3 Quick and Easy Ways to Fix a Broken Zipper

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.

How to Fix a Broken Zipper

Remove any fabric stuck in the zipper and work it up and down to release it. If that fails, try rubbing the tip of a pencil along both sides of the zipper teeth to unstick it, or loosen the teeth with a lubricant like petroleum jelly, soap, Chapstick, or Windex.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Freeing Obstructions in the Fabric

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

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Rubbing the Zipper with a Pencil

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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.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Graphite naturally makes a very effective dry lubricant.^{[4]XResearch source}
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.^{[5]XResearch source} Focus on the line where the teeth intersect, as this is where most zippers get jammed.
- 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
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.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Don’t attempt to force the zipper. This may result in damage to the fabric or the zipper itself.
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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an Improvised Lubricant

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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.^{[7]XResearch source}
- 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.^{[8]XResearch source}
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.^{[9]XResearch source}
- 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.^{[10]XResearch source}
3
Give the zipper a try. Take hold of the zipper tab and pull on it lightly to see if it moves.^{[11]XResearch source} 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.
- Lubricants help clear the teeth of built-up dust and dirt, which is the leading cause of stuck zippers on older items.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If the zipper is still uncooperative at this point, take it to an alterations shop to have it repaired or replaced.
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.^{[13]XResearch source}
- 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.

Expert Q&A

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Question
I'm having trouble with my zipper — the slider seems fine, but when I try to zip it up, the teeth just separate at the bottom instead of coming together. How can I fix this?
Shaelynn Haning
Professional Tailor & Business Owner
Shaelynn Haning is a Tailor & Business Owner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaelynn is the founder of the highest-rated and most-reviewed alterations and tailoring service in Oklahoma, Tallgrass Tailor, employing a team of skilled craftsmen and women from across the country and the world. Shaelynn is a member of the State of Oklahoma Education Careers and Technologies Board and a member of both the Custom Tailors and Designers Association and the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She is the host of The Sew Show with Shae, an entertaining and educational sewing channel posting weekly videos on YouTube. Shaelynn earned her BS in Apparel Design and Product Development from Marist College.
Shaelynn Haning
Professional Tailor & Business Owner
Expert Answer
That's a pretty common zipper issue that happens when the slider gets a bit loose over time. The easy fix is to use pliers to gently crimp the narrow part at the bottom of the slider, where the teeth are coming apart. Crimping it just a bit will tighten things up and create more resistance so the teeth mesh together again as they should. You can probably adjust the slider several times before needing to replace any parts. So try crimping the bottom of the slider, and that should get your zipper working smoothly again!
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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.
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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.
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Tips

Use a toothbrush and a residue-free soap to periodically clean the zippers on your favorite clothing and accessories.
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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.
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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).
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If the zipper still won’t budge after using a lubricant, get a metal coat hanger, thread it through the zip pull, and give it a good hard yank. I finally opened mine this way.

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Warnings

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