# Zipper Keeps Falling Down
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 27, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961 "2011-06-27T00:08:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/1 "2011-06-27T00:08:10Z")
Maybe I could put this in general questions, but it seems awful petty even if it is annoying the crap out of me.
I have a pair of jeans in good shape, but as of today the damn zipper keeps falling down. It just won’t stay up anymore. Does anyone know how to fix that?
---
### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/2 "2011-06-27T00:15:05Z")
Replace the zipper, yours is wore out.
---
### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/3 "2011-06-27T00:26:19Z")
I was hoping there was a solution other than that, as replacing zippers is a pain.
---
### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/4 "2011-06-27T00:26:31Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> Replace the zipper, yours is wore out.
Yeah, the zipper can be had at a fabric store, but getting a needle & thread through the material can be tough. Thimble, pliers, needle, heavy-gage thread & patience.
Hey, its that or a new ad campaighn: “LEVIs 508 Jeans: Just as bad as you are.”
---
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/5 "2011-06-27T01:05:16Z")
Wasn’t this an excuse used by Bill Clinton?
---
### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/6 "2011-06-27T01:07:02Z")
I was worried about **ZipperJJ** for a moment.
---
### Author:  [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/7 "2011-06-27T01:45:01Z")
Use a safety pin to hold the zipper in place.
---
### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/8 "2011-06-27T01:54:28Z")
Thanks, doc! I have big f’n feet holding me up. I think I’m part Weeble 🙂
I always feel like I have to weigh in on threads about zippers.\*
It only costs like $20 total to buy a zipper at the store and have a tailor do the repair. I bet you have a nice local small-time tailor close to you and you don’t even know it!
\*My name comes from the band Squirrel Nut Zippers, lest anyone think I am an actual YKK expert.
---
### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/9 "2011-06-27T02:18:41Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#):
>
> Use a safety pin to hold the zipper in place.
I’ve used this more than once, in the same situation. You zip up to the top and then pin it across the zipper from behind (stomach side) so the tag of the zipper can’t go down.
---
### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/10 "2011-06-27T02:47:06Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ]
It only costs like $20 total to buy a zipper at the store and have a tailor do the repair. I bet you have a nice local small-time tailor close to you and you don’t even know it!
[/QUOTE]
Well, OK, except I don’t have $20 to my name this week, and I can buy an entire new pair of jeans at Wal-Mart for $12, if I had $12 to my name this week, which I don’t. Or a used pair that will do for a bit at Goodwill for $1.50.
I guess it’s either a safety pin or I wear a dirty pair until I get paid and can either afford to wash something or get a new zipper or get a new pair.
---
### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/11 "2011-06-27T03:00:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> Well, OK, except I don’t have $20 to my name this week, and I can buy an entire new pair of jeans at Wal-Mart for $12, if I had $12 to my name this week, which I don’t. Or a used pair that will do for a bit at Goodwill for $1.50.
I dig. I had these shorts from last summer that fit so good, even though they cost me about $12 too it was worth it to get the zipper fixed. Most people wear nicer clothes than me so I figure it’s worth it for everyone to get their zippers fixed. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who buys cheapy clothes 🙂
Hope it works out for ya!
---
### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/12 "2011-06-27T03:14:15Z")
On a favourite pair of jeans, I bought the largest size split key ring from the hardware store (cost: less than $1) and threaded it through the little hole at the end of the zipper. I would then hook it over the fly button. It causes a little extra hassle when going to the washroom, but other than that, it works quite well.
---
### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/13 "2011-06-27T03:29:22Z")
I’ve noticed I can get an extra few months out of some zippers simply by making sure the little tab is down flat after I’m done zipping. If it’s pointed up, the zipper falls open. With new zippers, that doesn’t seem to be a problem, but with wearing out zippers, a double check of tab direction keep the zipper from falling open.
But I’m really digging **matt\_mcl** ’s solution, and may be stealing that in the near future!
---
### Author:  [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/14 "2011-06-27T03:32:53Z")
**matt\_mcl** you made my day. Every single effing day since moving to this cowtown, I’m wearing all these skinny jeans and mom jeans, and whatever, and the zippers always fall down. I was about ready to declare myself a prevert, or have it down in my behalf, but I’ll take your advice. And no consent needed from you – I shall merely take.
---
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/15 "2011-06-27T05:29:27Z")
This may sound a little weird, but are your hips wide enough that you have to unzip these jeans to lower your pants? If not, I’d just sew the zipper up and be done with it.
As a guy, that’s a little more inconvenient, but even I succumbed to it with my favorite jeans. That is, once I figured out it was a real problem and not just me being absent minded.
---
### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/16 "2011-06-27T06:01:34Z")
Let it all hang out!
---
### Author:  [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/17 "2011-06-27T07:57:32Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#):
>
> On a favourite pair of jeans, I bought the largest size split key ring from the hardware store (cost: less than $1) and threaded it through the little hole at the end of the zipper. I would then hook it over the fly button. It causes a little extra hassle when going to the washroom, but other than that, it works quite well.
I’ve done the same with a short, thick rubber band.
---
### Author:  [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/18 "2011-06-27T08:04:23Z")
Spray hair spray on your zipper. It helps make it "stick
---
### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/19 "2011-06-27T11:08:25Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> This may sound a little weird, but are your hips wide enough that you have to unzip these jeans to lower your pants? If not, I’d just sew the zipper up and be done with it.
Uh, yeah - female and not overweight, waist smaller than hips, jeans cut for female figure… yeah, definitely need to unzip to lower the pants. That’s sort of a normal configuration for us girls.
---
### Author:  [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961/20 "2011-06-27T14:17:49Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#):
>
> On a favourite pair of jeans, I bought the largest size split key ring from the hardware store (cost: less than $1) and threaded it through the little hole at the end of the zipper. I would then hook it over the fly button. It causes a little extra hassle when going to the washroom, but other than that, it works quite well.
You can do the same with a loop of dental floss (which is stronger than it looks).
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-keeps-falling-down/586961.md?page=2)