How do you fix a backpack zipper stuck on fabric? Free the obstacles in the fabric. Pull the fabric gently and tug it. Besides, use a safety pin to dislodge the materials from the zipper teeth.
It is annoying to stick fabric or other materials on the backpack zipper. But if you apply some tricks, you can quickly free the zipper teeth.
Are you still trying to understand the stuck zipper? Please go through our detailed guide to know the solution and tricks.
How To Fix Backpack Zipper Stuck On Fabric
There are three excellent ways to fix a backpack zipper stuck on fabric. Let’s have a look at these ways.
Freeing Obstacles In The Fabric
At first, look for fabric stuck with the zipper, as the surrounding material gets stuck in the teeth. Also, check the folds, snags, tangles, and other signs of a hangup. If you find the problem, it is easy to solve. Besides, if you don’t see any obstacle in the zipper teeth, you should lubricate the teeth.
Again, if you find the snag blocking the zipper, pull the material away from the zipper and gently tug it. You can use a pair of tweezers to get a better grip if the snag is too small. We suggest to use a safety pin to dislodge the fabric from the teeth. Ensure the material is not so soft and you are not tearing it.
When you have successfully freed the zipper, prevent further obstructions. As a result, the problem doesn’t happen again. Hence, smooth out wrinkles, stitch up ragged holes, and cut the loose threads. After that, iron the fabric to ensure it lays flat. Remember, the less material on both sides of the zipper teeth, the less possibility of another snag.
Rub The Zipper With A Pencil
Take a wooden pencil to rub the zipper. Start rubbing the pencil along both sides of the zipper teeth. Besides, hold the zipper together while rubbing. Rub the zipper until the graphite is left behind on the teeth. Focus on the jammed area of the zippers. Remember, don’t create heavy pressure on the pencil, as the tip can be broken.
When you have complete rubbing with a pencil, slide the zipper slowly. Now, it should glide easily. After that, wash your hands and wipe off the remaining graphite with a paper towel.
Repeat the process if you still can’t free the fabric from the zipper. Continue rubbing and sliding the zipper back and forth until the progress. If there is not enough graphite in your pencil, the pencil trick doesn’t work. Then, if you fail again and again, apply another method.
Use An Improvised Lubricant
The third way is using an improvised lubricant to free the zipper from the fabric. Oil is excellent for reducing friction between the zipper teeth and the slide. Hence, you can apply soap, a chapstick tube, and any slick substance to the zipper teeth. Again, you can use petroleum jelly, wax candles, or lip balm.
When you have chosen the lubricant, apply it directly to the zipper teeth. Apply a moderate amount of oil on the connected area of the teeth and try reducing the slide up and down gradually. Repeating the process will make it easy to move the zipper freely.
Also, keep the lubricant away from the fabric, as it can discolor it. So, use a cotton swab to apply the oil.
Final Thought
You can free the stuck zipper in three ways:
- Freeing the zipper teeth with a safety pin
- Rubbing the zipper teeth with a pencil
- Using an improvised lubricant
Again, be careful when you rub or pull the zipper or fabric, as they can break. Moreover, if the zipper continuously gets stuck, you need to change the zipper.