Found out you can fix a sticky zipper with a regular pencil

My favorite hoodie zipper kept catching halfway up, was about to toss it. Rubbed a #2 pencil tip along the teeth a few times and it glides smooth now, the graphite works as dry lube. Anybody else got a weird quick fix like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

wyatt7712mo ago

Yeah graphite is legit for zippers, that's an old camping trick that works every time. Pencil lead is basically just pure carbon and it doesn't gunk up like WD-40 or silicone spray does. Only catch is you gotta reapply every now and then, especially if you wash the hoodie. But a quick three second rub and you're good for another month or two. Also works on squeaky door hinges if you're in a pinch, just don't use a colored pencil because the wax in those will actually make things worse. Stick to regular #2 pencils and you're golden.

james6611mo ago

Didn't think a pencil could do much for a zipper honestly, always figured it was just one of those old wives' tales people pass around. But last winter my favorite jacket's zipper started catching halfway up and I was ready to toss it. Tried the pencil trick out of desperation and man, it actually smoothed right out. Been a few months now and I just give it a quick rub every couple weeks, no issues since. Definitely changed my mind on the whole thing.

claireg812mo ago

Embarrassed myself in front of a whole group of friends once because my tent zipper got stuck while I was trying to get out in the middle of the night. Had to army crawl out the bottom flap like a complete idiot. Now I keep a pencil in my camping gear just for this trick. It works way better than any of those fancy spray lubes I've tried that just attract dirt and make things worse.