Here’s Exactly What You Need To Know The Next Time Your Zipper Gets Stuck

From your tried-and-true college hoodie to your fabulous new pair of high-rise pants, no garment is safe from the dreaded stuck zipper. But praise be the fashion-hack gods: Your outfit savior is within reach. Like in your desk drawer.

Next time you’re in a pinch, here’s what to do.

What you need: A good ol’ No. 2 pencil

What you do: Flip the garment inside out. Take the pointy, lead end of the pencil and rub it around the metal teeth—both where they’re stuck and where they’re not. (The more area you can cover, the better.) Then behold as your zipper…unzips.

Why it works: The soft graphite in a basic pencil acts as a lubricant and helps the track glide easier.

But what if the fabric itself is caught inside my killer new skirt? To the dry cleaners you go. Best to leave the delicates to the professionals.

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Photo Credit: Leon Bennett / Contributor, Getty