How to fix a zipper on a bag

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The zipper is the most popular fastener for clothing, shoes, bags and backpacks. But she is also the most vulnerable. It often happens that a bag looks like new, but you won’t wear it if the teeth have fallen out or the “dog” has fallen apart. And what to do in such cases? Should I run to the mechanic and change it? Sometimes you can't do without it. But in many cases you can cope with the problem yourself. How to fix a zipper on a bag, wallet or briefcase? Let's discuss this.

Two words about fasteners

Bags and backpacks usually have permanent zippers. They are:

Metal. They are more reliable, but not everyone likes the way they look. On an elegant evening handbag, such a clasp looks a little rough. However, metal zippers have their advantages - they are less likely to break, and if problems arise, they are easier to deal with.
Plastic. The good thing about this type of zipper is that it can be matched exactly to the color of the material and sewn in so that it is completely invisible without any flap. Unfortunately, plastic fasteners break more often, and it is not always possible to repair them. Thin zippers, which have a long plastic spring inserted instead of teeth, are especially unreliable.

The bag does not fasten

How to fix a zipper on a backpack or bag if the teeth are all in place, the slider, aka the “dog,” seems to be intact (in any case, nothing has fallen off of it), and the compartment is wide open? This means the slider has become loose.

Important! If you look closely at this part, you will see that it consists of two plates with narrow sides connected by a jumper. The plates are located at some distance from each other, the sides usually do not touch, but the gap between them is small. If you use the bag often, the bridge bends, the gap increases, that's all. Therefore, it is necessary to return the plates to their original position, for which such a simple object as pliers is used.

To repair a zipper on a bag, you need to be very careful, because the material from which the fasteners are made is quite fragile:

Move the slider to the beginning of the zipper.
Place it straight.
Use pliers to gently squeeze the sides so that the edges are as close to each other as possible.
Try out the zipper.

If nothing works out, this does not mean that you need to push harder. It is best to replace the slider. You can buy a new one at a sewing store, taking the old one with you as a sample.

Ways to fix a zipper at the base

The reason for the zipper breaking at the very base is the separation of fabric lint. The material that holds the lock is fraying.

To restore its integrity and continue to use the lock, it is enough to use a cunning technique.

Repairing the zipper at the base:

Gather the fabric at the base.
Soak with nail polish.
Let it dry in the correct position.
Re-treat with nail polish.

Important! If the lock is in a visible place, the varnish should be matched to the color of the lock's fabric.

A red smeared spot on a black handbag will look extremely awkward and catchy, even considering that the base of the zipper is not in plain sight.

Glue is often used instead of nail polish. This is a great alternative because the adhesive is more durable and the material becomes harder, making the fastener easier to use.

Shoe glue, or “Moment,” is suitable for these purposes. Glue is not suitable for joining paper.

Removing the slider

This insidious part sometimes slips off only on one side of the zipper. This, of course, does not make it any easier - the bag still does not fasten.

Important! Metal and plastic “dogs” jump off with equal success.

You can try to put the part in place. For this you need:

awl;
pliers;
sheet of white paper.

Important! The awl can be successfully replaced with another sharp object - a thick needle, manicure scissors, even nail clippers. You can do without pliers if you have a smaller tool that can be used to clamp the stops. And the sheet is needed so that the stops do not get lost while you are fiddling with the slider.

How to fix the lock on your bag:

Using a sharp object, carefully bend the teeth of the stopper located on the side where the slider remains.
Remove the limiter - it is best to pry it off with a needle or awl.
Remove the “dog”.
Remove the second limiter.
Place the slider, move it to the beginning of the zipper and align it.
Place the limiters - to do this, the teeth must be bent again.

The zipper on the bag came apart - how to fix it?

Just five minutes ago the lock was closing normally, the slider reached the middle - and here you are, no move, and even what seemed to be closed came apart. What to do if the lightning diverges?

To begin with, carefully move the slider back to the beginning, tooth by tooth: the main thing is not to make sudden movements, otherwise the teeth may fall out, and then repairing it will be even more hassle.
Align the slider.
Rub the teeth with rosin or chalk.

Important! Unfortunately, the method is not very reliable, but the bag will still serve you for some time.

How to quickly fix a plastic zipper if it comes apart or the slider has fallen off?

