Zippers — even plastic ones — and boats just don’t always get along. We often used day packs and coolers with zippers to transport provisions and other purchases back to the boat. We always got ones with big heavy-duty zippers, but salt in zippers could jam them in no time.
And there were plenty of other zippers on board. Sail covers, bimini, and dodger are always outside in the salt air. And that’s not to mention the ones on our wet suits and Lycra snorkel suits that actually were immersed in the salt water (although we always sprayed the zippers with fresh water).
Stuck Zippers Onboard
More than once, I’d get a bag out to use it and would discover that the zipper was stuck. The salt in the air would totally freeze them up. Dave would use a spray bottle of fresh water and lots of white vinegar to dissolve the crud. But sometimes the zipper got off track in the process. The worst was when the zipper on my camera bag froze . . . with the camera inside. Couldn’t use water on it, so had to cut it apart and destroy the bag.
Zip Care to the Rescue
I was determined not to lose another bag this way. And Dave wasn’t wild on spending an hour or two “unsticking” zippers, either. I discovered a great product called ZipCare. And I have been using it ever since on pretty much every zipper we have. Since then, we haven’t had another one freeze OR come off track. The photo at right is from the Zip Care web site. I no longer have an “untreated” zipper to show as a comparison!
A bottle is just over $5 from Amazon, which offers free shipping if you buy it with something else to total $25 or more. It’s a good add-on when you want something else that’s almost $25.
The company makes several zipper lubricants, I’ve used the liquid one and the stick. Both work well. I prefer the liquid as it seems a little easier to get it down into the zipper. Compared to other zipper lubricants that I’ve tried (and not liked) is that it doesn’t attract dirt. (I can vouch for this, having used it on our tent that then went through a nasty dust storm in Utah).
How to Apply
Zip Care liquid has a brush applicator. -You brush the zipper (with the bottle closed) first to get rid of dirt or salt. Then open the bottle, squeeze it so the liquid gets on the brush and brush the liquid down into the zipper teeth. Run the zipper pull up and down a couple of times to get it in all the nooks and crannies. Let it dry and it’s ready to go. I like the liquid as it really gets down into the teeth — something I’ve had a problem with in using other zipper lubricants.
I use it on every zipper we have — day packs, fanny packs, camera bags, toiletry bags, wet suits, Lycras, sail covers, bimini, dodger and probably some other stuff I’m forgetting. I put it on the stuff that gets heavy use every 3 months, other stuff maybe once a year, a bottle lasts about a year.
In the last few months, I’ve seen numerous high-end tent, backpacking and wet suit companies all recommending Zip Care to prevent stuck zippers and costly repairs. I do, too!
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Candy Ann Williams on Facebook says
What a great product! Never used it but you can be sure I’ll order some. Thanks. Have a good weekend.
Jan says
Very interesting post! Thanks! When we replaced our canvas enclosure last winter, our canvas professional gave us Iosso EZ-Snap Zipper and Snap Lubricant and told us NEVER to use vaseline because it collects dust and dirt, compounding the problem. You can buy Iosso EZ Snap Zipper & Snap Lubricant on Amazon as well. I may get some of yours and test them side by side just for fun. THANKS! Jan commuterCRUISER.com
Diane Dashevsky says
Adding this to my list of “boat essentials”! Thanks!
Diane Dashevsky says
Oops! Sorry, didn’t realize the sig code didn’t work here…
Diane – sv/Always $umthing
Randy Price on Facebook says
Going to have to try this one out! Thanks
tami says
Thanks!
we also use silicone, preferably dry silicone, which we carry on the boat anyway
Michelle Beatty on Facebook says
Thanks!!!
Heather Braun on Facebook says
Thanks for the tip!
Linda Miller says
Thanks! Just bought it. Worth the price to save even one item.
The Boat Galley says
No kidding!
William Heiser says
Just bought it also, should work great. some of it is messy. wish it wasn’t winter, would love to be on the river now. 25 degrees out there, Have a nice Thanksgiving:))
Peter Nuttycombe says
It kills you when you get caught in your zipper
S/V Dos Libras says
Can’t keep enough of this stuff onboard…
Peter Dalton says
I use candles. You can even use scented candles to keep scent in the air. Just rub the zipper on both ends of the zipper lengths. Then try it and work the candle wax into the zipper and wa-la, smooth as ice.
thanks,
Pete
Cathy Coyne Wehle says
Will have to look into this
Ruth Golden says
Me too; we’ve got a couple that are a real pain, especially when you need to zip up cleanly and quickly because of a quick storm!
Ted says
candle wax also works great! – real inexpensive!
Gringo says
You can also use Chapstick or the equivalent, in a pinch. Secret is to use it BEFORE the zipper seizes up. Like, when new.
Carolyn Shearlock says
My experience with Chapstick is that it tends to attract dirt, sand, gravel and other gunk. I’ve used it a few times, it’s definitely better than nothing.
Red Canoe says
when I bought the boat none of the zippers worked on the canvas. Gooped vaseline on them and they worked like new. I also do that for my paddling jackets.
The Boat Galley says
If there’s a lot of salt, sand or dirt around, Vaseline will attract it. That’s why I like this stuff instead — it doesn’t pick up anything!
Randy Gunky Lump Lawson says
Works well on “snaps” as well…the kind that your bimini or dodger parts are attached to the fibreglass with…..
The Boat Galley says
Great second use! Everything on a boat had to have two uses, you know!
Abby Carter says
Olive oil for the win. Spritzer on deck.
David Lake says
thanks soooo much…
Diane Mercaldo says
I’ve use vaseline on zippers and on the snaps to the bimini and dodge.I will check this out, Thanks
Yvonne Green Short says
This stuff works! I use it on my jib and mooring cover zippers. Lasts a long time. Doesn’t make a dangerous mess on the decks.
Pamela Harwood says
Thanks to reading this post a few years ago, I bought the Zip Care liquid and set it aside. Yesterday, I couldn’t get the zipper on my collapsible cooler to work — ya kinda need the top flap to zip closed! Hugh was going to toss it out, but since these are no lnger made, I really didn’t want to. I remembered reading about “something” that would fix frozen zippers on TBG, and when I re-read it, realized I already had the Zip Care. Woohoo — it did the trick, and I have worked it into all the zippers on this cooler.
Carolyn Shearlock says
YAY!! I love hearing stories like that!
Paul Mac Menamin says
Sounds great, but currently unavailable through Amazon
Carolyn Shearlock says
Darn! Keep checking back. I bought some in the last month, so hopefully it’s just temporarily out of stock.
Col Delane says
Is this product primarily for preventative maintenance, or is it also useful for unsticking stuck zippers (especially those with corroded metal closers!)?
Carolyn Shearlock says
It is preventative only. For unsticking, the best thing is vinegar but if a zipper is very corroded, even it won’t help.