Lightning is popular in everyday life. It is indispensable in clothes, bags, shoes and other wardrobe items. You can purchase the fastener in the form of a hidden form or, conversely, an open one. The last option is intended for decorating clothes. Designers have come up with different types of runners: from simple to the most glamorous.
But no matter what kind of lightning it is, it can go bad. A person does not have the patience to tinker with such a product, and as a result, the entire appearance of the clothing deteriorates. But you shouldn’t immediately throw away your favorite things, because there are several methods that can be used to save the runner by increasing its service life.
Why is lightning lubricated?
Many of us, due to our active lives, are in a hurry to get everything done. For example, a person is in a hurry to go to work and quickly begins to zip up his jacket. But it starts to jam, and he has no choice but to pull it back and forth. As a result, time is wasted, and the manipulations themselves only spoil the lock and tear the material. But to avoid such an unpleasant situation, you should take care of the product in advance.
Any fabric needs proper care. And if things have a zipper, then such clothes should be handled carefully so that they do not spoil. If the lock constantly jams, then usually the item with such a slider is sent to gather dust in the closet for an indefinite period of time. However, it is unwise to constantly purchase new products because of a damaged lock. And in order to avoid getting into such a situation, the zipper must be lubricated. Below we will look at what means are available to help save the slider.
How to lubricate the zipper?
If you notice that the lock has stopped sliding smoothly, you should take care of the product. Any sudden movement leads to damage to the material.
There are 2 types of zippers: metal and plastic. The first option is used for shoes, bags, and thick outerwear. And the second is suitable for light materials (jackets, dresses, etc.).
It is possible to restore the slippery property of zippers by the following means:
- Sunflower oil, lard. Both products are suitable for a metal lock on a leather product.
- Camphor. This method has a drawback - after the procedure, a stain may remain on the item. And therefore you should stock up on a thin brush or cotton swabs.
- Pencil. It is best used with a zipper sewn to thin material. Unlike previous options, there is no risk of leaving greasy stains. Use both graphite and regular pencils. It is important that the texture of the lead is as soft as possible.
- Paraffin candle. The component will save the plastic fastener. After the manipulations, the slider will be like new.
- Soap. Also used for plastic lock. If you choose this option, then manipulations must be performed with dry soap.
- If we consider unusual methods, then even a colorless lip balm can save the slider. Only extreme caution should be exercised during application.
Apply the balm specifically over the teeth of the fittings; remove the residue with cotton swabs so as not to smear it on the material. If the zipper gets damaged on the street or in another place (not at home), then it will not be difficult for a girl to apply lip product to the slider.
Purpose of the lubricant
Lubricating the lock on your boots is one of the conditions for proper shoe care. A layer of a special substance is distributed between the rubbing elements, facilitating sliding, making the movements of the dog softer and smoother. The procedure has a beneficial effect on the longevity of the product, helping to avoid untimely replacement of zippers on boots.
The zipper consists of a pair of strips, along the surface of each of them there are teeth that can fit into each other. The latter can be made of metal or plastic. As the runner moves, the links are connected or separated. The structure of the teeth, as well as the method of their interlocking, may vary. The upper and lower edges of the fastener are equipped with special detachable stops to prevent the slider from falling out. The type of lubricant is selected depending on the material from which the lock is made.
If the zipper on your boots gets stuck, you need to use a suitable lubricant. The substance is applied only to the cloves. It is worth inspecting the lock first - fluff or lining could have gotten inside, then the problem will be eliminated immediately after removing the foreign particles. Many compositions are quite greasy and easily soiled, so the procedure is performed carefully so that the upper material does not get dirty.
If the zipper does not unfasten, there may be several reasons for this: foreign elements between the links, damage to the teeth, weakening of the slider pressure.
How to lubricate a zipper?
Regardless of what type and type of fastener you have, the lubrication algorithm for all products has similar features. The difference lies only in the consistency of one product or another.
The dry option is the easiest, as it eliminates the risk of leaving any stains on the material.
Pencil, soap and candle
Before processing, it is necessary to inspect the zipper for the presence of foreign impurities. It should be clean, without threads or other elements sticking out nearby.
Instructions:
- Fasten the slider, choosing one of the ways to lubricate the teeth so that the lead or paraffin is rubbed between them.
- The “dog” should also be carefully spread.
- Slowly move the slider back and forth.
- If the lock moves easily, then the remaining components can be shaken. And if the slider gets stuck in places, the procedure should be repeated.
This method, using the three products listed above, will develop the zipper, but will not get rid of rust.
The pencil cannot be used for fastening a light shade, as a dark mark remains after the procedure. It is recommended to purchase soap according to the tone of the fittings.
