Give your zipper some love today

First of all, you should check that the zipper has no breaks. If it has, you might as well save yourself the work of lubricating and delivering the suit for service.

You then remove loose and “bristle” threads along the teeth. You can burn these away with a lighter, but be careful not to melt too much.

Does your zipper look like this? Then it may simply need to be replaced. Photo: Peter Southwood/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Also check that the zip is clean and remove any sand and dirt with a little warm water and a toothbrush.

When everything is clean, you are ready to lubricate the zip – but make sure it is completely dry. If you lubricate a wet zipper, the grease will not adhere properly.

There are many products to lubricate the zipper on the market. Read the user manual and lubricate often.

Remember that the zipper has small teeth on the back, and these must also be lubricated! The trolley that opens and closes the zip goes on both sides, and the wear and tear is often greater at the back than at the front.

There are special products you can buy, such as Zip Tech, Zipper-Ease and McNett Zip Care, or you can use beeswax. In an emergency, you can also use a candle.

• Clean the zipper if needed
• Burn away loose threads
• Lubricate the zipper with wax
• Open and close the zipper a few times
• It should slide smoothly and without resistance

The advantage of some of the products you can buy is that they are softer than wax, so you can put a little on your thumb and forefinger and lubricate both sides at the same time. Some also have a separate application brush.

No matter what you use, keep applying a little grease or wax – large quantities are not needed, this will only attract sand and dirt. It is more important to lubricate often than a lot.

Don’t forget that the zipper on the wetsuit can also benefit from a little maintenance.

When you have lubricated the zipper, drive the carriage back and forth a couple of times to distribute the grease and feel that everything slides smoothly and without problems.

Also remember to check the zip on your wetsuit, although these are not as susceptible to wear and tear. It is still boring if they are stuck when you are going to wear the suit.

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Dried salt can cause the zipper to tick. This too can usually be solved with a little warm water and an old toothbrush.

Optionally, you can add a little vinegar to the water to dissolve the salt faster. If you give the zipper a little care and attention, it will work problem-free for many years!

Take good care of the zipper and it will last for many years. Changing zips can be expensive, especially on drysuits. Photo: eBay

In recent years, plastic zips have become more common. If you have a YKK Aquaseal zip, you can read more about maintenance at ykkfastening.com.

The modern zipper was patented by the Swedish-American engineer Gideon Sundback under the name “hook-less fastener” in 1913.

Similar patents had existed since the mid-1850s, but he is considered the father of the modern zipper.

Don’t forget any zips on wet socks/boots, bags, computer cases and the like – you might as well take them all when you first start.