How To: Fix a zipper and bring new life to your backpack

There are many instances where a zipper on a bag, purse, coat, etc. will fail to function or jam. It may be that the zipper needs replacement, but oftentimes it can be fixed using a simple technique. YouTube user MediaMason shows how many zipper problems result from a simple change in the slider's structure, as well as how to fix this. He identifies the zipper (the "teeth") and the slider (the pulley). Normally, when the slider is pulled through the zipper, it closes the zipper together. Sometimes the zipper will not close, leaving is open on both ends. MediaMason shows that this is usually because the gap in the slider widens over time. He shows that by clamping the slider with a pair of pliers, that gab can be closed, and the zipper's functionality can be restored.

10 Comments

WOW!! It worked! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

Very helpful! Been wallowing on the fact that I lost my favourite bag for 2 years now.

Bought a Spiderman backpacks its a broken zipper for one dollar. Fixed it like above using pliers. First try - fixed. My grandson now has a 'like new' Spiderman backpack - for only $1. Thank you so much!

Oh Thank you! I was planning to buy a new laptop bag because my bag's zipper is broken. Good thing I saw this post. :) It worked!

My initial thought...that's pretty handy...but I bet I can't get it to work. Got it on my first try. Thanks for the VERY easy instructions and thanks for the tip. My child was devistated that her new doggy backpack (she got for Christmas) was "broken" and I had no way of returning/exchanging. This saved me :)

This really helped me, the zipper on my new hoodie was broken like showen in the video, and with you help i got i working again.

Thank you ;)

Thanks so much! This fixed one of my oldest and most expensive purses.

I was planning to buy a new bag as my bag's zipper was not working. Thank you so much this worked like a charm.

Thanks a lot again.

Thank you so so so much for sharing this useful information.
It worked like magic.
The video was very simple and explained very clearly and thanks once again. God bless

I needed to repair two bags...one is mine and the other is my daughter's. I had searched for appropriate replacement zippers, to no avail. Finally I intended to contact the manufacturers of the bags to inquire about purchasing the zippers. While in the Googling the brand names and "zipper", I happened upon your YouTube. I REPAIRED BOTH BAGS IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. TOTAL!!! You are as brilliant as you are generous!! Thank you, thank you!!

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