Manufacturers most often use plastic zippers for their products, which are sometimes called “tractor zippers.” It is not as durable as metal, but has, in comparison, a number of advantages:

doesn't cling
easier to fasten
weighs less
has a variety of colors

We invite you to familiarize yourself with 11 ways to remove stains from a down jacket

However, the disadvantages of a plastic fastener are that it breaks faster and the slider “flies off” more often.

When the plastic zipper just starts to come apart, do the following:

unfasten the clasp
treat the cloves with a cotton swab dipped in an alcoholic rosin solution
let dry for several hours

Problems with plastic zipper

If this method does not help correct the situation, then the slider is most likely damaged. It is unlikely that it will be possible to press it with pliers, since the plastic may simply burst. Therefore, the best solution is to replace the “dog”. This is done in the same way as in the case of metal zipper, taking into account some points:

Simply glue the fasteners that are removed from the clasp to replace the pawl in their original place
in cases where this cannot be done, make several stitches in place of the stops with threads of a matching color, which will hold the slider
If the base of the permanent zipper is damaged, coat the area with clear varnish and let it dry completely.
in the case when several teeth on the nylon “snake” have fallen out or are severely damaged, sew this area with fishing line, twisting the turns
It is usually not possible to insert a “dog” into thin nylon zippers, since it is too small. Therefore, it is better to take clothes with such locks to a studio, where they can easily replace the fastener with a new one.

In emergency cases, when there is no possibility of purchasing a new slider, and there is nothing to replace the item on which the fastener has come apart, you can try the following:

use a lighter to heat the slider
under the influence of heat, its walls will become a little softer
squeeze the edges of the slider tightly

However, it must be said that this method is not very reliable due to the risk of damaging the fabric of the item or the zipper itself.

If the runner is moving slowly

Like any mechanism, zipper needs some care. Of course, you shouldn’t lubricate it with machine oil every day - in this situation it is generally contraindicated for all bags except leather ones. On other materials this substance simply leaves stains. But it is successfully replaced:

wax;
stearin;
soft graphite pencil.

You can take, for example, a candle - any candle except a tallow one. A wax crayon will also work – by the way, you can choose one that matches the color. To fix a zipper on a bag using this method:

Look to see if a thread has gotten caught in the slider - this happens more often with clothes, but it also happens with bags.
If there is a thread, very carefully pull it out using a sharp object. It is possible that this will be the end of all the problems.
If there is no thread, lubricate the “dog” with one of the indicated compounds. The wax should get between the plates.
Rub the same mixture onto the teeth.

Why does the zipper come apart: reasons

The zipper is called differently:

It is one of the types of fasteners that is designed to quickly connect parts of clothing. Modern designers are developing new versions of zippers with improved fasteners to prevent possible breakdowns. However, unfortunately, a model that would never break has not yet been created. And over time, most of the “snakes” begin to diverge.

In order to understand the reasons for the trouble that happened, you need to understand how such a fastener works and what the principle of its operation is. “Snake” consists of two textile tapes with links (teeth) attached to them. These links are staggered and can be:

plastic
metal
nylon (flexible, on a thin fabric base with spiral staples)

The teeth are connected to each other using a lock, which goes by different names:

slider
"dog"
slider
carriage

What to do with a broken lock

The operating principle of this fastener is as follows:

the slider slides along the tape, connecting the links together like a puzzle
each link is fixed by two links on the opposite side

Possible reasons why the teeth do not connect on a zipper:

The slider is loosened and does not fit tightly to the tape
the shape of one of the elements is broken
the slider has broken down
the teeth on the clasp are broken or deformed
there is thread or fabric stuck in the lock
dirt has accumulated between the links (this problem often happens with shoes)

If the tongue falls off

How to repair a zipper on a bag if the zipper has broken off or even fallen out? This is the simplest of the problems that the owner of any bag or backpack may encounter. A part that has disappeared in an unknown direction is successfully replaced with something similar - for example, a metal paper clip:

Bend the outer end of the paper clip slightly.
Insert it into the hole to which the tongue clung, until it bends.
Bend it again - you can even do this with your fingers; pliers are not needed in this situation.

In principle, a plastic paperclip can also work, it just breaks more easily and may be thicker than necessary.

