Zipper is always on - what to do? Quick guide

• Repair pushers: instructions
• Fix zipper with keyring

How annoying! You're on your way and suddenly the zipper of your pants or the packed backpack open in public. Zippers are among the most important closure and wear parts of garments and commodities. Often, however, it happens that the staples no longer interlock, resulting in a constant, unwanted opening of the zipper. What can be done about it ">

Zippers are used in many applications today, from bags to shoes to favorite jeans. They allow easy closing and opening by cramps, which mesh via a slider and thus enable the function. Over time, it can happen that the staples or the slider no longer work properly and the zipper rises by itself. Many people then get a new garment while others try to replace the closure. However, there are methods to effectively and quickly make the zipper functional again. You do not even need a lot of tools for them.

Repair pushers: instructions

One of the most common problems with the zipper is the slider. This component is often and frequently used over a long period of time and therefore suffers from wear. The wear shows up especially when guiding the teeth, which could not mesh without the slider. Over time, the metal of the slide widens so much that it can no longer build up enough pressure, which significantly limits the function. This is particularly noticeable when even the smallest strains lead to the opening of the zipper and even after re-closing it opens again by itself.

The only thing you need is one of the following pliers:

• Combination pliers: costs about 13 euros
• Flat-nose pliers: costs about 10 euros

If you have none of these pliers in your own workshop or in your toolbox, you will find them cheap in hardware stores, discounters and even supermarkets, if they are offered in one action. The quality of the pliers does not have to be high quality, as not much power is needed to implement the method. It is only important that you can grip the slider with the pliers, so it must not be too big. Otherwise you need no more utensils except the affected zipper. After you have obtained the pliers, proceed as follows to prevent the zipper from opening independently.

Step 1: Lay the item in front of you and spread it so that you can easily access the zipper. This can be difficult for some items. In these, the use of safety pins or pins has become established with which parts of the fabric can be folded and fixed.

Step 2: Just leave the slider where it is. If it is difficult to reach, it is best to push it in the middle so that the pliers can grasp it easily.

Step 3: Now take the slider in your hand. This is wider at one end. You need the thinner end to implement the method. Put the pliers on the two thin sides and press down with a little force. Due to the transmitted force, the slider is bent back into the original starting position and can thus guide the teeth of the closure. Do not apply too much force so that the zipper closes at all and does not get stuck.

Step 4: After bending the pages back a little, make sure the zipper works again. If not, use step 3 again. Remember: less power leads to success. It can quickly happen that you use too much force and in the end, completely deform the slider.

Even cramps that no longer seem to grip can be returned to the correct position with this method.

Tip: This method works only with metal zippers, as it is easy to deform without breaking. Do not use this method if your zipper is made of plastic and use the method below.

Fix zipper with keyring

Another way to straighten the zipper works with a traditional key ring. This method is particularly suitable for all zippers that fall down, for example, the trouser stall, and have a button. Especially pants of all kinds benefit from this measure. With this method, you can use the shutter in no time, without having to replace it. For this solution you will need a keyring whose diameter is larger than the knob. Key rings are extremely cheap and even in craft shops to get. If you have a matching ring, follow the instructions to repair your zipper.

Step 1: Pick up the jeans or pants and open the zipper. Pull the slider all the way down.

Step 2: Now open the keyring slightly and hook it into the handle of the slider. Ideally, this should have a hole through which you can combine the keyring with this. After the ring is hooked, release it and it will close by itself. This application does not differ from hooking keys and therefore goes by the hand quickly. But be careful if you have long fingernails, so that they do not break off, which can be painful.

Step 3: Now put on the pants and close the zipper as normal. Then hang the key ring around the button of the pants. The ring ensures that the slider can not slide down, leaving it in place. He can no longer slide and open from this point.

Step 4: Now close the pants over the button. If you look at the button, you will see that the pants fabric is now over the ring. This keeps the keyring hidden and you do not have to worry about anyone seeing it.

Tip: As an alternative to the key ring, you can use a tight rubber band. This fixes the zipper in the same way as the key ring, but sometimes slips off, especially when there is a lot of movement.