Your zipper might seem like a simple and straightforward piece of machinery, but that doesn’t mean it is always operating properly. Zippers can stick for various reasons, but it doesn’t mean you need to about it. The good news is that getting a stuck zipper back on track is usually not difficult. Here are some simple solutions which will have your zipper zipping again.
How To Get A Zipper Back On Track?
1. Don’t Over-Stress It
Zippers are a very important part of your wardrobe but do not over-stress them. If you are not careful with how you zip and unzip, you can damage the zippers and cause major issues. Try to evenly distribute the stress of zipping and unzipping throughout the day. This will prevent any damage to the zipper that might result in it sticking again soon after.
2. Keep Your Zipper Clean
The best way to keep a zipper clean is not by cleaning it regularly, but by making sure that it is always free from dirt and grime build-up. If your clothes are dirty, this will also make sure that your zipper is highly prone to problems because of its extra burden of dirt and grime. As a result, it will be more likely to stick when you try to zip or unzip it. To avoid this, make sure that your clothes are always clean and free from all dust and dirt.
3. Use The Right Zipper Pulls
When you are zipping up your clothes, it is important to use the right zipper pulls. If you have been using the same zipper pulls for a long time, they might have become worn down and dirty. They might also have lost their ability to do the job that they were designed for and now just cause trouble for you instead of helping you. When this happens, it is best to get new ones which will be more reliable and help you zip up your clothes in no time.
4. Don’t Over-Stuff Your Clothes
If your clothes are too full, it can make it more difficult for you to unzip them as well as make it harder for your zipper to smoothly zip up and down the channel of your clothing. It is best to not over-stuff your clothes because this will prevent them from being able to move freely when you try to zip them up or unzip them.
5. Don’t Zip Up Tightly
When you are zipping up your clothes, it is important for them to be zipped up loosely. When you zip up your clothes tightly, this can make it more difficult for the zipper to move smoothly because of the added weight and pressure from the zipper itself. Try to not zip up your clothes too tightly so as to avoid this issue in the future.
6. Use The Right Zipper Pulls
If you have been using the same zipper pulls for a long time, they might have become worn down and dirty. It is best to get new ones which will be more reliable and help you zip up your clothes in no time. As a result, your stuck zipper should be fixed soon after by following these simple steps!
Make Sure The Zipper Is Clean
- Clean your zipper properly. Dirt and debris can build up on the teeth and cause a zipper to become stuck. Clean it as best as you can, using warm water and a household cleaning product.
- If you have a powerful vacuum cleaner, try it out on your zipper to make sure it works well. If not, try other products that are designed for this purpose. There are also many tools that are specifically built for repairing zippers and have a wide range of features to help you clean the teeth of your zipper better and make sure they run smoothly again, such as the one made by LifeStride which can be found on Amazon (click here).
- Clean your zipper regularly so that dirt doesn’t build up in between the teeth. After each use, wipe off all dirt with a clean cloth or paper towel to prevent them from sticking together when zipping up or down again in the future.
- Use a hairdryer to blow any dust off the zipper teeth. This is especially helpful if you have a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t work well with zippers.
- If you have a zipper that has become stuck, there are some other ways to try and fix it. First, try pulling on either the top or bottom of the zipper to see if it will move freely again. If not, try pushing down on the teeth in between each other with both your hands to see if they will open up again. If this doesn’t work, you can also use a sturdy pair of pliers or needle-nose pliers to bend the teeth back into place or even use a pressurized air gun (like one made by LifeStride) to blow through them gently while they are still connected so they can be repaired again.
Use A Zigzag Stitch
- Use a zigzag stitch to do the job. Zippers can stick because of excess friction and friction from the thread. To reduce this, use a zigzag stitch. This will help keep the zipper tension even as you sew and also prevent excess frictional heat from building up between the teeth.
- Try using a zipper foot. A zipper foot is basically a small foot that slides onto your sewing machine’s feed dog (the bar which feeds through the fabric). It gives you better control over the tension of your stitch so that you can avoid having a heavy or hard-to-read stitch where you don’t want one.
- Try using an overlocker foot instead of a regular zigzag foot. The overlocker foot has more teeth than other feet and therefore gives you better control over your stitching along with better control of your tension, making it easier to avoid having any unnecessary frictional heat build-up on your seam allowances.
- If you have a serger, try using it instead of a regular sewing machine. A serger is a machine that sews in one direction only. It’s ideal for zigzag stitching and also has the ability to sew in reverse or do overlock stitches if you so desire.
- Use your fingers to help guide the thread through the eye of the needle on your sewing machine. This will ensure that your zigzag stitch is done properly and helps avoid any frictional heat build-up on your seam allowances or fabric as you sew.
Put A Needle Through The Teeth Of The Zipper
- First, you need to find the zipper teeth. To do this, put a needle through the bottom of the zipper and pull until it pops out. Then, keep pulling until you see the teeth.
- Next, look at the zipper slider bar. You should see two holes in it at different heights. Put your needle through either one of them to break off any small piece of metal that might be in there.
- Then, put your needle through those holes too and pull until one or both of them break off completely (you can use pliers if necessary). This will allow you to get better access to the zipper teeth and slider bar itself for repairs.
- Once you have these pieces off, take a pair of pliers and make sure that they are on top of each other so that they can’t slip out from underneath your fingers (this will help prevent accidents). Keep one hand on top of the pliers and hold your needle in the other hand.
- With the needle in your left hand, begin to separate the slider bar from the zipper teeth. Then, take your pliers and pull the zipper teeth out of their holes with your left hand. Keep doing this until you can’t get any further with it. You should be able to see a small hole through which you can see part of the slider bar now.
- At this point, remove your needle and put it back into your right hand where it belongs (if you are left-handed, reverse these instructions). Take your pliers again and pull on both ends of the zipper teeth that are sticking out of their holes to pull them out completely (again using pliers if necessary).
Conclusion
This is a handy guide to help you fix a zipper that is stuck halfway up. If you get confused, feel free to contact the staff of this website or ask another member of the community. We’d be happy to help you out! This guide was based on the “How to Fix a Stuck Zipper with a Needle and Dental Floss” guide.