The Ultimate Quick Fix: How to Rescue a Broken Zipper with a Paper Clip
- Lifestyle
- Exienent
- · Updated
If the pull tab on a jacket, backpack, or bag zipper snaps off, you can fix it in about 30 seconds with a common paper clip. Thread the clip through the small loop left on the slider and it works as a new pull tab, temporarily or even permanently.
What happens when a zipper pull tab breaks?
You lose the grip you need to move the slider. It usually happens at the worst moment: you are rushing out the door on a chilly morning, you yank your winter jacket's zipper upward, and you feel a distinct snap. The little metal pull tab is in your hand, and you are left staring at a tiny, impossible-to-grip nub of a slider.
Pinching that slider with your fingernails rarely gets it to budge, and it is tempting to throw the whole jacket or bag away. Before you do, check your desk drawer for a paper clip.
Why does the paper clip hack work?
A paper clip works because a zipper slider relies on leverage. That little pull tab isn't just for decoration; it provides the necessary length and grip to smoothly pull the internal mechanism up and down the track. When the tab breaks off, you lose that leverage.
A paper clip is the perfect temporary (or even permanent) replacement because it is made of sturdy, bendable wire that easily threads through the tiny loop left on the slider, instantly restoring your leverage.
How do you fix a zipper with a paper clip in 30 seconds?
You don't need a sewing kit or a trip to the tailor for this fix. If you are at work, school, or home, just raid the nearest supply drawer. Here is exactly what you need to do:
- Find a sturdy paper clip: Try to grab a standard metal paper clip. The plastic-coated ones can work in a pinch, but the coating tends to wear off quickly. If you are fixing a heavy-duty zipper (like on a large suitcase or a thick winter coat), look for one of those larger, thicker paper clips for extra strength.
- Locate the slider loop: Look closely at the broken zipper slider on your garment or bag. You will see a small, usually semi-circular hole or loop where the original pull tab used to be attached.
- Thread the clip: Take the outer end of the paper clip wire and gently thread it through that small loop on the slider.
- Secure it: Once it is threaded through, loop it all the way around so the paper clip is securely hanging from the slider, just like the original tab did.
How can you make a paper clip zipper pull look better?
Wrapping or covering the clip makes it look far less like office supplies. Let's be honest, a shiny silver paper clip dangling from your jacket isn't exactly high fashion. If you are using it as a more permanent fix, here are two ways to upgrade the look:
- Wrap it in tape: Take a small piece of black electrical tape (or a color that matches your item) and wrap it tightly around the paper clip. This not only hides the metal but also gives it a thicker, more comfortable grip.
- Use heat shrink tubing: If you happen to have some electrical heat shrink tubing in your toolbox, slide a small piece over the paper clip and hit it with a hairdryer or lighter. It will shrink down tightly, creating a professional-looking, rubberized pull tab that blends right in.
The next time a zipper betrays you at the worst possible moment, don't throw the item away or struggle with your fingernails. Grab a paper clip and get back on your way in seconds!
