How to Fix a Dog Bed Zipper

Dog bed zippers can be tricky to fix for the simple reason that you can't easily turn the fabric inside out to sew up a hole or remove stuck fabric. Still, there are some things you can try to get that zipper unstuck or repaired and save yourself the time and money of having to purchase a new dog bed, which can be very expensive, depending on the type of bed and size of the dog. Try the simple fixes first and move on from there.

Things You'll Need

  • Needle and thread
  • White vinegar
  • Clean cloth
  • Safety pin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take a cloth and wet it with some white vinegar. Then rub the vinegar-soaked cloth up and down the zipper. This will remove tiny bits of fabric that may be trapped in the zipper, causing it to be stuck.

    • 2

      Examine the zipper closely. If there are large pieces of fabric from the sides of the zipper stuck in the teeth of the zipper, try to pull them out.

    • 3

      Look at the side of the zipper where the dog bed fabric meets the zipper. If the fabric has separated from the zipper, the zipper will not effectively close the gap. In that instance, you will need to sew the gap closed from the outside, since you cannot easily turn a dog bed inside-out.

    • 4

      Check the teeth of the zipper. If they are bent or missing in the middle or top of the zipper, the zipper will no longer work and is not fixable. You will need to either rip out the zipper and sew in a new one, or purchase a new dog bed. If the teeth are bent or missing near the bottom, simply sew the zipper closed at that spot.

    • 5

      Replace the pull tab with a safety pin. If the pull tab has broken off and is missing, slip a safety pin through the remaining hole and fasten it closed. Make sure it is securely fastened, so that your dog doesn't get poked by it.