Vegetable oil, camphor and lard
As we said earlier, these products leave stains, so extreme care must be taken when handling.
Instructions:
- Inspect the slider for foreign particles. If it is clean, continue the process.
- Slowly unfasten the zipper.
- Lightly wet a cotton swab or stick with oil.
- Rub the cloves from top to bottom. It is better to use a brush for this procedure.
- Repeat the manipulations until the zipper and the pawl are completely lubricated.
- Wipe off excess fat with a dry cloth or use a clean cotton swab.
- Wash your hands with soap and carefully close the zipper to check how easily it slides.
For those who are afraid of ruining the fabric with greasy stains, you should apply oil only to the part of the lock that is sticking.
If the choice fell on lard, then you need to cut off a small piece of the product and walk along the fastener. Remove excess with a dry cloth.
You need to wipe the cloves themselves directly with the product. This will help prevent oil from getting on the item. Blot the brush only with the edge so that the drops do not scatter to the sides.
How to develop a zipper after purchasing?
We are often surprised that it is on new products that the fittings begin to jam. This happens because the fastener was poorly designed. But if you don’t want to ruin your new things, then you should listen to the following tips:
- Check the slider in place before purchasing, simply by moving it up and down several times.
- The fastener must be sewn evenly. The exception is zippers made in a designer style (they may look askew). But they can also be fastened and unfastened several times to check the product.
- If the fittings are perfect, then after purchasing, when you come home, you should lubricate the fastener with one of the products listed above as a preventive measure.
A zipper made of plastic deteriorates much faster than a metal lock. Therefore, such accessories must be handled with caution.
The best types of lubricant
There are several substances with which you can bring your boots back to normal.
- A simple pencil. Draw them along the lightning. You will see that it has begun to fasten smoothly again.
- Soap. Just rub it on the cloves.
- Leather boots can be wiped with lard. And the remaining substance should be removed with a napkin.
- Camphor. Rub the cloves with it. And excess oil can be removed using a dry cloth.
- Candle. The lock should be rubbed from the back side. Then you should open and close it several times.
All the methods presented are good in action. If you have a problem with zipper, be sure to try them.
How to extend service life?
Everyone wants their clothes to last for a long time. And to prevent lightning from ruining all your plans, you should familiarize yourself with the operating rules:
- When you “send” the product for washing, you need to fasten the fittings in advance.
- Do not iron the plastic zipper, otherwise it will melt due to high temperature.
- If the slider “does not obey”, you should not pull it and try to pull it back with force. It is better to find out the reason for such “disobedience” and eliminate the problem.
- At least occasionally lubricate the fastener with the products suggested above so that it does not jam in the future.
- It happens that threads, fur, or other material get into the slider. To prevent them from damaging the fittings, they should be removed with tweezers, and only then fasten the clothes/shoes.
- Periodically clean the zipper from excess impurities.
- If the “dog” has become relaxed and the teeth no longer close together, then carefully squeeze the slider from the edge with pliers. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise you will break the chain.
- If the slider is broken, replace it with another one. It is better to entrust this process to a professional master.
- Due to temperature changes, rust may appear on the metal fastener. Therefore, treat the fittings with a moisture-repellent product in advance.
- If fabric gets caught in the runner, sprinkle the problem area with talcum powder and carefully release the material.
By following the rules of care, you can enjoy your favorite thing for a long time.
Additional Tips
In most cases, deciding what to do if the zipper on a boot comes apart is an emergency. It is important not to jerk the slider. You need to manually bring the parts of the snake closer to each other and with smooth movements try to return the pawl to the lower position, and then carefully fasten it again. The following recommendations will help you put your fastener in order and prevent serious damage:
- Immediately after purchasing shoes, you need to carefully design the lock.
- When moving tightly, the pawls should be lubricated with available means suitable for the material.
- When the zipper on your boot does not fasten well, there is no need to pull it. First of all, it is worth finding out the reason - whether the problem is related to mechanical defects or whether lubrication will help facilitate movement.
- When the zipper on your boots comes undone, what to do is not always clear. To keep the fastener from coming apart, you need to lightly press the pawl with pliers on both sides. It is not recommended to compress the middle. Immediately after the procedure, the slider will move slowly, but over time the situation will improve.
- If fur constantly gets between the links of winter shoes, you need to carefully cut it off, shortening the fibers a little.
Before you fix the zipper on your boots, you need to check it for broken teeth. If they exist, replacing the lock is inevitable; if the clasp is intact, but does not function well, you should use home remedies.
Design a castle
To prevent the fastener from coming apart, you need to lightly tighten the pawl with pliers.
If fur gets between the links, you should shorten the fibers a little
