There's nothing worse than a wardrobe malfunction. Especially one that prevents you from wearing your favorite staple because you can't seem to find the quickest and easiest way to fix it. Sound familiar? We've all been there. Mostly when it comes to the zipper of our jeans acting up.
There's a bit of a saving grace, however, and it's in the form of these five easy steps ahead on how to fix the zipper on a jean. Whether it's a minor set back like the zipper being stuck or that the zipper pull fell off, we've got you covered. No need to panic or replace your favorite pair of jeans—read on for the hacks that will save the day.
If the zipper won't stay up...
There's a quick DIY hack for that. Simply grab a key ring or a rubber band and slide it through the zipper. Zip your pants fully and secure the ring or band over your pants buttons. Problem solved!
If the zipper pull broke off...
If it's virtually impossible to zip up your favorite pair of jeans because the zipper pull fell off, fret not, there's a way to fix it. Do you have an extra paper clip or a key ring lying around? If you answered yes, then you've found yourself your new zipper pull. Just slide it through the tab on the slider and voila!
If the zipper is stuck...
If sheer strength isn't necessarily helping it's time to consider a bit of lubricant. Whether, chapstick, a bar of soap, or even Windex, apply your choice of lubricant to the teeth of the zipper and then inch the zipper down (or up). Continue doing so until the zipper gets unstuck.
If the zipper slider broke off...
It's not the end of the world and you probably won't need to replace the whole zipper. The zipper slider is the little device that moves up and down the chain with the zipper pull to open or close the zipper. To fix it you'll need an edge cutter, a plier, tweezers, and patience. First, you'll need to remove the top stop (the little plastic square that's at the top of the zipper that prevents the slider from getting off the zipper) without damaging the zipper tape. After you successfully removed the tape and the broken slider, slide in your replacement zipper and make sure it functions properly. Now that that's done, you need to replace the top stop you removed. Top stops come in different materials and sizes so make sure the one you pick fits your zipper properly. After that, you only have to pick it up with your pliers and place it to the last tooth of your zipper and squeeze it tight, and voila! Need a visual to all these words? This video will take you step by step through the easy process.
If the zipper doesn't close entirely..
If the zipper splits every time you zip it, there's also a quick hack for that. As long as the teeth at the bottom aren't damaged on the zipper, it's good news. Simply remove the slider (as you learned above) and you'll notice it probably has a bend. Now, with a pair of pliers bend it back and place it once again on the zipper. If it's still isn't working properly, don't worry, make sure you bend it again or that you didn't bend it too far until it slides freely up and down.
Now you can't leave behind those amazing vintage jeans behind if their zipper seems a bit off. Talk about a happy ending.
Opening Image: @kellyaugustineb