Unstick a Zipper with Liquid Soap

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated April 24, 2023)

Soap can be used for many things but you probably never thought that it could be utilized to free your zipper from a sticky situation. It is true, though—the soap can act as a lubricant to help free up a stuck zipper in no time.

Zippers work because of interlocking teeth that grip onto each other. If the teeth won't slide easily into place, the zipper can stick. It is this type of sticky problem that you can fix by adding a small amount of lubricant to the zipper mechanism. (If your zipper is stuck because the teeth have latched onto a piece of fabric or some other foreign object, then you'll need to work that out patiently; lubrication generally won't help.)

The idea behind the soap approach is pretty self explanatory: the slippery texture of the soap will help the zipper wiggle free. The best way to go about this particular technique is to take a small amount of the liquid soap and rub it on the zipper's teeth, moving slowly and methodically so you can ease the zipper free, rather than forcing it. You don't want to yank or tug on the zipper because that won't do anything to make the zipper come loose. If you need to you can use more soap if your initial amount isn't doing much.

The biggest thing you'll need to remember is that you need to be patient in your working of the soap and zipper—you'll make no headway if you try and force the zipper. The purpose of the soap is to lubricate the zipper and make it move more smoothly—keep it smooth and all will be well!

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Choosing the Right Blush

Blush is sometimes just the right touch you need to set off your look, so you need to find the right one. Here are a few ...

Discover More

Selecting a Cosmetic Bag

Cosmetic bags can be great for storing or toting those toiletry essentials your may need. Here are a few tips to follow ...

Discover More

How to Separate Egg Whites

You need to separate egg whites for many different recipes and so it would probably be good to actually know how to do ...

Discover More

Tough Cleaning Jobs Require Brawny! Brawny paper towels provide the versatility you need: the strength for demanding jobs and the softness to clean up your child's messy face. This 24-roll pack of pick-a-size sheets can handle just about every cleaning task in your home. Check out Brawny 24-Pack Giant Paper Towels today!

More Cleaning Tips

Removing the Odor of Sickness

Anyone that has ever been around chronically sick, or terminally ill people know how there is a slight, but significant, ...

Discover More

Cure Sticking Zippers with Lip Balm

Zippers get stuck and it's always a pain to try and wiggle them free. When your best wiggling efforts aren't working ...

Discover More

Remove Sour Smells and Odors from Your Laundry

Sour smells can make you physically gag if let alone for too long. Don't let the not-so-pleasant smells in your laundry ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five less than 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.