How to fix backpack zipper stuck on fabric?
Backpacks are certainly one of the most important parts of your journey during hikes and other trips. People put a lot of their valuables and stuff inside their backpacks and nobody wants them to get stuck.
If the backpack isn’t opening, you can certainly find yourself in a lot of trouble. Sometimes, the backpack zipper gets stuck on the fabric and it can create a serious chaos during an important trip. If you try and force the zipper to open, there are high chances of it getting destroyed.
Therefore, we highly recommend you to go for ways of fixing the backpack zipper without breaking or ruining it forcefully. So, without wasting your valuable time, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to fix a backpack zipper stuck on fabric.
3 Ways to fix backpack zipper stuck on fabric
Using Tweezers and Safety pins:
We’ve seen in most cases, the zippers just don’t move because of its teeth getting caught in the surrounding fabric. By forcing the zipper to move, there is a high risk of tearing the material apart. This is obviously, not a great idea which is why, we advise the use of tweezers and safety pins to ensure a safe recovery.
First of all, you need to check the area surrounding the zipper in order to find the part of fabric where the teeth are caught. You can simply fold the material where the teeth are snagged and there is no rocket science about this method.
After locating the snagged fabric, you can simply start pulling the zipper and make use of small and gentle movements. This method is mostly very effective and if it doesn’t work, you can make use of the tweezers.
One of the easiest ways to free the teeth is to pull the fabric away from the zipper but, most of the times it becomes difficult to grab the fabric surrounding the zipper with your huge hands. This is why tweezers come into play and they’re simply used to catch and then tag the material out underneath the zipper’s teeth.
In case the zipper doesn’t cut it, you can also use a safety pin or any other object that is sharp to basically push the fabric free out of the zipper’s teeth. The process should be done with extra care because brute force can damage the fabric.
Using pencil:
If you seriously think about protecting the fabric from getting damaged, the idea of using the pencil method will attract you even more. It is more useful than using safety pins or tweezers because it is less damaging to the fabric.
However, the moderation needs to be applied carefully because if you don’t, the pencil method can cause a whole new obstacle to the zipper. You’re going to need a pencil and a sharpener to use this method.
Firstly, get a nice working pencil and sharpen it. The try and lubricant material of the pencil is particularly useful. Secondly, you need to hold the zipper with one end and use the other one to simply rub the tip of the pencil against the zipper’s teeth.
You will have to do this until the teeth are covered in graphite completely. It also depends on the size of the zipper; there might be a chance to sharpen the pencil to expose more graphite slowly and steadily.
The next step is to pull the zipper gently after the teeth are covered in graphite. As a result, you’d see the graphite lubricating the teeth and then unsticking the zipper to enable it to move freely.
You can always add more graphite if you see the zipper isn’t moving. Also, it is important to avoid jamming the teeth as a result of using too much graphite. Therefore, staying careful is all what you need to do.
Lubricant method:
One of the most effective ways of fixing a backpack zipper stuck on fabric is to follow the lubricant option. The above-reviewed pencil method is known as an indirect way of lubricating the teeth of the zipper.
If it doesn’t work for you, you can always follow the more straightforward and genuine way of doing it. You’re going to need a few lubricants in this method such as Windex, petroleum jelly or soap.
As far as this method goes, you need to find a suitable lubricant and apply it to the teeth of the zipper. There are less chances of lubricant jamming the zipper in this method. Applying enough amount of lubricant is suitable in this method and should yield fruitful results for you.
After applying the lubricant, simply pull the zipper up and down or back & forth. It basically depends on your position and the idea behind it is not to unstick it despite having a possibility of it to happen. Moving the zipper will basically allow the lubricant to enter each and every single corner of the zipper’s teeth.
As far as using oil lubricants such as petroleum jelly or Dax Purest are concerned, you are also going to need cotton swabs. These swabs will protect you against creating a mess although; things can be done without them. Pull the zipper carefully in each direction after you are finished with the amount of lubricant applied.
You can also try replacing the zipper method if the slider breaks down. It is also one of the easiest options as far as fixing a backpack zipper stuck on fabric is concerned.
Buying a zipper replacement kit would be great and taking them on your trip will only make you feel more comfortable and relaxed. You’re going to need sliders and pliers to replace the zipper.
Conclusion:
How to Fix Backpack Zipper Stuck on Fabric is a common question asked by various travelers around the globe. As a tourist and regular traveler, mishaps are part and parcel of your daily life and if you keep your nerves under control, things can get better with a little bit of home work.
Most of our readers would be sitting in their hotel rooms trying to find a way to fix their backpack zipper stuck on fabric. We truly hope that this guide was of a lot of help for all the people that are struggling with this problem.
We’ve discussed three easiest ways of fixing the backpack zipper stuck on fabric. Try these methods at your home now and fix your unused stuff. We shall see you soon in our next informative guide. Until then, goodbye and good luck with your hikes and trips.