7 Ways to Fix a Zipper Quickly and Easily

If one or both sides of the slider come off the track, it is not necessary to replace the zipper, but only to reattach the slider. To do this, you must first find the "bottom" of the zipper. The bottom of the zipper is usually the end closest to the bottom when you are wearing the garment. If you do not know which side is the correct one, look for the end of the zipper where there is a square flap of fabric. Then insert the teeth from that end into the slider. If you need extra leverage to push the teeth into place, use a flathead screwdriver. Once the teeth are on both sides of the slider, use the puller to move it up and down the rail to lock it in place.

First check to see if anything is caught in the zipper, such as another piece of clothing or even fibres. If possible, remove these obstructions by hand before trying the zipper again.
If the jammed object still will not move, try using tweezers to slowly pull the blockage out of the teeth. Sometimes gently moving the puller up and down while pulling on the slider also helps to remove stubborn objects.

Zippers that are missing teeth can be particularly fiddly to fix so we recommend taking your garment to a tailor to repair this specific issue. In the meantime, scroll down to see our quick fixes until you have time to get to the alterations shop.
If your zip keeps falling down, it often means that the teeth have either been dislodged or worn away. Start by closely inspecting the zip itself to determine if any of the teeth are simply out are out of alignment. If so, use a set of pliers to slowly bend the rogue teeth back into position. Alternatively, if they all appear to be in the correct place, move onto the next step.

If all else fails and you can't seem to get the pesky zip to stay in place, you might need to replace the zipper entirely. Until then, a short term fix involves feeding a paper clip into this loop on the slider. Then, hook the other side of the paper clip over the button or clasp as the top of the zipper to hold the whole thing in place.

Alternatively, if you have a safety pin handy, simple pin either side of the zip closed.

Don’t yank it!
The best way to avoid breaking your zipper is by making sure you don't use too much force to fasten it. Instead, use steady, consistent pulls to guide the sliders up and down the zip. If you have to start tugging really hard to get the puller to move, stop and reevaluate.

If you are trying to close an overflowing bag or a pair of jeans that are too small, it is quite possible that the zipper will break if the teeth are pulled apart with too much pressure. The trick is not to force the zipper open. If the zipper can only be closed with significant resistance, that's often a sign that the zipper could still tear even if you manage to close it. Instead, try emptying your pocket, or take your clothes to the alteration shop to see if there's a way to make the garment fit better (if the zipper is too tight, the garment probably is not very comfortable to wear either), which could kill two birds with one stone.