How to Repair Separated Zippers

Zippers were invented in 1851 by Elias Howe.

Zippers are a practical alternative to buttons, but if they separate, they are harder to fix than a loose or lost button. Before you throw out the garment giving you trouble or head to your local tailor, give home repair a try. A separated zipper occurs when the zipper head separates from one of the tracks, and the fix involves completely removing the zipper head and realigning it on the track.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

1. Turn the garment inside out.

2. Locate the stop, a small metal rectangle at one end of the zipper used to keep the zipper from falling off the track.

3. Pry open the prongs, holding the stop in place with needle-nose pliers.

4. Remove the stop.

5. Remove the head of the zipper (the part that you move up and down to zip the garment open and closed) by sliding it off the track.

6. Carefully put the head back on the tracks of the zipper. You need to insert it into the left and right tracks at the same time. This is the tricky part.

7. Move the zipper head up the garment to check that it took back onto the track properly.

8. Sew in a new stop by stitching around the base of the zipper until it is secure.

Tips & Warnings

• If the zipper is not broken but just stuck, you can try rubbing soap or a candle along the zipper.

• If the garment has threads across the zipper, cutting the threads with scissors will make the zipper less sticky.

References

• Tutorials.com: Learn2 Fix a Zipper
• How Products Are Made; Zipper; Rose Secrest