Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You know that feeling of panic when you pull your expensive, warm ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The last thing you want to discover as you're about to pack for a vacation is that your suitcase zipper has completely come off ...

Repairing and maintaining your hiking gear will extend its lifespan, which is great both for your wallet and the planet. A busted zipper is no reason to trash your favorite jacket (or sleeping bag or ...

Ah, zippers. The contraption was first used on boots, then tobacco pouches, and then leather jackets (by Schott in 1925). Crazy, right? Zippers on clothes isn’t even a 100-year-old idea yet. The ...

Plus, experts share what to do if your zipper needs to be replaced altogether. Zippers are named after the sound they make, but that moniker feels less appropriate when the fastener gets stuck. The ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." So next time your zipper acts up, don’t panic, and don’t automatically assume you need to toss your item.

Michelle Elise is known in repair cafe circles as the "Zipper Queen." She finds that most broken zippers just need some TLC, not replacing.

If your zipper gets stuck, first check if there’s fabric caught in it. If there is, gently tug the fabric out, and you should be good to go. If not, move on to plan B: lubricants that can help clean ...

We’ve all been there: you’re in the backcountry or on a long hike when you yank the zipper on your jacket and—bam!—it comes undone, gets stuck, or the whole thing rips off. You’re forced to ski or ...