How to Separate Metal Zippers
Everyone has been frustrated by a favorite article of clothing that will zip but won't unzip, or that zipper that gets stuck in mid-zip. Tugging, begging and pleading won't do the trick, but that does not mean it is a lost cause. Before you toss that prized leather jacket or comfy pair of jeans in the trash, try separating the zipper the next time you find yourself in a jam...so to speak. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paraffin wax, candle wax or bar soap
- Vinegar
- Salt water
- Graphite pencil
- WD40
- Elmer's Dry Spray Lubricant
Instructions
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Household items are often the cheapest, easiest fix for a stuck zipper. Take any bar of soap, paraffin wax, or even candle wax and rub it on the inside of the zipper.
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Leftover wax from a burnt candle can provide enough lubrication to separate a metal zipper. Gently move the zipper up and down a tiny bit to work the wax into the "teeth" of the zipper.
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Try soaking a stuck zipper in vinegar or warm salt water for a few hours. If waxing the zipper doesn't do the trick, soak the zipper in vinegar or warm salt water for several hours.
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Test the zipper slowly, as forcing it could cause further damage. Test the zipper by slowly and gently moving it up and down.
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A small amount of pencil lead helps to dissolve rust. Rub the sharpened end of a pencil over the zipper. The lead and graphite help to loosen the zipper by dissolving any rust.
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In most cases, basic items, a little patience and some elbow grease are all it takes to fix a zipper. Slowly move the zipper up and down until it feels like it is loosening up, at which point it is safe to try and unzip the item.
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Tips & Warnings
If these household items don't work, WD40 and Elmer's Dry Spray Lubricant may be useful.
Don't force a stuck zipper up or down. If a bit of fabric stuck in the teeth of the zipper is the culprit, you will wind up with not only a broken zipper but a torn piece of clothing.
Use caution when spraying WD40 on a zipper as it might damage fabric.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Zipper image by Gudellaphoto from Fotolia.com soap bar image by Wayne Abraham from Fotolia.com candle image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com bottle image by tofuwarrior from Fotolia.com zip image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com pencil image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com unzipped image by imagenation from Fotolia.com
