Broken Zippers

How to Fix a Zipper in a Backpack? A Comprehensive Guide

(Last Updated On: February 2, 2023)

A lot of us would have one way or another experienced having a broken zipper. Whether you were at school, going on a holiday vacation, or simply on a trip to the mall. Zipper repairing is difficult to come by and, like repair shops, it is best to know basic ways to fix a zipper backpack yourself.

There are several ways that a zipper may be broken: zippers that won’t close, zippers that came off the track, zippers that came off on one side, or simply a separated zipper. Luckily, we have written below some of the possible ways you can use to fix the zipper in your backpack.

How To Fix A Zipper Backpack

Won’t Close

The first thing to do is check to see if there is no misalignment of the zipper. You should notice that one side of the zipper bunches up a little between the slider and the stop bottom when you unzip the zipper all the way through. If this happens, means it misaligns the zipper. Even if you button the zipper up and it continues to remain tight, the teeth under the slider will work their way apart over time. Spray or rub the teeth with lubricant and you should be able to close it. Graphite from a pencil, dish detergent, or bar soap are other things that can act as a strong lubricant.

Stuck Zipper

The first thing to do is check to see if there is no misalignment of the zipper. You should notice that one side of the zipper bunches up a little between the slider and the stop bottom when you unzip the zipper all the way through. If this happens, means it misaligns the zipper. Even if you button the zipper up and it continues to remain tight, the teeth under the slider will work their way apart over time. Spray or rub the teeth with lubricant and you should be able to close it. Graphite from a pencil, dish detergent, or bar soap can act as a strong lubricant.

If enough lubrication is not offered by a graphite stick, you may want is laundry soap, it can provide a boost of lubrication for the torn zipper. Take a small dish of laundry soap and add a few spoons of water.

Broken Pull

Zipper pull breaking off is a fairly normal event but one that can quickly be repaired. Using a paper clip is among the most effective. Simply open and insert one end of the clip into the opening where the pull normally goes. Alternatively, a keychain, a telephone wire connector, or something else lightweight, agile and malleable enough may be turned into a zipper pull.

Broken on One Side

First, using your plier, you must widen the sliders and unstitch the closings at the ends, which will reveal the end of the tracks. The next step with a widened slider is to slide the tracks into the slider (to loop a zipper) if your backpack zipper comes off on one side.

It is much better to repair a fork than to do so with your hands. Next, the middle thongs need to be put on the slider. The other thongs should be near the end and on the inside of your backpack. Pick up the fork, then. The last step is for the sliders to be pinched until they are secure. Pinching so hard, like before, will create complications and take you straight back to where you began: on one hand, a zipper.

Slider Broke Off

There are less makeshift ways to repair a faulty slider. You will actually have to replace it when a slider is broken. But it is simply quite a simple procedure to remove it and add a new one. Cut the torn slider off with pliers. The fresh slider should then be reattached easily by slipping it back onto the teeth slowly. If you can get the slider to go through the proper grooves and touch the correct angle, this would not take too long. You may need to repair the slider if it comes off entirely or if, after many efforts to lubricate and patch the zipper, it does not close the teeth properly.

Conclusion

Know that there is nothing to think about the next time you come across a broken or stuck zipper. Sure, zippers can be troublesome, but everywhere, the basic and simple items like pliers and fork is all you used.