iron the fabric on both sides of the zipper to make sure it lays flat.

    • The less fabric there is in the way of the teeth, the less likely another snag is to occur.
    • Keep an eye out for frayed edges around the zipper tape itself.

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  1. 1

    Find a pencil. Check your desk, backpack, briefcase or junk drawer for a graphite pencil. For best results, you'll want to use a traditional wooden pencil rather than one of the mechanical variety—the broader tip will make it easier to get the graphite onto the zipper.[4]

    • Graphite naturally makes a very effective dry lubricant.[5]

  2. 2

    Rub the tip of the pencil along both sides of the zipper teeth. Hold the zipper together with one hand while you work. Continue rubbing until you can see the graphite being left behind on the teeth. Focus on the line where the teeth intersect, as this is where most zippers get jammed.[6]

    • Only apply a light amount of pressure to avoid breaking the tip of the pencil.
    • The loose graphite particles will coat the edges of the teeth, making it easier for them to lock and unlock.

  3. 3

    Try sliding the zipper. Test the zipper a few times by pulling it with slow, smooth motions. It should be able to glide freely once you get it started. When you're finished, wash your hands and wipe off any remaining graphite with a paper towel to keep it from getting all over the surrounding fabric.[7]

    • Don't attempt to force the zipper. This may result in damage to the fabric or the zipper itself.

  4. 4

    Repeat until the zipper budges. If the pencil trick doesn't work right away, keep trying. There may not be enough graphite on the teeth to get the zipper moving after a single attempt. Alternate between rubbing the pencil and sliding the zipper back and forth until you see progress.

    • If you're still encountering resistance after applying a second coating of graphite, move on to a different method.

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  1. 1

    Grab a makeshift lubricant. Search your home for something you can use to reduce the friction between the slide and teeth of the zipper. This could be a bar of soap, a tube of chapstick or even a bottle of Windex—almost any type of smooth, slick substance will do the trick.[8]

    • Some other options include wax candles, petroleum jelly, crayons and lip balm.
    • Since so many different improvised lubricants can be effective, you should have a solution close at hand whether you're at home, work or on the road.[9]

  2. 2

    Apply the lubricant directly to the zipper teeth. Start with the section of teeth that are still connected and use a generous amount of lubricant. Gradually try easing the slide up and down after a few minutes. As the lubricant seeps deeper into the teeth, you should find it easier to get the zipper moving.[10]

    • Do your best to keep the lubricant away from the fabric itself in order to prevent staining and discoloration.
    • Use a separate tool, such as a cotton swab, to smear on messier substances like Vaseline or olive oil.
    • If you're using Windex, spray it over the entire zipper area, then wait a few minutes before testing the zipper.[11]

  3. 3

    Give the zipper a try. Take hold of the zipper tab and pull on it lightly to see if it moves. Chances are, the lubricant will have worked and your zipper will now be as good as new. Otherwise, you may need to use a second application to get it zipping and unzipping consistently.[12]

    • Lubricants help clear the teeth of built-up dust and dirt, which is the leading cause of stuck zippers on older items.[13]
    • If the zipper is still uncooperative at this point, take it to an alterations shop to have it repaired or replaced.

  4. 4

    Clean the garment or accessory. If the item is washing machine-safe, throw it in with your next load of laundry. Otherwise, you can scrub the zipper and the area around it with a cloth dampened with a mild soap solution. This is a good habit to get into when it comes to keeping your zippers functional, as well.[14]

    • Not only will a good cleaning remove lubricant residue from the item, it will also clean any remaining debris out of the zipper, renewing it and improving its performance for many more wears.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    I have a pair of sandals with a zipper in the back. I've tried all these methods but the zipper is still stuck and won't budge. What can I do?

    Community Answer

    Give a few different types of lubricants a shot and see if it does it trick. If not, you may have to give up on them or take them to an alterations shop to have them looked at.

  • Question

    What do I do if a plastic bag got stuck in the zipper teeth and they won't move forward or back?

    Community Answer

    Plastic tends to get workable in cold or hot conditions. Try putting the article of clothing in the freezer, or heating it with a blow dryer.

