We’ve all been there: You’re about to leave the house and suddenly the zipper is stuck, jammed, or broken. Before you throw away your jacket or painstakingly sew in a new zipper, there are a few sewing tricks that work in 90% of cases.

Here are the three most ingenious methods, depending on what exactly is broken:

The zipper is torn (opens again at the bottom)
This is the most common problem. Usually, the slider (zipper) is slightly bent from use.

Trick: Take a small pair of pliers (e.g., flat-nose pliers). Gently press the two sides of the slider up and down a little.

Why? Even a millimeter of play is enough for the teeth to no longer close properly. Squeeze them together, and they will close perfectly again.

The zipper is stuck or jammed.

If the slider is difficult to move, it’s usually due to friction or bent teeth.

Tricks (with lubricant): Rub a soft pencil (graphite) firmly over the stuck teeth. Graphite acts as a dry lubricant.

Alternatively: If the pencil doesn’t work, use a piece of dry soap, a wax candle, or lip balm. Rub it once and gently slide the slider back and forth – it should move smoothly again.

The slider has slipped completely out.

If the slider has slipped up or down, most people despair. However, there’s a trick using a fork.

Tricks: Place the slider on the middle tines of the fork (the flat side of the fork facing up). Now the slider is secured, and you have both hands free to insert both sides of the zipper fabric into the slider from above at the same time.

Finishing: Once the zipper is in place, sew a few stitches through the zipper stops at the end of the zipper to prevent it from slipping out again.

Quick Checklist: When is it really broken?

Symptom: Can it be repaired?

Bent slider: Yes (pliers trick)

Missing teeth: Usually not (needs to be replaced)
Torn fabric: Only temporarily (replace)
Lost slider: Yes (buy a replacement slider)
Pro tip: If the zipper pull is broken, you can temporarily use a paperclip or a keyring – it doesn’t look great, but it works!

Do I need to explain exactly how to use the “fork trick” if the slider has completely slipped out of the fabric?