Trouble opening and closing zippers

Sometimes the slider begins to move poorly around the lock, and it can be difficult to unfasten and zip things up. This problem can be solved in several ways:

The folk method suggests that you can smear the zipper with a piece of lard. This is suitable for things made of leather or thick, coarse fabric. Otherwise, greasy marks may remain on things.
A safer method is to lubricate the zipper with regular wax. A wax candle is suitable for this - with its help the “dog” will move more easily.
But the ideal lubricant for zippers is pencil lead. Just be sure to choose a soft pencil. You need to run the stylus over the zipper several times, and then unfasten and fasten the zipper several times.

If the teeth have popped out

Over time, the cloves fall out. The zipper will most likely have to be changed, but you can still try to fix it. Sometimes it works.

Option 1

If the zipper is plastic, regular fishing line can help you out. It varies in thickness, but usually this does not matter. The missing teeth can simply be “sewn on”:

Make a knot in the fishing line (you can simply melt the tip).
Thread the line through a needle with a wide eye.
Make a few over-the-edge stitches where the teeth have fallen out.
Trim the tip and also melt it so that it does not slip through the fabric.

Important! You have to work carefully because plastic also melts.

Option 2

This number will not work with a metal zipper. You will need a second zipper with exactly the same teeth (this is why it is better not to throw away old broken zippers, but to put them in a box - it is not known when they may be needed).

We proceed like this:

Remove the required number of teeth from the spare zipper.
Try to put them on the one in the bag - not everyone succeeds, but sometimes it works.
Align the teeth with a hammer.

How to quickly repair a metal zipper if it comes apart or the slider has fallen off?

A metal zipper is considered the most reliable and durable, since its teeth (brass or nickel) are located on a fairly dense material and are connected to each other especially firmly.

However, it also has a number of disadvantages:

scratches fingers
The slider often jams
teeth cling to fabric threads

In order to repair a broken fastener, you first need to determine the cause of the breakdown. In the case where the slider is to blame, you can make a quick repair like this:

prepare thin pliers (pliers) or non-sharp tongs
carefully examine the slider to determine the location of voids and partitions inside it
Using pliers, carefully press both sides of the pawl onto the fastener links
do it from top and bottom
fasten the zipper
squeeze the base of the slider slightly towards the center
do not overdo it, press lightly so as not to break the lock or make it too tight

Sometimes a metal zipper begins to diverge due to deformation of the links. At the initial stage, it is easy to correct the situation:

lay the item on a hard surface
lightly tap along the entire length with a hammer
do this from the outside and inside
walk this way several times

If the “snake” diverges in only one place, this means that the teeth in this area are especially damaged. You can fix it like this:

fasten the zipper
in the area where the links diverge, connect them with your hands
Using light pressure with pliers, align the problematic teeth

Repairing a zipper

In the event that the links are damaged or missing at the bottom of the “snake”, you can proceed as follows:

on a permanent one, make a few stitches over the missing teeth. In this case, the fastener will only unfasten to this sewn area. Check whether this length is enough for you to use comfortably.
on a detachable one - change the lower limiter on which the slider rests. To do this, remove it, helping yourself with pliers. Replace it with a stopper that is larger in size. It will cover the hole from the missing link.

Sometimes the dog flies off the zipper and it becomes impossible to use the item. This problem is also completely fixable.

When the slider has completely fallen off:

slightly support the seam with which the fastener is sewn to the product
pull out the ends on one side
Using tweezers, an awl or small scissors, open the clamps at the top or bottom of the zipper (whichever is more convenient) and remove them from the fabric base
pass the ends of the ribbon inside the runner
push it a little along the zipper
put the latches back in their original place

When the slider has flown off only one side:

from the edge that is not attached to the tape, slightly open the slider with tongs to increase the gap between its walls
lower it down
carefully insert the teeth of the fastener into the slider
make sure that they are positioned evenly, without tension or bending
lightly press the edges of the slider
in the case when it is impossible to unclench the walls of the “dog”:
remove the stopper on one side of the fastener
put on the doggie
put the limiter back

If the slider is broken and cannot be replaced, it must be replaced. When purchasing a new one, keep in mind that its shape and size must match the configuration of the fastener. On the reverse side of the “dog” the dimensions are indicated in millimeters. If the lock is lost, it is better to take the zipper with you to the store to avoid making the wrong purchase.