  • Question

    My zipper stopped working halfway up, and now the coat is open below and above the zipper. What should I do?

    Community Answer

    Grab a graphite pencil and rub the pencil tip on the teeth of the zipper. Try it again and it should work. If that doesn't work, it's time to move on to a lubricant. Windex is good because it's not oil-based, but you can also use bar soap, or lip balm.

  • Question

    How can I get a zipper unstuck in a coat pocket?

    Community Answer

    You would still try to pull the fabric away. So just look around the zipper and try to pull away any fabric that might be caught.

  • Question

    How can I fix a stuck zipper on a backpack? The pencil method did not work.

    Community Answer

    You just have to try to pull away the putter fabric from it. Or you could try Windex, because it is not oil-based.

  • Question

    How do I loosen a brass zipper that's stuck because of corrosion?

    Community Answer

    Not sure about brass, but I think mine was aluminium with plastic zipper teeth, and I used lemon juice with amazing results. Just squirt the lemon juice directly into the zipper and slowly work it back and forth until you can get it moving. I think any mild acid would do the trick. Give the zipper a rinse after using the lemon juice.

  • Question

    My dress has 2 different fabrics, and the zipper gets stuck going from one to the other. How do I fix it?

    Community Answer

    I have the same problem. Try chapstick or graphite pencil, or leave it on the hanger and continuously move it up and down on the place it gets stuck.

  • Question

    What can I do if the fabric is stuck in the zipper of a backpack?

    Community Answer

    Try to pull the fabric away from the zipper and slide the zipper a bit while pulling to get it unstuck.

  • Question

    What should I do if my zipper won't move in either direction because there is toilet paper stuck in it?

    Community Answer

    Try putting olive oil, coconut oil, or baby oil on it and try to unzip it. It should loosen it enough that it should work again.

  • Question

    How do I make a zipper easier to unzip?

    Community Answer

    The easiest way to fix it is to apply lip balm to the teeth of the zipper, then zip it up and down several times until it becomes easier.

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  • Use a toothbrush and a residue-free soap to periodically clean the zippers on your favorite clothing and accessories.

  • Many clothing manufacturers recommend using a specially formulated zipper lubricant, such as ZipCare, to treat jammed zippers (these aren't guaranteed to work better than improvised lubricants, however).

  • When using lubricants, perform a quick spot test on an out of the way area of the fabric to make sure the color won't be affected.

  • A bottle of powdered graphite can also get the job done, although it will likely be messier to work with.

  • If you've got a zipper that's too far gone to be salvaged, consider purchasing a zipper replacement kit. These are usually simple enough for you to figure out at home.

  • Owing to the reliability of their construction, most of the methods mentioned here will work better on metal zippers than plastic ones.

  • If you're working with a metal zipper, you can take a pair of vice grips, clamp it down on the fabric and very slowly pull it out from under the zipper.

  • If you want to fix a jean zipper, you can remove top stops and teeth to get a zipper pull back onto the track.

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  • Attempting to lubricate a zipper with oil-based products may leave permanent stains of the surrounding fabric.

  • Avoid overloading bags, removing clothes without first unzipping them or doing anything else that puts too much strain on the teeth of the zipper.

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Things You'll Need

  • Tweezers
  • Safety pin
  • Graphite pencil
  • Vaseline
  • Wax candle
  • Bar soap
  • Chapstick
  • Olive oil
  • Wax crayons
  • Lip balm
  • Windex

About This Article

Article SummaryX

One way to fix a stuck zipper is by pulling the fabric of the garment away from the zipper with your hands or a pair of tweezers. Once most of the fabric is freed from the zipper, slide the zipper up and down in small, forceful movements to loosen the rest of the fabric. If there's no fabric in the zipper, but it still wont move, try rubbing the teeth of the zipper with a pencil to coat them with graphite, which will help the zipper move. For tips on applying a lubricant to the zipper to keep it from getting stuck, scroll down!

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How to Fix a Zipper on a Backpack

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Stuck-Zipper