How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

Do you know those times in which you are in a rush, and suddenly everything goes wrong, or becomes stuck or causes a mess? It’s like the law of Murphy says: “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. Well, within these types of situations, one of the worst is when your zipper gets stuck. 

How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

Whether it’s while you were zipping up or down, to put your coat on, or to take it off, there is no denying that it is super-inconvenient, and often, it happens at the worst possible time. So how do you fix this? Or rather, how do you get your zipper to be unstuck again? 

Well, there are many ways in which you can go about it, some of them needlessly overcomplicated. To help you out, we’re going to share the top best ways of getting a zipper unstuck, and one of them is bound to work for you. 

Let’s get right into it! 

14 Methods For Getting A Zipper Unstuck: 

In no particular order, here are our top 14 favorite methods and tricks for getting your zipper unstuck: 

1. Use A Paperclip:

If you can’t seem to pull the zipper so that it’s free, it can help to insert a paperclip into the hole, and then pull the paperclip. This adds a little more force, and can be the solution! Alternatively, you could use a key ring, a wire coat hanger, or even a fork! 

How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

2. Put Soap On The Zipper:

One of the best ways to get a zipper to come unstuck is by making it slippery, so that it can better free itself. You can do this by rubbing some soap onto both sides of the zipper, and then pulling. 

3. Spray Some WD-40:

WD-40 is one of those multi-purpose products, great as a lubricant, as a moisture displacer, to prevent rust…and to unstick a zipper! Just make sure that when applying this spray, you are spraying on a cloth and then rubbing it onto the zipper. If you spray it straight on the zipper it will probably stain your clothes. 

4. Apply Some Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil is an amazing lubricant, and can therefore help the zipper slip free. Plus, it’s something that many people have in their home, or that can be easily found at the store. Just be careful not to put too much on, or it might end up on the clothes, staining them. 

How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

5. Apply Some Vaseline:

Vaseline comes in handy for all sorts of situations, and this is one of them. To help get the zipper unstuck, just apply some zipper on both sides, and it should make it more slippery! 

6. Add Wax To Your Zipper:

Wax paper is a very convenient way to get your zipper unstuck, as all you have to do is rub it onto the zipper, making it more slippery, and then you pull to free it! 

7. Use A Strong Dish Soap:

If you’ve already tried applying some soap onto the zipper in order to free it, but it isn’t quite working, then we recommend you use some strong dish soap. This will lubricate it a lot better and should give it that extra kick. 

8. Draw On The Zipper With A Pencil:

By drawing on the zipper, we don’t mean actually drawing. We mean rubbing the graphite of the pencil tip onto the zipper so that it can move up and down again and become unstuck! Super handy for when you’re at work or in school. 

How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

9. Draw On The Zipper With Crayon:

This works exactly in the same way as the pencil method. You simply rub some crayon onto the zipper, and hopefully, it should be able to move freely once more. Pro tip: use a crayon of the same color as your zipper, trust us. 

10. Add Some Candle Wax To The Zipper:

When you add candle wax onto the zipper and the path the zipper has to follow, it makes it a lot easier for it to move up and down, so this should help it become unstuck! However, be careful about the wax getting on your clothes, as this could stain them! 

11. Use A Specialized Zipper Lubricant:

There are specialized products for almost anything you can think of, and this includes zippers. If you use a special zipper lubricant, not only will it get it unstuck, it will also prevent it from ever getting stuck again, and will keep it incredibly clean and free of any debris! 

12. Add Chapstick Onto The Zipper:

In the same way that chapstick lubricates your dry lips and keeps them hydrated, it can also lubricate the zipper, helping it move more freely. And hopefully, that should get it unstuck! Also, it’s a super convenient method because a lot of people carry chapstick on them, both men and women. Especially during the winter season! 

How To Get A Zipper Unstuck

13. Use Some Talcum Powder:

Talcum powder, or alternatively baby powder or even some cornstarch, can be a great way of helping the zipper move so that it becomes unstuck. You just sprinkle one on and shift the zipper. You can then keep adding more powder, and shifting the zipper until it is able to move. 

Pro tip: you can dip a paintbrush or toothbrush into some powder and apply it that way, in order to avoid getting it on your clothes. 

14. Spray Windex On The Zipper:

Window cleaner, such as Windex, or any similar product, can be really effective at making a zipper slippery, getting it to move, and ultimately: unstuck. However, they can be quite strong, so use them in small amounts at a time!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many different ways in which you can go about getting a zipper unstuck. At least one of them is bound to work. And once it does, avoid a repeat of the situation by making sure that you keep your zippers clean, and free from any debris. Also, most of the time that they get stuck, it is because they have become trapped by something, so pay attention when zipping or unzipping your clothes!

Eric Willis
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