Repair metal zipper

Please note that inserting the slider onto the “snake” will be much easier if you lubricate it first:

vegetable oil
paraffin candles
unsalted lard
toilet soap

Use literally a drop of the chosen product so as not to clog the slider and links, and also not to stain the product.

If the teeth are aligned at random

Sometimes the runner does not want to run because the teeth, which are tilted in different directions, interfere with it. It is easy to help this grief. You need:

awl or nail clippers;
small hammer (wooden possible):
board (you can use a small cutting board, the main thing is that it is clean).

Next is a matter of technology:

Use tweezers or an awl to align the teeth so that they are parallel to each other.
Place a piece of wood under the zipper.
Gently tap the protruding teeth with a hammer until they click into place - usually two or three gentle hits are enough.

To make zippers break less often

In the end, any fastener breaks, but this can happen very slowly if you follow some simple rules:

Move the slider strictly parallel to the edges of the zipper.
Periodically wax the slider and teeth.
Try not to get any small debris between the cloves.
Periodically inspect your bag (and clothing) for threads that may be coming out of seams or fabric sections.
Trim frayed edges promptly.
If the bag is made of fabric, you can glue strips of tape to the edges.

How to unfasten a zipper if it comes apart, what to do to prevent the zipper from coming apart: tips

Sometimes on a zipper that has come apart, the slider gets stuck at the top or in the middle. What can be done in this case?

The technology depends on the type of zipper.

Detachable (used on sweaters, jackets or other outerwear):

insert the lower ends of the fastener into the square clamp
hold the dog by its base, not by its decorative keychain
pressing the slider to the links, move it down smoothly and slowly
Use your other hand to constantly hold the clasp
Having reached the latch, carefully engage it with the slider
unzip

One-piece (sewn into jeans, skirts, trousers, bags, wallets):

release the stoppers at the top of the fastener
smoothly slide the slider to the edge of the tape
try not to get the fabric between the teeth and the dog
remove the carriage from the zipper

Unzip a loose zipper

Now check if the fastener can be repaired. For this:

manually connect the lower ends at the clasp
with your other hand, grab the base of the slider
holding the lower end, slowly move the pawl up the zipper
if during this action the links of the zipper do not connect, it must be replaced

In the case when adhesion between the fastener links does occur, there is a chance to repair the zipper yourself. It happens that lightning diverges from above. This problem especially often occurs with jeans or skirts.

In emergency cases, this method can help:

insert an elastic band or wire ring into the dog
fasten the zipper
place the elastic band (ring) on the button
thread the button through the loop

To ensure that the zipper serves you for a long time and does not break, use it correctly:

do not pull the pawl with all your might and do not pull it back when fastening/unfastening
Before fastening the zipper, straighten the sides of the product so that there are no stretched areas
in cases where the lock is too tight, lubricate it with a suitable product or rub the teeth with a graphite pencil lead
avoid putting too much pressure on the fastener (buy clothes that are not too tight, don’t carry a lot of things in your bag)
Periodically clean the clasp from dirt using a brush
Always zip up the item before washing and turn it inside out
fold things in such a way that the zipper does not bend
When ironing clothes, avoid touching the fastener with a hot iron

We suggest you read: Can winter shoes be worn in the fall?

Video material

Very often, the zipper starts to act up after washing, and for backpacks - after another hike. There is no need to wash the bag with powder; it is better to use liquid detergents, and after “hygienic procedures”, thoroughly dry and rub all parts with wax. As for the field backpack, the most important thing is to promptly remove the dried dirt that accumulates between the teeth. If the zipper is stuck, or you cannot open the zipper, then the suggested tips in this article will always help you.

Why does the slider fly off?

If the slider has completely fallen off the zipper, then there are two possible scenarios for solving the problem: insert a new slider, try to repair it, and put on the old one. To make the right decision, you need to understand the reason for what happened. There aren't many of them either. Most often, the problem is in the slider itself; its lips can weaken and have poor contact with the zipper. In this case, it is enough to tighten them and reinsert the pawl into the system. The reason may lie in the absence of teeth on the zipper or the absence of stoppers. Then you will have to completely change the zipper.