How to Get a Backpack Zipper Unstuck

One of the most difficult battles humanity faces today is the battle of the stuck zipper. A stuck zipper can hold us hostage in the worst moments causing mass hysteria and frustration.

We usually try to fight this battle with aggression, anger, and yelling. If you use one of our 4 tips on how to get a backpack zipper unstuck, you will no longer have to deal with these irritating situations.

Before we get to the tips and answers on how to successfully free your zipper. Remember that using your Hulk like muscles can cause permanent damage to your belongings and we definitely want to avoid doing that.

So lucky for you, it’s easy to free your zipper using only house hold items and a little know-how. 3 items usually laying around the house we can use are a pencil, tweezer, or some form of lubricant like Star Brite.

Tweezers and Safety Pins

A common cause of this annoying issue can sometimes be the surrounding fabric getting caught in the teeth of the zipper. Look closely at the area that’s stuck and check for any obstruction or snag that might be impeding the teeth. Also look to see if the lining or material is folded, tangled or caught

How can you tell if it’s a snag?

• If the zipper refuses to move chances are a material may be the cause. Snags are usually to blame when a zipper completely refuses to budge.

Fix the snag

Now that you have found the material impeding the movement of the zipper, grab the fabric in the direct vicinity if the obstruction and gently pull it in the opposite direction of the way the zipper runs.

If you have trouble grabbing the material to get a good tug, try a pair of tweezers to get a better grip of the fabric.

• If you’re still having issues, try to push the fabric stuck inside the teeth with a needle like object similar to a safety pin. Just make sure you don’t do it to hard or you may damage the material.

Try moving the zipper back and forth.

Maintain a hold on the fabric and softly pull the zipper up and down. If you gently move the zipper back and forth, you my be able to release the fabric. These small movements can sometimes ease the tension and clear the stuck zipper.

Find a pencil

Depending on where you are in this moment of frustration, look for a pencil. Look inside your backpack, desk or wherever you keep your writing utensils.

Make sure you do not grab a special type of pencil or even worse, a pen. Grab a wooden pencil like the one you would use in grammar school.

– Quick Fact

• Pencils are not made of lead, but rather graphite. Graphite is commonly known as pencil lead.
• Graphite works great as a dry lubricant.

Put the tip of the lead on the zipper of the teeth and rub it along the sides.

Make sure you hold the zipper together with one hand as you rub the leas with the other. Continue this movement until you can see the graphite on the teeth of the zipper.

You want to put the graphite on the area where the teeth meet. This is usually where the materials get stuck and restrict movement.

• Try not to break the tip of the pencil. Once the graphite coats the teeth of the zipper it will make it easier to lock and unlock.

Now that you have coated the teeth try sliding the zipper. Gently pull the zipper a couple of times with a focused motion.

After a few times of gently pulling it the zipper should move freely. Once your finished you can clean the graphite off the bag and teeth.

• Make sure you don’t use too much strength and damage your backpack.

If it doesn’t work on the first try continue the process. The issue could be that you do not have enough graphite on the teeth. Rub more graphite on the zipper and gently pull the zipper in both directions until it releases.

If you’re still having trouble after repeating the process try one of our other tips.

Find a Lubricant

Grab a lubricant from around the house. A lubricant can be anything that will help reduce the friction of the zipper. Lubricants can help remove dust and dirt from the zipper teeth. This can be helpful on older items with zippers.

Common household lubricants:

• bar of soap
• chapstick
• Windex
• wax candles
• petroleum jelly
• crayons
• lip balm
• any slick substance

Any of the above lubricants will work. Once you find a lubricant, apply a generous amount of lubricant on to the zipper of teeth that are still connected.

As your adding more lubricant try moving the zipper back and forth. Moving the zipper back and forth will help the lubricant get deeper into the teeth. Just try not to get the material of the bag dull of the lubricant.

If you decide to use an oily substance like petroleum jelly, try using a cotton swab to avoid spills or smearing.

If you decide to use Windex apply and try moving the zipper after a couple of minutes.

Once the lubricant is applied, try moving the zipper gently to see if it will release. If the lubricant worked properly, the zipper should be back to normal. If the zipper is still stuck, repeat the process until the zipper is free.

Prevent future obstructions

Once you find the answer on how to get a backpack zipper unstuck, you can take some additional steps if you would like to. You can stitch holes, iron the fabric so it lays flat, cut any loose threads and smooth any wrinkle that may occur over time.

• It’s important to keep all material away from the zipper line to avoid future snags.

Clean the zipper if you found residue or dirt on the zipper teeth. Scrub the zipper line and the immediate area around it with a damp and soapy soft-cloth.

If you have a favorite bag that’s growing in age it may be helpful to do this to keep the zipper working overtime.

• A thorough cleaning will also remove any residue left from a dry or wet lubricant you may have used.
• A good cleaning can remove the lubricant debris as well as any other residue that may have built-up over the years.

If you did not find the answer on how to get a backpack zipper unstuck. Your best bet may be to take it to a Taylor who can fix it for a minimal fee. Best of luck!

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