How to Fix a Stuck Zipper

If you have ever encountered a case of a zipper getting stuck, you must be very upset. You won’t be able to use clothes or accessories if the zipper is damaged, and after a while, the zipper can be damaged forever. Luckily, there are some common items that can help you fix zippers pretty easily. The next time the zipper gets stuck, just finding tweezers, a pencil, or lubricant can fix the problem.

Table of Contents

Remove obstructions in the fabric

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Look for fabric stuck in the lock head. Sometimes, the zipper gets stuck because the surrounding fabric gets caught in the teeth of the zipper. Look closely at the surface of the fabric or accessory for threads, creases, tangles, and other signs of entrapment. These problems can be fixed quite easily. ^{[1] X Research Source}

A jammed thread is often the cause of the lock head not being able to move.
If you don’t see any obstruction in the zipper teeth, you may need to lubricate the teeth.

Pull the fabric from the zipper teeth. Once you’ve found the thread that’s causing the zipper to get stuck, pull it out. If the thread is too small, use tweezers to pull it out. Pull the fabric against the direction of the zipper. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can also use the tip of a tape pin to loosen the fabric stuck in the zipper teeth. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Be careful not to pull the thread too hard to avoid tearing the fabric.

Pull the lock head back and forth. Holding the loose fabric, begin to gently pull the zipper end. Try sliding the buckle in both directions to see if the fabric will come loose. With a little patience and repeatedly gently pulling the lock head back and forth, the zipper will usually clear the jam.

If the stubborn thread won’t come apart, your only option is to take it to the tailor.

Prevent zipper jamming. Once you’ve fixed a stuck zipper, you should take precautions to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again. Patch the tear, smooth the crease, and use a razor blade to cut the loose threads. Once done, iron the fabric on both sides of the zipper. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

The flatter the surface of the fabric, the lower the chance that the fabric will fray and fray.
Notice the frayed areas on the backing fabric of the zipper.

Use a pencil to rub on the zipper

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Find a pencil. Check your desk drawer, backpack, or briefcase for a pencil. For the best effect, you should use a traditional wooden pencil instead of other modern pencils. The large tip will make it easier to rub the graphite on the zipper. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Graphite is a very effective dry lubricant. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Rub the pencil tip along the two rows of teeth of the zipper. Use one hand to hold the two rows of teeth close together while scrubbing. Scrub until you see residual graphite on the teeth. Focus on scrubbing where the two rows of teeth intersect because this is where the most common jams are. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Only rub with light force to avoid breaking the pencil nib.
Graphite particles left on the zipper teeth will help you pull more smoothly.

Try opening and closing the zipper. Test the zipper a few times by pulling slowly and evenly. If the locking head can slide freely, the problem is fixed. When you’re done, wash your hands and wipe the graphite off the zipper with a paper towel to avoid staining your clothes. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not try to tug on the zipper head to avoid tearing the fabric or permanently damaging the zipper.

Repeat until the zipper works. If the graphite scrub doesn’t work right away, you should repeat it. Maybe with one rub, the amount of graphite on the zipper teeth is not enough to lubricate. Continue scrubbing the graphite and sliding the locking tip back and forth until you see improvement.

You should change the method if the zipper is still stuck after a second coat of graphite has been applied.

Use available lubricants

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Look for a lubricant available in your home or something that you can use to reduce the friction between the zipper teeth and the lock head. It could be a bar of soap, a lipstick or even a glass cleaner bottle – any type of lubricant can be used. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Some other options include candles, kerosene wax, crayons, and lip balm.
Because there are so many things that can be used as a lubricant, you always have a solution at hand whether you are at home, work or on the go. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Apply lubricant directly to the zipper teeth. Apply plenty of lubricant to the zipper, starting with the tooth that is still locked. After a few minutes, slowly slide the zipper up and down. As the lubricant penetrates deeper into your teeth, you will find it easier to pull. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Apply lubricant away from the fabric so that it does not stain or stain.
Use a separate applicator, such as a cotton swab, to apply stain-prone substances like Vaseline or olive oil. ^{[12] X Research Source}
If you are using glass cleaner, spray the entire zipper and wait a few minutes before pulling the test. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Try pulling the zipper. Grasp the end of the buckle and pull gently to see if it moves. Maybe the lubricant has worked and the zipper is running as smooth as new again. On the contrary, you need to apply the lubricant a second time to see if the situation improves. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Lubricants help clean dirt in zipper teeth as that is the leading cause of zipper jamming on old clothes. ^{[15] X Research Source}
If the zipper still won’t budge, you’ll need to take it to a clothing store to have it repaired or replaced.

Wash clothes or accessories. If the pants are machine washable, just toss them in the pile of dirty clothes that need washing. Alternatively, use a washcloth dipped in a mild soap solution to scrub the zipper and surrounding area. You should maintain this habit to keep the zipper in good working order. ^{[16] X Research Source}

The soap not only removes the remaining lubricant, but also cleans the dirt in the zipper teeth, making the zipper can work like new.

Advice

Use a toothbrush and liquid soap to periodically clean zippers on clothing and accessories.
Many clothing companies recommend specially formulated zipper lubricants, such as ZipCare, for jamming zippers (they are not, however, guaranteed to be more effective than improvised lubricants).
When using a lubricant, it’s a good idea to do a quick test on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to make sure the color isn’t affected.
Powdered graphite can also be used as a lubricant, but it stains easily.
If the zipper is damaged too badly, you should buy a new zipper to replace it. Here is the simple solution in this situation.
Depending on the strength of the material, most of the methods mentioned here are more effective for metal zippers.
If you are working with metal zippers, you can use pliers to secure the top of the lock and then slowly pull the jammed object out from below.
If you need to fix your jeans zipper, you can remove the top stopper to align the two rows of teeth together.

Warning

Using an oil-based product as a lubricant can leave permanent stains on fabrics.
Avoid lifting heavy loads, taking off clothes without unzipping the zipper, or doing anything else that puts a lot of pressure on the zipper teeth.

Things you need

Tweezers
Pin
Pencil
Vaseline
Candle wax
Soap
Lipstick
Olive oil
Crayons
Lip balm
Glass cleaner

Steps