Keeping zips clean
One of the leading causes of zip failure is dirt contaminating them. Fine sand or grit can get into the teeth or moving parts of a zip and can quite quickly wear them out. If your zip is dirty or you’ve been using it in a dusty or gritty environment then clean it with a damp soapy cloth. Machine washing a product will take care of zip cleaning, but if you’re using a garment somewhere particularly gritty then consider cleaning the zips more frequently than you would clean the whole garment. For backpacks which cannot be machine washed, ensure you clean the zips occasionally.
Zip lubrication
If your zip is clean but has become stiff then it may require lubricating. We recommend using a product such as
Gear Aid Zipper Lubricant,
McNETT Zip Care or Zipper Stick. Alternatively natural products such as Beeswax can also be used.
When washing products
When washing products which have zips, have all zips fully fastened. Stresses during washing on a partly-fastened zip can damage or even tear teeth from a zip.